ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH
Saints celebrated on the 17th of March
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BLESSED JUAN NEPOMUCENO ZEGRI Y MORENO, PRIEST AND FOUNDER
Juan Nepomuceno Zegri y Moreno was born on October 11, 1831 in Granada, Spain. As a youth, Juan felt called to serve the Lord in society's poor, and wanted to become a priest. He entered St Dionysius Seminary of Granada, and on June 2, 1855 was ordained in the Cathedral of Granada. He served in the parishes of Huetor Santillan and of San Gabriel de Loja in Granada.
"HEALING SICK HEARTS"
His vocation, as he once proclaimed in a homily, was to be "like a good shepherd, going after the lost sheep; like a doctor, healing sick hearts wounded by faults and binding them with hope; like a father, who visibly provides for all of those who, suffering from abandonment, must drink from the bitter chalice and receive nourishment from the bread of tears".
A RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION SERVING THE MOST NEEDY
It was with a profound interest in resolving social problems and in meeting the needs of the poor and neglected that Fr Zegrí felt called to found a religious congregation that would serve the most needy. On March 16, 1878 in Malaga, under the protection and inspiration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, he began the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy.
THE SISTERS OF CHARITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF MERCY
The Congregation's main charism was to practice all of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy for the benefit of the poor. He asked the Religious to do all "for the good of humanity, in God, for God, towards God". In only a few years, the Congregation was established in many Dioceses throughout Spain.
He firmly believed that "charity is the only answer to all social problems". In this light the key points of the spirituality of the Founder were: redemptive charity; love and configuration with Jesus the Redeemer; love for Mary, Our Lady of Mercy.
TESTING AND VINDICATION
God permitted Fr Zegrí to be severely tested and misunderstood after he founded the Congregation, and his own Religious "daughters" falsely accused him. With a Pontifical Decree dated July 7, 1888 he was sent away from the Order that he himself had founded.
After years of silent suffering, his innocence was recognised with another Decree dated July 15, 1894. Although he was permitted to re-enter the Congregation, he voluntarily kept himself at a distance in order to preserve communion with the Church and his "daughters", so that they would not openly disobey Church authority.
On March 17, 1905 in Malaga, Fr Zegrí died just as he had desired: like Jesus, alone and abandoned. He offered himself for the good of humanity and forgave "his own" who had accused him.
From a homily of John Paul II - the full homily can be found here: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20031109_zegri_en.html
PRAYER:
Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that the venerable feast of Blessed Juan Nepomuceno may increase our devotion and promote our salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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