Information Sheet 16 on the beatification and canonization process of Faustino Pérez-Manglano
FACT SHEET 16 – January 2000.
Information sheet on the process of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Faustino Pérez-Manglano
“LOAVES AND FISHES OF FAUSTINO”
A new book about Faustino.
Ediciones PPC has just published it. A very special book that all of Faustino’s friends will like. He tells us about the wonderful work that Faustino is doing now. It comes to be a “Report on the work that Faustino does from heaven.” Or if you want, they are “The apostolic adventures of Faustino in his new life”. Among the hundreds of letters that the author, José María Salaverri, has received, some 350 have been selected. They are arranged by topic. From letters from young people -and less young people- who tell us how Faustino has influenced his life to very varied favours, such as help in a shipwreck in Mallorca. We can also follow the spread of Faustino’s knowledge in various countries through “chances”: there are testimonies from forty-two countries. He makes known groups and works that have taken his name and want to follow his example. There are anecdotes that seem like Faustino’s pranks. A book to read slowly, reflect on and renew our faith in what we call the “communion of saints”, that union of all the followers of Christ in heaven and on earth.
The book has a first, short part, which talks about Faustino’s last days (with some details that are not in the biography) and his beatification process.
Why this title?
In the multiplication of the loaves according to Saint John, a boy offers his “sandwich”: five loaves and two fish. The apostle Andrew thinks that there is nothing to do with so little. But the Lord says: “Enough”. And he multiplies the loaves and fishes for a crowd.
By “chance” it was the gospel that played on the day Faustino’s remains were transferred to his Colegio del Pilar in Valencia.
During his life, Faustino offered what little he had: his desire to be a Marianist in order to be a fisher of men. Christ told him: “Your desires are enough for me. You will do better from heaven than on earth.” And those wishes of Faustino have become light and help for many. Very many. Those who are quoted here are only the tip of a submerged iceberg: how many others have felt Faustino’s help and have not written!
From here we thank all those who, with their testimony, have contributed to making this book possible to the joy of all.
Who may be interested?
We have said it: above all to those who already know and love Faustino. I will make them enjoy seeing Faustino’s irradiation throughout the world. But he can be revealing for everyone who works in youth ministry or not. Faustino reaches where we do not: to the hearts of those who read his life. Testimonials amply prove it. Faustino, from heaven, offers his help to those who want to use his example as a simple instrument of apostolate. These pages, full not of theories but of real life, can be a source of pastoral inspiration.
Features:
Author: José María Salaverri. PPC editions. 260 pages. A very original cover. For sale in religious bookstores. Orders to: PPC – c/ Agastia 80 – 28043 Madrid. Tel. 91 744 45 50 – Fax: 91 744 48 90.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS.
The year 1999 has been fruitful in new publications on Faustino. In addition to the one already reviewed, the following have appeared:
* “His name was Faustino.” He is number 2 of the Friends of Jesus collection that Palabra publishing house has begun to publish. Authors of the text: Mar Sánchez and Amparo Catret; Drawings by José María Catret. It is a collection for children that collects prominent figures of Christian people of the 20th century. In drawings and with a simple text they tell the life of those “friends of Jesus”. The album dedicated to Faustino is already in its second edition. In religious bookstores or Ed. Palabra – Paseo de la Castellana 210 – 28046 Madrid.
* “And Faustino said S”. An illustrated brochure that shows us Faustino’s positive response at key moments in his life. He helps young people reflect on his own life. Edited by the Marianist Publications Service, it is not in bookstores. But it can be ordered from “FAUSTINO”.
* “Faustino’s four ses”. Second Chilean edition, with photos. It is the Spanish version, made by Jesús Herreros, from a French original. It is number 16 of the “Chilean Marianist Family” collection. Very similar in its content to the previous one.
* “Yego enye za Faustino”. It is the Kinyarwands translation of the French original of “Faustino’s four ses”. Made in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, by Palloti Presse. Later we expand the information.
FAUSTINO NEWS
From Sweden.
FAUSTINO BECOMES KNOWN
“Football och mission – Faustino pratade med Jesus om alt”.
Such is the title of a long article that the Swedish Catholic magazine Katolskt Magasin, in its section Ungdom (= youth), dedicates to Faustino. Some words are guessed. Its author is Father Otto Michael Schneider. Several years ago this priest knew Faustino; he acknowledges having received many favors from him, and makes it known to his cosmopolitan Catholic parish of Vsteras. “We have, he tells me, in this parish, parishioners of about fifty different nationalities.” There are Latin Americans, Vietnamese, Poles, Italians… We have sent him books in Spanish, Italian and Polish. For the few Swedish Catholics, the biography in English. She has also written an article in his parish bulletin, with the curious title: “Faustino: ungdomsprst i Vsteras” (Faustino, priest for the young in Vsteras).
Cards.
For this reason several letters have been received from Sweden, fortunately in English.
“I would like to know more, says one of them, about this young saint, because I have received a very positive impression from reading the article” (Hans Fredriksson, from Vxj).
“He has touched my heart, says another. I would like to read his life. He must be a true saint and a true missionary on earth. In these hard days (I mean the time we live in) we need people like him to keep hope” (Marion Brisman, from Onsala).
“My fifteen-year-old son Jan has read the article about Saint Faustinus in our Catholic magazine and is very interested in knowing more about him. Could you send me his biography?” (Lena Wahlberg, from Vnns)
A biography in preparation.
Katarina Johansson, 34, – “I am Catholic, married and the mother of four beautiful children and wife of Tommy” – is a writer. She has written lives of Swedish saints for a small Catholic publishing house, “Sankt Eriks bokfrlag”. This same publisher has just commissioned him to write a biography of Faustino for children. She has asked for documentation and works with great enthusiasm. Hopefully many Swedish children can meet Faustino soon. We commend it to your prayers.
From Rwanda.
BETWEEN LOOTING AND KILLINGS
Brother Ral Olivier
He is a Canadian religious member of the Brothers of Christian Instruction. This brother takes care of street children, victims of the massacres that took place three years ago, but unfortunately they do not stop. In the darkest years of Rwanda, the Brother found Faustino’s biography in French by chance. As he himself says, “he found it among the looting and killings.” Reading about it encouraged him in his work. He thinks that Faustino’s example can help the young people and the missionaries themselves.
Faustino in Kinyarwamds.
He himself has promoted the translation and sought the funds to publish some of Faustino in the national language of Rwanda. He chose “Faustino’s 4 seses” because it was briefer and simpler. At the end of March, 500 copies left the Palloti-Presse press in Kigali. The cost of the operation was 350,000 Rwandan francs, that is to say 1,000 US dollars, which Brother sought among various benefactors. It seemed to him that making Faustino known was a pastorally profitable investment. He thinks that his example of serenity and peace can have more effect than many sermons and calls for peace.
In a painting by Father Chaminade
A PORTRAIT OF FAUSTINO
The year 2000 will see the beatification of Father Guillermo-José Chaminade. For this reason, María del Carmen Ortega Urizarna, a painter based in Madrid, has made a beautiful painting entitled “The vision of Father Chaminade in Zaragoza”. Among the people that the founder of the Marianists sees prophetically before the Virgen del Pilar during his Aragonese exile, is Faustino.
Faustino was a “fan” of Father Chaminade in life. After hearing a talk by Father Cecilio de Lora, I wrote in his diary: “We must be like him (Chaminade) and entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin with the same faith with which he did.”
BRIEF NOTICES
* On Friday, February 8, at COPE (Espejo de la Iglesia – Valencia) an interview with Father Jos Mara Salaverri about Faustino. On Monday the 15th -San Faustino, patron of our Faustino- Valencia Te Ve, broadcast an interview with Father José María. On March 2, the eve of the anniversary of his death, a new broadcast with his father José María and his sister Eugenia de él.
* On April 14, at the Bancaja Foundation premises, the first four booklets of the “Friends of Jesus” collection were presented. They are albums for children, 32 pages, with 14 drawings to color. They recount in a simple way the life of exemplary Christians of the 20th century. The Palabra publishing house publishes the collection. Number 2 of the collection is “He was called Faustino”. The Archbishop of Valencia presided over the presentation.
* In Quertaro (Mexico), in the shadow of the Marianist novitiate, the Faustino Movement has been created for adolescents. You have your newsletter. A photocopied illustrated album, entitled “Knowing Faustino”, serves as an initiation into Faustino’s life. On August 7, to celebrate the first anniversary of its foundation, they performed “Faustino’s 4 ses”, according to a script by Nino, a Peruvian novice.
* Father Ángel Iiguez, a missionary in the Congo for many years, visited Faustino’s grave. As he left there, Jo Marchadour, the Marianist responsible for the works in the Congo, told him: “Angel, I beg you to go to Faustino’s tomb in Spain and entrust our works to his protection.” He has done it.
* The global radio and television network -EWTN- in Birmingham (Alabama, USA) has taken an interest in the figure of Faustino. It is a large Catholic chain, founded by Mother Angelica, from a monastery in that city. And he asks us if there is any documentary about Faustino’s life. Unfortunately we have had to say no. However, they have talked about Faustino and echoes of it have reached us.
* Sister Ester García, a Marianist nun, died in Auch (France) last August. Thanks to her, Faustino began to be known in France. That “adventure” can be read in “Faustino’s Loaves and Fishes.” In heaven, I will have already found Faustino, whom I loved so much.
TESTIMONIALS
It is impossible to collect all those that come to us and of those that go here we only quote a few lines. Although we always respond to everyone who writes, we come back from here to thank you and ask you to forgive us for having to summarize so much of your testimonies.
* “How good your smile on my desk does me! How good to keep this photo so clear, this ‘icon’ of your joy!” Hna. Paulina (San Luis – Argentina).
* “I love that people like Faustino are on their way to the altars, because they are people…