SANTI E BEATI GIOVANI

This volume provides a list of all young saints and the blesseds. As Cardinal Amato reminds us in his Presentation to the volume: «Saint Ambrogius affirmed: «Every age is mature when Christ is concerned». Martyrdom, like holiness, does not know age. From the time of Holy Innocents until today young saints are countless, be they martyrs or confessors. The list of the young saints is long, as this precious study testifies, accurate oeuvre by Mons. Maurizio Tagliaferri and Judith Borer. The reading of these pages shows us how the juvenile holiness is to be found in all the continents and speaks all the languages of the world. In fact, the Gospel is a good news for everyone. And it is the message which these young saints give us today. They invite us to be proud of our baptism, to be coherent with our Christian identity, without fear and human respect. These young people are not “empty men”, without perspectives or ideals. Instead, they are full people, rich in divine grace and overflowing human exemplarity. May the reading of these pages instill enthusiasm in families and in educators, called to the great task of Christian formation of young people at the school of the Gospel, authentic source of humanity».