Pope Francis once again spoke on the importance and attainability of sainthood and holiness in everyday life.
Addressing participants in a conference sponsored by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Pope focused on three aspects of holiness: holiness that unites, familial holiness and the holiness of martyrs.
But he placed a special emphasis on martyrdom.
POPE FRANCIS
There is no period that has not had its martyrs, right up to the present day. And we think that these martyrs are things that do not exist.
While speaking of modern martyrs, the Pope used the example of Asia Bibi. She is a Pakistani Catholic woman who was accused of blasphemy, then dragged outside of her home, beaten by the police and thrown in prison for eight years. The Pope met with Asia's husband and daughter at the Vatican in 2015.
POPE FRANCIS
She was in prison for so many years and her daughter brought her the Eucharist—it took so many years until the judges said she was innocent.
Now 52 years old and living outside of Pakistan with her family, Pope Francis says Asia Bibi is just one example of many who continue to be a witness to the faith in their everyday life.
AT
