VATICAN CITY - This morning, 19 December 2005, Pope Benedict XVI received José Cardinal Saraiva Martins, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in a private audience. During this audience, the Pope authorized the Congregation to promulgate the following decrees regarding:

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable LUIGI BOCCARDO, priest of the archdiocese of Turin and founder of the Sisters of Christ the King, contemplative branch of the Poor Daughters of Saint Cajetan; born on 09 August 1861 in Moncalieri, Turin (Italy), and died on 09 June 1936 in Turin (Italy); declared venerable on 12 April 2003;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable LUIGI MONZA, priest of the archdiocese of Milan and founder of the Secular Institute of the Little Apostles of Charity; born on 22 June 1898 in Cislago, Varese (Italy), and died on 29 September 1954 in  Lecco (Italy); declared venerable on 20 December 2003;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable MOSÈ TOVINI, priest of the diocese of Brescia; born on 27 December 1877 in Cividate Camuno, Brescia (Italy), and died on 28 January 1930 in Brescia (Italy); declared venerable on 12 April 2003;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable AUGUSTINE THEVARPARAMPIL, called “Kunjachan”, priest of the eparchy of Palai; born on 01 April 1891 in Ramapuram, Kerala (India), and died on 16 October 1973 in Ramapuram, Kerala (India); declared venerable on 22 June 2004;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable EUSTACHIUS VAN LIESHOUT, professed priest, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus); born on 03 November 1890 in Aarle-Rixtel, North Brabant (Netherlands), and died on 30 August 1943 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais (Brazil); declared venerable on 12 April 2003;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable MARIA SCRILLI (in religion: MARIA TERESA OF JESUS), founder, Sisters of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; born on 15 May 1825 in Montevarchi, Arezzo (Italy), and died on 14 November 1889 in Florence (Italy); declared venerable on 20 December 2003;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable ANNA MARIA TAUSCHER  (in religion: MARIA TERESA OF SAINT JOSEPH), founder, Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus; born on 19 June 1855 in Sandow, Brandenburg (Germany), and died on 20 September 1938 in Sittard, Limburg (Netherlands); declared venerable on 20 December 2002;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable MARIA GRAZIA TARALLO (in religion: MARIA OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST), professed religious, Crucified Sisters Adorers of the Holy Eucharist; born on 23 September 1866 in Barra, Naples (Italy), and died on 27 July 1912 in San Giorgio a Cremano, Naples (Italy); declared venerable on 19 April 2004;

- a miracle, attributed to the intercession of Venerable TEODORA FRACASSO (in religion: ELIA OF SAINT CLEMENT), professed religious, Discalced Carmelite Nuns; born on 17 January 1901 in Bari (Italy), and died on 25 December 1927 in Bari (Italy); declared venerable on 11 December 1987;
 

- the martyrdom of the Servants of God VICTOR CHUMILLAS FERNÁNDEZ, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minor; born on 28 July 1902 in Olmeda del Rey, Cuenca (Spain), and killed in odium fidei on 16 August 1936 in Boca de Balondillo, Fuente el Fresno, Ciudad Real (Spain); and 21 COMPANIONS from the Franciscan Friars Minor of the archdiocese of Toledo, priests and religious, who were killed in odium fidei in 1936 during the religious persecution in the Spanish Civil War;

- the martyrdom of the Servants of God ANTERO MATEO GARCÍA, layperson of the archdiocese of Barcelona, married; member, Lay Dominicans; born on 04 March 1875 in Valdevimbre, León (Spain), and killed in odium fidei on 08 August 1936 in Sant Andreu de Palomar, Barcelona (Spain); and 11 COMPANIONS from the Dominican Second and Third Orders of the archdiocese Barcelona, who were killed in odium fidei in 1936 during the religious persecution in the Spanish Civil War;

- the heroic virtues of Blessed SZYMON OF LIPNICA, professed priest, Franciscan Friars Minors (Observants); born between 1435 and 1440 in Lipnica Murowana, Małopolskie (Poland), and died on 18 July 1482 in Kraków, Małopolskie (Poland); cult confirmed on 24 February 1685;

- the heroic virtues of Blessed CAMILLA BATTISTA VARANO, professed religious, Poor Clare Nuns; born on 09 April 1458 in Camerino, Macerata(Italy), and died on 31 May 1524 in Camerino, Macerata (Italy); cult confirmed on 07 April 1843;

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God GIOVANNI FRANCESCO BASCAPÈ (in religion: CARLO), professed priest, Barnabites; bishop of Novara; born on 25 October 1550 in Melegnano, Milan (Italy), and died on 06 October 1615 in Novara (Italy);

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God MASSIMO RINALDI, professed priest, Scalabrinians; bishop of Rieti; born on 24 September 1869 in Rieti (Italy), and died on 31 May 1941 in Rome (Italy);

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God PAUL JOSEF NARDINI, priest of the diocese of Speyer and founder of the Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family of Mallersdorf; born on 25 July 1821 in Germersheim, Rhineland Palatinate (Germany), and died on 27 January 1862 in Pirmasens, Rhineland Palatinate (Germany);

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God JOSEPH KUGLER (in religion: EUSTACHIUS), professed religious, Hospitallers of St. John of God; born on 15 January 1867 in Neuhaus, Bavaria (Germany), and and died on 10 June 1946 in Regensburg, Bavaria (Germany);

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God ISABELLA DE ROSIS, founder, Reparatrix Sisters of the Sacred Heart; born on 09 June 1842 in Rossano Calabro, Cosenza (Italy), and died on 11 August 1911 in Naples (Italy);

- the heroic virtues of the Servant of God JOSEFA SEGOVIA MORÓN, first general director of the Teresian Institute; born on 10 October 1891 in Jaén (Spain), and died on 29 March 1957 in Madrid (Spain).

Posted by:

Charles G. Braganza 

NEW PROCEDURE FOR BEATIFICATION RITES

VATICAN CITY - on 29 September 2005, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints issued the following communiqué concerning new procedures in beatification rites:

Having heard the conclusions of the study of the theological reasons for the rites of Beatification and Canonization and their pastoral requirements, and after receiving the approval of the Holy Father Benedict XVI, this Congregation for the Causes of Saints informs [the faithful] of the following new measures:

• While it should be understood that the Holy Father will preside at a Canonization, which attributes the devotion of the whole Church to the Blessed, a Beatification, nonetheless a Pontifical act, will be celebrated by a representative of the Holy Father who will normally be the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

• The rite of Beatification will take place in the Diocese that has promoted the Cause of the new Blessed, or in any other place deemed suitable.

• At the request of the Bishops and Promoters of the Cause, after having heard the opinion of the Secretariat of State, the rite of Beatification may take place in Rome.

• Lastly, the same rite will take place during the Eucharistic celebration unless special liturgical reasons suggest that it take place during the celebration of the Word or of the Liturgy of the Hours.
   

Vatican City, 29 September 2005
 

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, C.M.F.
Prefect

Archbishop Edward Nowak
Secretary

Posted by:

Charles G. Braganza