Six patrons saints speak ” “to us of united Europe in diversity

Europe has six Patron Saints, three men and three women. Three of them – Benedict of Nursia from Italy (†547) and the Greek brothers Cyril (†869) and Methodius (†885) -lived in the first millennium; the other three – Bridget of Sweden (†1373), Catherine of Siena (†1380) and the German Saint of Jewish origin Edith Stein, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (†1942) – in the second millennium. They represent different European epochs, territories and cultures. All of these saints have personally witnessed global transformations. What message can they offer to contemporary Europe? The complexity of societies and communities populating the Old Continent is well known, and therefore we should ask ourselves if this unique Europe that is often spoken about truly exists. Also the patron Saints of Europe are very different from one another, just like individual choices are. Such diversity is to be found also across the European landscape. In fact, as we travel across the continent we come across different peoples, cultures and countries. This diversity is part and parcel of European populations, it’s recorded in European history. And it is only in full respect of such differences that individuals have the freedom to choose the path they intend to follow with all their hearts. We need a saint like Catherine that will speak to European leaders, calling upon them to fulfil their duty at the service of the common good, for the benefit of joint freedom, for a politics that extends beyond personal interests. The message of the six Patron Saints places an emphasis on both diversity and unity. Cyril and Methodius have brought the Scriptures and the Bible to Eastern Europe. They both gave a decisive contribution to the unification of peoples in this region of the continent starting with a clear vision: the point of reference of each man is Jesus who said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”. (John 15:5). Saint Bridget expanded these words with the metaphor of the only sheepfold in which all sheep can rest. For our saints, everyone is invited to enter a relationship with Christ, because only He is the centre of unity and communion amongst mankind. He wishes to be the “centre” also for all men and women in contemporary Europe. Adhesion to Christ entails a communion that does not aim at uniformity. Every man and woman is free to choose whether to follow Him or not, according to their own time and ways. In fact, unity stems from the awareness of belonging to the same family, while at the same time each member of this European family is free to be the person he/she truly is, with his/her own choices and decisions. In seeking the unity of Europe, it’s crucial to respect this fundamental freedom. Edith Stein died in Auschwitz by the hands of a regime that failed to respect individual freedom and uniqueness. This must never happen again. Still, in our world not everyone is free to fully enjoy the life they choose to live. There are countries where lack of freedom is the result of political decisions that fail to respect universal human rights. Persecutions against Christians and other minorities are blatant examples of this. There is also a more subtle way whereby individual choices are threatened, namely, every time a majority seeks to impose their way of thinking, seeking to bend other people’s will to their own, preventing them to freely profess their religious choices and practices. Is it a coincidence that Europe has the highest number of Patron Saints compared to all world continents? There is much talk of the unity of the European continent and of unity within the European Union. But in our present world no continent is pacified nor united, and Ukraine and Bosnia-Herzegovina are sad examples. Many situations still need to be resolved before a long lasting peace is achieved. There still is a long way to go before permanent unity can be envisaged. Let’s start working for unity, a commitment that is dear to Europe’s Patron Saints, bearing in mind the formula of St. Benedict: “Ora et labora”, pray and work. This is also the motto of CCEE (Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe), in whose secretariat in St. Gallen, Switzerland, we recite our daily prayers before the icon of the Patron Saints of Europe, where they are depicted in prayer and praise to Christ, who is seated on the laps of Mary, His and Our Mother. Working for the continent’s unity is possible on the condition that at the same time we entrust such commitment to God in our prayers, reposing the righteous cause of the continent’s unity to the intercession of the six Patron Saints of Europe.