Mexican Catholics have a new blessed and his name is Moisés Lira.
The beatification ceremony took place on Saturday at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City and was presided over by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, delegate of Pope Francis.
The last person to be beatified in this country of nearly 100 million Catholics was María Concepción Cabrera in 2019.
Here’s a look at Lira’s life.
Who was it?
He was born in September 1893 in Puebla, one of the most conservative states in the country.
His mother passed away when he was five and his father had to relocate for work, so he suffered the absence of both.
He wanted to be a priest early on. In 1914 he became the first novice of a congregation founded by the Frenchman Félix de Jesús Rougier. And in 1922, a few days after his priestly ordination, he wrote in his diary the motto that would define his life: “It is necessary to be very small to be a great saint.” In other words, he focused his ministry on simplicity and humility.
Lira dedicated her life to training catechists, caring for the sick and spiritually accompanying vulnerable communities. In 1934 she founded the congregation of the Missionaries of Charity of Mary Immaculate. Later she established schools and psychiatric institutions.
He died in June 1950 in Mexico City.
What miracle is attributed to him?
According to Mother Maria de la Luz Nava, of the congregation founded by Lira, the miracle occurred between May and June 2004.
At that time, a pregnant woman from the state of Guanajuato received the worst news: at 18 weeks of gestation, the fetus suffered from a condition that caused an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body. Faced with the diagnosis, which could be fatal for the fetus or affect the mother, the doctor suggested terminating the pregnancy, but the couple refused.
“There wasn’t much hope,” explained Mother Maria de la Luz. “But one thing was very clear: they were not going to opt for abortion. They were going to continue looking for options so that their daughter would be born well.”
The woman came across Father Moisés in a pamphlet she found while leafing through a book. “I don’t know you, but help me,” she told him before devoting nine days of prayer to him.
After the period of prayer, she returned to the doctor and he asked what she had done, since her daughter was healthy.
“This is where Father Moisés’ intercession is very evident and how a miracle is a work of faith,” said Mother María de la Luz.
His congregation only learned of what had happened in 2014. A year later, the process began in the state diocese, the process continued in the Vatican, and in December 2023, Pope Francis asked that the decree of the miracle be promulgated.
What causes can be entrusted to him?
Because of the sign of the miracle attributed to him – explained Father David Padrón, who has worked on canonization causes – he can be thought of as a protector of life from the mother’s womb.
“It is a very strong voice from God,” said the priest. “And perhaps mothers who have some problem during the gestation of their children can entrust themselves to him.”
He added that he could also be entrusted with cases related to health pastoral care in general, since Lira was in charge of bringing communion to the sick. And, because of his work in spiritual formation, he would add cases related to education.
“Much of his pastoral work was dedicated to dignifying those people who, due to illness, poverty or some other situation, did not enjoy a dignified life in society,” said Padrón.
What follows the beatification?
The clergy are hoping that a second miracle, which should occur after the beatification, could pave the way for canonization.
In the meantime, the Church in Mexico will celebrate Lira every June 15. “He is added to the calendar of saints of this Archdiocese of Mexico, of the Family of the Cross, hoping that when he is canonized, he can be celebrated throughout the world,” said Padrón.
The most treasured relic of Lira is a metacarpal bone from the index finger of his right hand. It is a symbolic bone, Padrón said, because Lira shared the Gospel through writing and it belongs to the finger that points. “The blessed and the saints are men and women who point us to Christ,” he said.
Following the beatification, other first-class relics—fragments of the body—will be distributed to parishes associated with his life or that are significant to Mexico, such as the Basilica of Guadalupe and the Cathedral of Puebla. The door will also be opened for priests who wish to make his life known to request a relic for their churches.
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