Text of the Holy Mass for Feast Day of Blessed Benedict Daswa on 1 February 2017

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

                             MEMORIAL OF BLESSED

TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA

LAYMAN, FAMILY MAN AND MARTYR

WEDNESDAY 01 FEBRUARY 2017

BLESSED TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA, MARTYR

Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa was born on 16 June 1946 at Mbahe village near Thohoyandou, South Africa. Baptized in 1963 by Fr. Augustine O’Brien MSC, he qualified as a teacher and later became a school principal. As a married man with eight children, he was very involved in both Church and community activities. On 2 February 1990, he was bludgeoned to death for refusing to take part in anti-Catholic practices of witchcraft.

*  *  *

MUSHUDUFHADZWA TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA, MUFELALUTENDO (Tshivenda)

Vho- Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa vho  bebwa nga 15 fulwi 1946 mudini wa Mbahe tsini na Thohoyandou, Afrika Tshipembe. Vho lovhedzwa nga 1963 nga Fr Augustine O’Brien, MSC, vho phasa vha vha mudededzi nga murahu vha da vha vha Thohoyatshikolo. Sa munna o malaho, a re na vhana vha malo, vho vha vho didzhenisa kha mishumo ya gereke na tshitshavha. Nga dzi 2 Luhuhi 1990, vho vhulahwa nga u rwiwa nga matombo na thonga nge vha hana u didzhenisa kha zwa vhuloi zwine zwa lwa na Tshikhatholiki.

*  *  *

MUKATEKISIWA TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA, MUFELA RIPFUMELO (Xitsonga)

Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa u velekiwile hi siku ra 16 Khotavuxika 1946 emugangeni wa Mbahe ekusuhi na Thohoyandou, Afrika Dzonga. U khuvuriwile hi 1963 hi Muprista Augustine O’Brien, MSC, u thwaserile tidyondzo ta vuthicara, endzhaku a va nhloko ya xikolo. Hambileswi a ri ni ndyangu ni vana va nhungu, u nghenelerile ngopfu eka migingiriko ya Kereke na ya muganga. Hi siku ra 2 Nyenyenyana 1990 u himiwile a fa hikwalaho ka ku ala ku teka xiave eka mintolovelo ya xiloyiloyi leyi lwaka na ripfumelo ra xiKhatoliki.

*  *  *

MOKGETHWA TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA, MOHWELATUMELO (Sepedi)

Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa o belegwe ka la 16 June 1946, motseng wa Mbahe, kgauswi le Thohoyandou, Africa Borwa. A kolobetšwa ke Fr. Augustine O’Brien, MSC. O phethile dithuto tša borutiši, morago a ba hlogo ya sekolo. Bjale ka monna wa lapa, wa bana ba seswai, o be a šomela kereke le setšhaba. Ka di 2 February 1990, o ile a kgatliwa, a hwa, a bolaelwa go gana go itshwantšha le dilo tša boloi, tša go ganana le tumelo ya SeKatholike.

*  *  *

Entrance Antiphon                                                              Cf. Gal 6:14;1Cor 1:18

Far be it from us to boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the word of the Cross is the power of God to us who have been saved.

OPENING PRAYER

O God, who were pleased to give light to your Church

by adorning Blessed Benedict with the victory of martyrdom,

graciously grant that, as he imitated the Lord’s Passion,

so may we, by rejecting evil and casting out the snares of the enemy

and the leaven of malice,

follow in his footsteps and be worthy to attain eternal joys.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

People:            Amen.

LITURGY OF THE WORD

FIRST READING:              Wisdom 2:12-20

 “Let us lie in wait for the righteous man,
because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions;
he reproaches us for sins against the law,
and accuses us of sins against our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God,
and calls himself a child of the Lord.
He became to us a reproof of our thoughts:
the very sight of him is a burden to us,
because his manner of life is unlike that of others,
and his ways are strange.
We are considered by him as something base,
and he avoids our ways as unclean;
he calls the last end of the righteous happy,
and boasts that God is his father. Let us see if his words are true,
and let us test what will happen at the end of his life;
for if the righteous man is God’s child, he will help him,
and will deliver him from the hand of his adversaries.
Let us test him with insult and torture,
so that we may find out how gentle he is,
and make trial of his forbearance.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death,
for, according to what he says, he will be protected.”

Reader:          The Word of the Lord

People:            Thanks be to God

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:  Psalm 27 1-4

R/. The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    whom should I dread?                    R/.

When those who do evil draw near

    To devour my flesh,

It is they, my enemies and foes,

     Who stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war break out against me,
    even then would I trust.                  R/.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
    only this do I seek:
to live in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord,
    to inquire at his temple.       R/.

SECOND READING (optional)                 Eph 6:10-17

Finally, brethren, be strong in the Lord

and in the strength of his might.

Put on the whole armour of God,

that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we are not contending against flesh and blood,

but against the principalities,

against the powers,

against the world rulers of this present darkness,

against the spiritual hosts of wickedness

in the heavenly places.

Therefore take the whole armour of God,

that you may be able to withstand in the evil day,

and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore,

having fastened the belt of truth around your waist,

and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

and having shod your feet

with the equipment of the gospel of peace;

above all taking the shield of faith,

with which you can quench

all the flaming darts of the Evil One.

And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit,

which is the word of God.

Reader:          The Word of the Lord

People:            Thanks be to God

ALLELUIA   Ac 7:59

V/. Alleluia. R/. Alleluia.

V/. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

R/. Alleluia.

GOSPEL                                                                                                        John 12:24-26

Deacon/Priest:           The Lord be with you

People:                        And with your spirit

Deacon/Priest:           A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John

People:                        Glory to you O Lord.

At that time:

Jesus said to his disciples,

 ^“Truly, truly I say to you,

unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies,

it remains alone;

but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

He who loves his life loses it,

and he who hates his life in this world

will keep it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,

and where I am, there will my servant be also.

If any one serves me, he must follow me;

and where I am, there shall my servant be also;

if any one serves me, the Father will honour him.”

Deacon/Priest: The Gospel of the Lord.

People:            Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

Presider:    Most merciful God,

                    pour out your blessing upon these offerings

                    and confirm us in the faith

                    that Blessed Benedict professed by the shedding of his blood.

                    Through Christ our Lord.

People:                               Amen.

EUCHARISTIC PREFACE I  OF HOLY MARTYRS

It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,

always and everywhere to give you thanks,

Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God.

For the blood of your Blessed Martyr Benedict,

poured out like Christ’s to glorify your name,

shows forth your marvellous works, by which

in our weakness you perfect your power

and on the feeble bestow strength to bear you witness,

through Christ our Lord.

And so, with the powers of Heaven

we worship you constantly on earth,

nd before your majesty without end we acclaim:

Holy,Holy,Holy….

Communion Antiphon

                                                                                                                        Jn 15:1-5

I am the true vine and you are the branches, says the Lord, whoever remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit.

Or:                                                                                                                   Jn 8:12

Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life, says the Lord.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Presider: Having fed upon heavenly delights,

                we humbly ask you, O Lord,

                that by the example of Blessed Benedict

                we may bear in our hearts

                the marks of your Son’s charity and suffering

                and ever enjoy the fruit of perpetual peace.

                Through Christ our Lord

PRAYER FOR CANONIZATION of Blesssed Benedict DASWA

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of Blessed Benedict Daswa,

a man of deep faith, fearless courage and generous charity.

We give you praise for his wonderful example as a devoted family man, educator and faithful catechist.

Led by your Holy Spirit, Blessed Benedict remained faithful to your Gospel of truth and goodness in the face of violent opposition and hatred.  May the example of his generous sacrifice inspire us to grow in appreciation of the sacredness of every human life.

Listen favourably, we pray, to the intercessions of Blessed Benedict on behalf of your faithful people who seek healing, strength and courage.  May his prayers obtain for us the miracles needed for your Church to proclaim him a saint of our time and apostle to our present world.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord.

AMEN.

With ecclesiastical  approval, 1 November 2016
+Joao Noe Rodrigues,Bishop of Tzaneen (South Africa)
Please send all information regarding graces and favours received through the intercession of Blessed Benedict Daswa to: bendaswa@mweb.co.za  or write to  the Promoter Sr Claudette at P.O.Box 261 Tzaneen 0850 South Africa

Pope Francis' declaration of the beatification of Benedict Daswa

Apostolic Letter 

WE,

Welcoming the desire of our brother

Joao Noe RODRIGUES, bishop of  Tzaneen, 

 of many other brothers in the Episcopate

and of many faithful Christians,

and after having had the opinion of the  Congregation for the Causes of  Saints, with of our apostolic authority we  grant that

The Venerable Servant of God

Tshimangadzo Samuel  Benedict Daswa

layman and familyman, martyr,

 zealous catechist, coherent educator,

heroic witness of the Gospel, even to the shedding of  blood,

from now on will be called Blessed,

and his feast, in the places according to the rules established by the law, will be celebrated every year, on the 1^st  February.

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the 08^th August,

of the year of the Lord  two thousand fifteen

The third of our Pontificate.

                                             Francis

IMBISA : 11th Plenary Session Final Statement:Lesotho 2016

DECLARATION OF THE 11th IMBISA PLENARY ASSEMBLY

22 - 26 November 2016

Maseru (Lesotho)

We, the Inter-regional Meeting of Bishops in Southern Africa, (IMBISA) in our 11th plenary meeting held in Maseru, Lesotho, considered thoroughly the theme “Empowering the laity for effective engagement in socio political and environmental issues: ‘Laudato Si’ as a point of reference.” 

Having reflected on the major points of Pope Francis’ Encyclical on environment ‘Laudato Si’, we identified issues in our region relating to it. We analyzed the capacity and limitations of our Church and explored ways and means of implementing ‘Laudato Si’. 

Planet earth, which is God’s gift and common home to all creatures, is gradually being destroyed by us human beings. We therefore welcome the invitation of the Pope to conversion, which means changing attitudes and behaviours that harm the earth, diminish human dignity, impoverish quality of life and create inequality in society. 

We gave attention to those manifestations of environmental destruction that are of immediate concern in our region and conference areas. These include pollution of the environment, harmful byproducts in the production of some sources of energy, water pollution and wastage. The consequences frequently result in diseases, corruption, consumerism, unemployment and inequality.

We identified practical ways and means of informing ourselves and our lay people to adopt a caring and responsible attitude towards the gift of creation which includes a celebration of creation around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi.

We mandate the secretariat and the staff of IMBISA to gather and disseminate information informed by ‘Laudato Si’ with suggested specific concrete targets to enhance the awareness and implementation of our goals, keeping in mind that there are presently programmes addressing some of these issues at conference levels. We recommend that each conference continues to address these issues. 

We commit ourselves to with in the care of common home and we appeal to all women and men of goodwill to take the issue of environment seriously.

BEATIFICATION OF TSHIMANGADZO SAMUEL BENEDICT DASWA

Over 30 000  people celebrate  and worship at the Blessed Tshimangadzo Benedict Daswa shrine site

The Catholic Youth of Tzaneen Diocese  praise the Lord and after Cardinal Angelo Amato proclaims Benedict Daswa “Blessed”  the banner of Blessed Tshimangadzo is revealed while Blessed Benedict Daswa’s mother ponders on the mystery of this event in her heart. The 13 September 2015 is a day to be remembered in the history of the Church in Tzaneen Diocese.

EXHUMATION AND TRANSFER OF MORTAL REMAINS

On Monday 24 August 2015, the Church authorities and other authorised personnel with most of the close members of the Daswa Family, gathered in the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption at Nweli. After the welcome and prayer service, the order of proceedings was outlined by the Promoter of Justice, Rev Doctor Edmund O’Neill sdb. All then proceeded to the cemetery in Mbahe Village and assembled at the grave which was clearly marked by the tombstone inscription as belonging to the Venerable Servant of God.With raised hands, three witnesses attested aloud that they were present at the burial of the Venerable Servant of God, Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa, and that this was indeed the place of burial of his remains. After calling each of the grave-diggers by name, Bishop Joao Rodrigues instructed them to proceed with their work.As the coffin had been very securely buried with several layers of thick cement between layers of soil, the process of uncovering the coffin took more than four hours.


The steel coffin which was in good condition, was carefully lifted upright from the grave.

With the consent of the Daswa Family it was then carried very respectfully to the grave of Eveline (Shady) Daswa, the deceased wife of Benedict, and placed on top of her tombstone. After the coffin was opened the skeletal remains of the Venerable Servant of God were seen to be intact within the original wrappings, which were themselves intact.The Family indicated their preference for the remains to be kept undisturbed in the original coffin for re-interment. Following the age-old custom of the Church, some small portions of the cloth in which the deceased was wrapped and a tiny portion of bone were taken for future use as relics.
After the coffin had been brushed down to remove excess soil, an official church document testifying to the date of death and exhumation of the Venerable Servant of God was placed inside the coffin.



It was then covered in white material and draped in colourful traditional Venda cloth. It was next secured with strong bands, bound with red ribbon and sealed with the wax seal of the Diocese of Tzaneen. The adult children of Benedict Daswa carried the dressed and sealed coffin to the hearse which then departed for the Church of the Assumption of Mary at Nweli, followed in convoy by the other cars.

The remains, carried by the children of Benedict Daswa, entered the church from which it departed 25 years previously. Bishop Joao Noe Rodrigues blessed and sprinkled with Holy Water and incensed the newly prepared vault, coffin and remains, as well as the Paschal Candle which was placed alongside the new vault.The coffin was then lowered on to four bricks to its new resting place, after which all were invited to view the coffin before the undertakers began the work of closing the vault with a new tombstone and headstone. The children of Benedict Daswa placed a veil as well as a bouquet of flowers on the newly sealed vault. After a brief prayer service and vote of thanks by a senior family of the Daswa Family and the Chairperson of the Diocese of Tzaneen, everyone departed.The unveiling of the tombstone will take place on the Saturday 12 September 2015, the day before the celebration of the beatification Mass..