On Friday, July 12, 2024, the 38th anniversary of the death of the Venerable Friar Martin BENEDICT (1931-1986) was commemorated in Galbeni, Romania. This Conventual Franciscan doctor and priest lived during the difficult period of communist dictatorship in Romania. Today, as then, he is called “the doctor who prays a lot” and “the good doctor.”
This year, the commemoration was preceded by an international art symposium dedicated to Friar Martin. It featured eight painters from four different countries: Italy, Hungary, Slovenia and Romania. During the exhibition of their works (July 6-13, 2024) the courtyard of the Martin Benedict Memorial House in Galbeni was “filled with faith and color.”
On July 12, the first rays of the sun shone upon a large group of faithful who gathered at the cemetery in Galbeni to pray at the grave of Friar Martin. It was a true, affectionate and fraternal prayer event.
A workshop entitled “A Painting Lesson for All Ages” followed at 10:30 a.m. The participants ranged from ages seven to eighty-six.
In the afternoon, a group of faithful from the nearby Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Valea Seacă, led by their Pastor, Father Andrei VARGA, offered a votive plaque to commemorate Friar Martin’s baptism which took place in their church on August 2, 1931.
At 6:00 p.m. the Most Reverend Iosif PĂULEȚ, Bishop of Iași, Romania, presided over a commemorative Mass. Friar Damian-Gheorghe PĂTRAȘCU, the Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania, gave the homily.
After the Mass, three significant events took place at the Martin Benedict Memorial House: the unveiling and blessing of the mural painting “The Decline of Holiness” by artist Roberto COLLODORO of Sicily; the unveiling and blessing of the “Healing Bell”; and the blessing of the paintings created by the artists participating in the Martin Benedict International Art Symposium.
Sincere thanks to all who put their heart, soul and energy into this commemorative event and made all of its initiatives and projects possible. May the Venerable Martin BENEDICT intercede for us all.
Friar Silvestru BEJAN
