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 2025 Vatican City Postal Envelope Yesterday’s Dail Email recounted some of the major events of the Holy Year of 2025, the Jubilee of Hope, and looked at the major stamp releases tied to the Jubilee. In addition to those issues, the Vatican Post Office also released a series four minisheets during the Holy Year under the title of “Witnesses of Hope”, which honored four saints and blesseds who epitomize the Jubilee's message of hope. The minisheets, issued quarterly during the past year, each consist of four stamps, with the selvage bearing an inspiring image, a papal message, and the series title: “Testimoni di Speranza” (“Witnesses of Hope”).  Blessed Rosario Livatino Blessed Rosario Livatino. Born in 1952 in Sicily, Rosario Livatino was a magistrate committed to a fight against the Mafia while displaying an “unwavering commitment to Christian values that paved a path of justice and courage”. He was murdered on September 21, 1990, and would later be beatified by Pope Francis in 2018. His stamp shows him holding a book inscribed with his motto, "Sub Tutela Dei" (“Under the Tutelage of God”).  Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified. Born Mariam Baouardy in Galilee in 1846, this extraordinary woman lived a life of profound faith. Orphaned at age 3, she survived an assassination attempt at age 13 for refusing to convert to Islam. As a Carmelite, she experienced many mystical experiences during her short life (she died at age 32 in 1878). Having displayed a “total trust in the Lord”, she helped found Carmelite monasteries in Mangalore, India, and in Bethlehem.  Saint Charles de Foucauld Saint Charles de Foucauld. Born in Strasbourg in 1858, Charles de Foucauld at first led a carefree and worldly life. After enlisting in the French army, he served in Morocco and was influenced by the deep faith of the Muslims. He would return to France and rediscover the Catholic faith. Choosing to live a monastic life, he returned to Algeria in 1901 and quietly proclaimed the Gospel, not through active preaching but by example. He would be accidentally shot and killed by a young boy in 1916. He was canonized in 2022. NOTE: the latest issue of "Vatican Notes", which is in the mail and should arrive this week, includes an interview with Marco Ventura, who designed the Saint Charles de Foucauld issue.  Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. The first native North American saint, Kateri was born in 1656 in present-day New York state. From an early age she displayed a profound desire for peace and inner purity, and an encounter with French Jesuit missionaries introduced her to the Christian faith. She was baptized in 1676 and, due to the cultural pressures, would relocate to present-day Canada. Known for her gentleness and generosity towards the sick and the poor, she died in 1680 at just 24 years old and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. As a note, yesterday’s Daily Email omitted an image of the 2025 annual postal envelope from Vatican City showing Pope Francis opening the Holy Door at Saint Peter’s Basilica on December 24, 2024. That image is included at the top of this article. REFERENCES |
