VATICAN CITY, MARCH 7, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church will soon officially recognize 12 new saints.
The Vatican press office made the announcement today, following a public ordinary consistory held in the presence of John Paul II to vote on the cases.
The Vatican also announced the dates of the canonizations, which will take place in three groups — May 4, on the occasion of the Pope’s visit to Spain; May 18; and Oct. 5.
Here are the 12 who will be canonized.
— Pedro Poveda Castroverde (1874-1936), priest, martyr, founder of the Teresian Association (Spain); canonization May 4;
— Jozef Sebastian Pelczar (1842-1924), bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Poland); canonization May 18;
— Daniele Comboni (1831-1881), bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Combonian Holy Mother Missionary Sisters of Nigrizia (Italy); canonization Oct. 5;
— Arnold Janssen (1837-1909), priest, founder of the Society of the Divine Word, the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit and the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Germany); canonization Oct. 5;
— José María Rubio y Peralta (1864-1929), priest, of the Society of Jesus (Spain); canonization May 4;
— Joseph Freinademetz (1852-1909), priest, of the Society of the Divine Word (Italy); canonization Oct. 5;
— Urszula Ledochowska, nee Julia Maria (1865-1939), virgin, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony (Poland); canonization May 18;
— Genoveva Torres Morales (1870-1956), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Holy Angels (Spain); canonization May 4;
— Maria de Mattias (1805-1866), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Adoring Sisters of the Blood of Christ (Italy); canonization May 18;
— Angela de la Cruz, nee María de los Angeles Guerrero González (1846-1932), virgin, foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (Spain); canonization May 4;
— Virginia Centurione Bracelli (1587-1651), widow, foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary (Italy); canonization May 18;
— María Maravillas de Jesus, nee Pidal y Chico de Guzmán (1891-1974), virgin, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Spain); canonization May 4.