A Saint for South Africa

Guest editorial by Bishop Victor Phalana

The cult of martyrs arose early in the history of the Church. Altars and shrines arose over martyrs’ tombs and they were honoured during liturgical celebrations and through private devotions.

Their lives of faith and conviction, together with their heroic deaths, became sources of strength and perseverance for persecuted Christians. They reminded Christians of the power of self-sacrifice and that Our Lord gave up his life for many.

They intercede for us. The intercession of martyrs, saints and angels is biblical. It is not a Catholic invention.

Thus, in Psalm 103 we pray: Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, hearkening to the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will! (20, 21). And in the opening verses of Psalm 148 we pray: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his host!

Not only do those in heaven pray with us, they also pray for us.

In the book of Revelation, John sees that the twenty-four elders [the leaders of the people of God in heaven] fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (Rev 5:8).

Thus, the saints in heaven offer to God the prayers of the saints on earth.

Angels do the same thing: [An] angel came and stood at the altar [in heaven] with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God (Rev 8:3�4).

Jesus himself warned us not to offend small children, because their guardian angels have guaranteed intercessory access to the Father: See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven (Mt 18:10).

Because he is the only God-man and the mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus is the only mediator between man and God (1 Tim 2:5), but this in no way means we cannot or should not ask our fellow Christians to pray with us and for us (1 Tim 2:14).

In particular, we should ask the intercession of those Christians in heaven, who have already had their sanctification completed: The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects (Jas 5:16).

The coming beatification of Benedict Daswa in Tzaneen diocese on September 13 reminds us of the martyrdoms in the early Church of Ss Origen, Cyprian, Polycarp, Ignatius of Antioch, Perpetua and Felicity.

It reminds us of more recent martyrs, such as St Charles Lwanga and his companions, St Kizito, Bl Miguel Pro, St Maximilian Kolbe, Bl Franz Jagerstetter, Bl Oscar Romero and many others who continue to inspire our generation to know that we can testify by accepting suffering and martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel.

The canonised sainthood means that the Church confirms that the individual is with God.

Beatification is the penultimate step before canonisation; the Church is yet to confirm that Benedict is with God this will require an approved miracle ascribed to his intercession but by the act of beatification, the Church indicates that he most probably is.

We in the Church of Southern Africa believe that Benedict is with God. He died a holy death. His faith in Jesus Christ  our Way, our Truth and our Life  combined with a martyr’s death, we believe, won for him eternal life and sainthood. Daswa, through the grace of God, attained this privilege.

Benedict Daswa will be our first South African Catholic Church martyr and beatus, recognised by the official Church. We can, according to the norms of the Catholic Church and the direction of Bishop Joao Rodrigues of Tzaneen, ask Blessed Benedict Daswa  as he will be as of September 13  to intercede for us before our God.

God can and will bless us through his intercession.

Bishop Victor Phalana heads the diocese of Klerksdorp.