On May 15, this year, Pope Francis held his first canonization ceremony in St. Peter's Square in Rome after the spread of COVID-19. They included Charles de Foucault, the "hermit of the Sahara Desert" and Devasahayam Pillai the first lay martyr of India.
Among those who entered the ranks of saints, in particular, Saint Titus Branzma, a martyr and journalist of the 20th century, stood out. The canonization of a journalist is a great lesson in an era in which fake news is rampant and the truth is threatened while post-truth is being used as a mechanism politically and in economics.
Born in 1881, Saint Branzma was a Dutch Carmelite friar, a theologian, and a reporter for the Catholic newspaper, and had a special affection for the church press working as an adviser.
After the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands in 1940, he wrote boldly against Nazi propaganda and defended Catholic education and Catholic freedom of the press against Nazi pressure. He was arrested for refusing to stop publishing any further articles of resistance against the Nazis, and in January 1942 transferred to a concentration camp, where he was subjected to biological testing.
The following month he was executed by lethal injection at the age of 61. The saint who tried to convey the message of truth, justice, love, and peace, through his own death showed the true identity, mission, and responsibility of a journalist, and became an example for all journalists.
Pope Francis said in his Apostolic Exhortation Rejoice and Be Glad "holiness is not achieved by heroic gestures, but by the numerous small acts of everyday life." This was a reminder of the Pope that we are all called to holiness when we faithfully fulfill our duties in life.
Saint Branzma deeply recognized his identity as a journalist and priest, and faithfully lived his beliefs and convictions. As a result, through his devotion and sacrifice, he provided an opportunity for the church to communicate with the world and became the protagonist of an evangelical event that made the public aware of how the truth can change the world.
Saint Branzma is the patron saint of the press in the post-truth era. In today's world, where lies by politicians and fake news on social media create social conflicts and divisions and promote hate and discrimination, adult commitment to the truth should be a model for all journalists. Fake news is a public enemy and evil of society. Anyone can become a victim of fake news and creates distrust, confrontation, fear, and anxiety in society, it is also a criminal act.
There is a constant war without gunfire over the truth between power and the press, the press, and citizens, and the progressive and conservative media. It can be seen that there is a great deal of distrust in the media. Distrust in the media leads to social distrust, and the shadow in society will inevitably grow. The truth needs to be restored. Even in this age, the 2nd and 3rd Brandsma must appear.
A Russian journalist who won last year's Nobel Peace Prize auctioned the medal to help Ukrainian refugees. He is Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent press, who exposed the corruption of the Vladimir Putin regime and was threatened by the Russian authorities but continued to report the facts with courage and determination.
He is scheduled to deliver a televised speech at the SIGNIS World Congress to be held from August 15 to 18 in Seoul. His story and those of his colleagues are eagerly awaited, as they do their best to report the truth. His independent press will help in restoring the credibility of the press. I want to nominate him as the second saint of Branzma.
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