Pope authorizes promulgation of miracle, heroic virtue

Pope authorizes promulgation of miracle, heroic virtue

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday received the Cardinal Angelo Amato, SDB, the Prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in a private audience. During the audience, the Holy Father authorized the Congregation to promulgate decrees concerning several causes for saints.

Most notably, the Pope has approved a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Louis Martin and Blessed Marie-Azélie Guérin, the parents of St Thérèse of Lisieux.

The Congregation also promulgated decrees of heroic virtue for seven individuals who are on the path to canonization. The Servants of God whose heroic virtues were recognized on Tuesday are:

Fr Francesco Gattola, a diocesan Priest, and Founder of the Congregation of the Suore Figlie della Santissima Vergine Immaculata of Lourdes. He was born in Naples in 1822 and died there in 1899.

Pietro Barbarić, a Jesuit Scholastic, from Bosnia Herzegovina, born 1874, died 1897.

Mary Aikenhead, born in Cork, Ireland, in 1787, the Founder of the Institute of the Religious Sisters of Charity in Ireland. She died in Dublin in 1858.

Elisabetta Baldo, a widow, who founded the Pia Casa di San Giuseppe a Gavardo, and was co-Founder of the Congregation of the Umili Serve del Signore. Born in Italy in 1862; died 1926.

Vincenza of the Passion of the Lord (née Edvige Jaroszewska), Founder of the Congregation of the Benedictine Samaritan Sisters of the Cross of Christ. Born 1900 in Poland; died 1937.

Giovanna of the Cross, a professed religious of the Third Order of Saint Francis. She was Abbess of the Convent of Santa Maria della Croce in Cubas di Madrid. Born in Spain in 1481; died 1534.

And Maria Orsola Bussone, a young laywoman associated with the Focolare Movement in Italy. She was born in 1954, and died in 1970.

With the Pope’s decree, these holy men and women are now referred to as Venerable. 

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