The Sunday News
Elliot Mhindu
LIKE most Roman Catholics, I have always been fascinated about Saints particularly their courage to resist worldly pleasures, glory and money in pursuit for holiness. It does appear to me that upon God’s appointed time there are virtuous people who arise to bless the world with the love of neighbour in a world where hatred is common place.
The inherent contradiction of religion is displayed in the many people who hastily fill up the Church walls and corridors every Sunday albeit with the hesitance and the reluctance of the serpent to repent. Indeed, the notion and practice of attending church services every Sunday does not make one a devout believer and let alone a Saint.
In the world today, the claws of globalisation seem to have bludgeoned the world view and fundamental beliefs of the citizens both Christians and Non. It is difficult to imagine how one can become a virtuous person considering that globalisation has gripped the world with the endless search for material gratification. Nowadays materialism is painstakingly regarded as the ultimate purpose of human existence but also strongly regarded as a huge spiritual distraction. How then can one become holy in such a pressing context is the million-dollar question.
In Africa, the Church is well-decorated with Saints namely St Augustine of Hippo, St Anthony of Egypt, the Martyrs of Uganda, St Isodore Bakanja and others venerated for virtuousness but until last week there were no Saints to talk about in Zimbabwe. In the southern African and Zimbabwe Church there appears to be a great spiritual shift as the record of ordinary lay people now recognised by the Church as having lived virtuously in their past lifetime is increasing. Furthermore, the acknowledgements are corroborated by the wide-spread devotion to the virtues of these heroic people by the local church and communities.
Loosely defined a Saint is a person conceived with sin like all of us but in their lifetime experienced life-changing spiritual transformation that out-poured on the others. In 2017, South Africa, Benedict Chimangaliso Daswa was recognised by the Church as having lived a life of persistent holiness and bravery against witchcraft and in a statement on account of the beautification of Benedict Daswa, the South African government expressed that as a nation they were pleased to have one of their own residents becoming a citizen of Heaven.
Last week in the Archdiocese of Harare, the prayers of Catholics were answered as the process of opening the cause of John Bradburne’s beautification was opened. Resultantly the Church will embark on a massive programme of documenting evidence from witness accounts on the efficacy and merits of John Bradburne who is believed by many Catholics to have received abounding grace during his lifetime in Mutemwa that continues to be felt by many up to now.
Advocates for the cause of saints expressed their views on the significance of John Bradburne’s cause for canonisation to the social context of Zimbabwe. Fr Thomas Kutwa (The Parish Priest of St Bernard’s in Pumula in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo) revealed that the cause of canonisation for John Bradburn is a matter of faith and nothing else.
In an interview Fr Kutwa revealed that: “The message of John Bradburne is very much alive in Zimbabwe particularly among the poor, the suffering and the pilgrims who go to Mutemwa to pray annually and daily.”
Kutwa stated that “people from all walks of life and creed come to Mutemwa on pilgrimage to pray every year and Mutemwa is very popular among Catholics because it is a place where prayers are answered in truth and spirit.”
Fr Bhekimpilo Tshuma Parish Priest of Fatima Mission parish in Pumula South underscored that through John Bradburne, the Church has presented a model of faith that is required in the face of growing hardships socially in Zimbabwe.
He noted that: “The role and significance of the Saints in the Church is that of Intercessor-ship and there are no exceptions in Zimbabwe. The Saints live in Heaven with God and the Angels and are closer to Jesus and his Mother Mary and as such the Saints are able to plead on behalf of those nations, communities and individuals seeking favours through the prayers and merits of the Saints.”
Fr Tshuma stressed that: “The life of John Bradburn was a summary of love and affection and it teaches us as a nation that love conquers all problems and this is what we need in Zimbabwe.”
Additionally, Fr Similo the parish priest of Christ the King Parish, Hillside stressed that the next step after the opening of the cause of John Bradburne’s canonisation process will be the establishment of a dossier from witnesses accounts whose lives were tremendously changed through devotions and prayers directed to John Bradburn. During the interview Fr Similo revealed that: “The mass of the cause of John Bradburne’s canonisation that took place in Mutemwa last week was a rare and golden religious moment that has never been witnessed by so many Catholics. He added that the event was the climax of Catholic faith in Zimbabwe as it was attended by lots of Catholics who in their lifetime had a foretaste of God’s miracles through prayers directed to John Bradburne, the vagabond of God in Mutemwa.”
Additionally, Fr Similo advised all Catholics to pray for the cause of John Bradburne’s canonisation and he also encouraged Catholics to travel to Mutemwa on pilgrimage to see for themselves the power of God in solving problems.
Also, in an interview on the same occasion Bulawayo businessman, Kennedy Mamwadhi weighed in by saying that Saints were undeniably real and played the role of Intercessorship. During the interview Mamwadhi stated that: “The commencement of John Bradburne’s cause of canonisation means that as Zimbabwe the time has arrived when we need to pray in truth and in spirit to overcome all challenges experienced at national, community and individual level.”
He also stressed that: “Through John Bradburne’s love for the leprosy-stricken in Mutemwa we in Zimbabwe can now learn that love conquers all suffering.”
