A Gift from Galilee
St. John Paul II called Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified a gift to the universal Church from the peoples of the East
As we read in the Canonical Decree of Beatification:
“The humble servant of Christ, Mary of Jesus Crucified, belonging by lineage, rite, vocation, and wanderings to the peoples of the East and, in a certain way, representing them, is like a gift offered to the universal Church by those who, in the miserable conditions of conflict and bloodshed in which they now suffer, especially turn with great confidence of heart to her fraternal intercession, hoping that—thanks also to the prayers of this Servant of God—peace and harmony may at last be restored in those lands where ‘the Word became flesh’ (Jn 1:14), for he himself is our peace.”
Blessed Mary was born in Galilee. For this reason, our prayerful thoughts turn today in a special way to the Land where Jesus taught love and died so that humanity might be reconciled.
As I recalled on another occasion, “that Land has for decades seen two peoples opposed in a conflict that has so far proven irreconcilable. Each of them has its own history, its own tradition, its own lived experience, which seem to make reconciliation difficult” (Angelus Address, 4 April 1982).
Now more than ever, the threats looming over us urge us to make love and fraternity the fundamental law of social and international relations—in a spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness, taking inspiration from the way of life exemplified by Blessed Mary of Jesus Crucified. She is a model not only for her own people but for the whole world.
May this new way of life bring us a peace founded not on terror, but on mutual trust.
Saint John Paul II
Homily, Beatification of St. Mary of Jesus Crucified
13 November 1983, St. Peter’s Basilica
Note: St. Mary of Jesus Crucified, born in Galilee in 1846, was canonized in 2015. In her, John Paul II recognized a spiritual daughter of the East, gifted to the Church at a time of growing violence and division. His words still echo with urgency. In her littleness, prophetic gifts, and profound humility, Mariam Baouardy continues to witness to the reconciliation that Christ died to accomplish—beginning not with political plans, but with trust, intercession, and peace among peoples.
The homily excerpt featured here is our own English translation from the official Italian text.
⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
What would it mean to pray today for peace “not based on terror, but on mutual trust”?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.
Source reference:
John Paul II 1983, Omelia per la beatificazione della Serva di Dio Maria di Gesù Crocifisso, 13 November, Vatican.va,
https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/it/homilies/1983/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19831113_beatificazione-suor-maria.html, accessed 4 April 2025.
This English translation from the official Italian text is the writer’s own work and may not be reproduced without permission.
Featured image:
Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified (Mariam Baouardy), photo taken in 1875. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (used by permission).