"We must study history to know it better and better; and once we have read its pages, we must learn its most important lessons: everybody’s life in common within legitimate differences; the declaration of one’s identity in a non-aggressive way, respecting other identities; collaboration among all citizens to build a common house on the foundations of justice, freedom and peace". Yesterday, those words were spoken by the president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference, Msgr. Ricardo Blázquez, while he opened the Plenary Assembly of bishops, which is going on until Thursday. Taking into consideration the beatification of the 498 Spanish martyrs, happened in St. Peter’s on October 28th, and the civil war which covered Spain in blood in the thirties, the bishops declared: "Let’s recall history not to confront ourselves but to learn from it either the correction of our bad deeds or the courage to go on following the right path". "Martyrdom he added is like a test unmistakably proving the quality of a Christian. The moral and spiritual stature of man reaches the supreme dimension in martyrs". According to the bishop, "the death of martyrs gives peace and reconciliation to everybody". Therefore, "before the wear of time and against the danger of routine, the integrity of martyrs invites us to overcome mediocrity".
