Consider the humble candle: It’s is a poignant symbol of Christ, the Light of the world. Like Him, it gives light in the darkness. Like Him, its flame causes our hearts to feel the warmth of God’s love. Like Him, its fire recalls the power of God’s Holy Spirit to burn away sin and fear and replace them with grace and courage. Like Him, the humble candle is disfigured and gradually consumed as it lays down its life to give light, warmth, and joy.
Benedict Daswa – an example of this light, warmth, and joy – was a South African catechist born on June 16, 1946 in Limpopo, South Africa. By the year 1963, Daswa had converted to Christianity and was baptized into the faith at age 17.
On February 2, 1990 Benedict Daswa was brutally murdered when a group of men ambushed him after he refused to take part in any witchcraft related activity or the occult.
As he saw one of these men coming towards him with a club to deliver the final blow, he said, “God, into your hands, receive my spirit.”
He was a husband, and a father to eight children. He helped build a parish, and was a teacher and principal of a primary school.
Pope Francis describes him as, “…a zealous Catechist, all-round educator who gave heroic witness to the gospel, even to the shedding of blood.”
His grave, located in a small cemetery near his home, has become a site of pilgrimage. Thirty-thousand people – including his 91 year-old mother and his 8 children – sang and prayed with tears of joy at his beatification in his home village in South Africa. Mutshiro Michael, 33, one of Daswa’s sons, reacted to the beatification, “Proud is an understatement to describe what I feel.” Michael added that he had forgiven his father’s murderers.
Cardinal Amato also reflected:
“The Holy Spirit transformed this young South African into an authentic hero of the Gospel. His heart was full of love for God and neighbor. Benedict Daswa is like the first martyrs of the Church who, during the persecutions of the Roman emperors, defended their faith with prayer, courage and forgiveness of enemies.”
Friends, please light a blessed candle today to remind you of Christ’s call. Place it in the center of your family’s home and continue to light it when you pray alone and with others. Happy Candlemas day!
For additional reading: The Presentation in the Temple, Luke 2:22-32. Learn more about Candlemas and see photos of today’s celebrations from around the world.
View Candlemas celebration recorded live earlier today at the Father Peyton Center.
Photo: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. (right) blesses candles during today’s Candlemas celebration in the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Chapel at the Father Peyton Center. With him, from left to right, are: Altar server, Father Leo Polselli, C.S.C., Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., Father Jilson Tom, C.S.C. and Father David S. Marcham.
