VATICAN CITY, APRIL 14, 2003 (Zenit.org).- The Church gave official recognition to miracles attributed to the intercession of seven people who will soon be beatified.
Seven decrees recognizing the miracles were promulgated over the weekend in the presence of John Paul II.
During the same ceremony Saturday, the heroic virtues of nine baptized faithful were recognized, among them the emperor of Austria in whose honor the Pope was baptized with the name Karol (that is, Charles). The decrees take these faithful a step further toward official Church recognition of the holiness of their lives.
In all, decrees were promulgated for 10 men and six women. Eight are of Italian origin, four are Spanish, two French, one Austrian and one Dutch. Two undertook missionary work in Latin America.
Among them are four diocesan priests, three religious priests, two laymen of religious institutes, six women religious, and a father of a family. Nine are founders, one is a co-founder.
«This promulgation of the decrees takes place while humanity is again wounded and humiliated by armed conflict,» said Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Sainthood Causes, in the presence of the Pope.
«However, the hour of trial is illuminated by the example of our Servants of God, who believed and worked for real human development and harmony among peoples,» he said.
«They themselves lived the beatitude of peace and spent their lives carrying out works of mercy, the solid foundation of peace,» the cardinal said.
The seven to be beatified in the future are:
— Juan Nepomuceno Zegrí y Moreno, Spanish priest from the Archdiocese of Granada, founder of the Institute of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercedes (1831-1905).
— Luigi Talamoni, Italian priest from the Archdiocese of Milan, founder of the Congregation of the Merciful Sisters of St. Gerard (1848-1926).
— Luigi Maria Monti, Italian, lay religious and founder of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception (1825-1900).
— Matilde of the Sacred Heart, née Matilde Téllez Robles, Spanish, founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Mother of the Church (1841-1902).
— Piedad de la Cruz, née Tomasa Ortiz Real, Spanish, founder of the Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1842-1916).
— Rosalie Rendu, née Jeanne-Marie, French, of the Company of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent of Paul (1786-1856).
— Maria Candida dell’Eucharistia, née Maria Barba, Italian, professed religious of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (1884-1949).
In addition, the Congregation for Sainthood Causes promulgated the decrees of recognition of the heroic virtues of six priests, one woman religious, one laywoman, and a father of a family. They are:
— Luigi Boccardo, Italian, priest of the Archdiocese of Turin, founder of the Sisters of Jesus, King, contemplative branch of the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of St. Gaetano (1861-1936).
— Mose Tovini, Italian, priest of the Diocese of Brescia (1877-1930).
— Basile Antoine Marie Moreau, French, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Religious Sisters and Brothers of Holy Cross (1799-1873).
— Filippo Bardellini, Italian, priest of the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, founder of the Holy Society of the Poor Sisters of the House of Nazareth (1878-1956).
— Eustace Van Lieshout, Dutch, professed priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Picpus) (1890-1943).
— Luigi della Consolata, né Andrea Bordino, Italian, professed monk of the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Joseph Benito of Cottolengo (1922-1977).
— Anna Maria Fiorelli, Italian, widow Lapini, of the Third Order of St. Francis, founder of the Congregation of the Poor Daughters of the Holy of St. Francis of Assisi (Stigmatines) (1809-1860).
— Ascensión del Corazón de Jesús, née Florencia Nicol Goni, Spanish, co-founder and first superior general of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (1868-1940).
— Charles of Austria, Austrian, emperor and king (1887-1922).
