VATICAN CITY, JUNE 8, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI approved nine beatifications to be held in the coming weeks, including those of two young laypeople: a 19-year-old Slovenian martyr and an Italian girl who died at age 18.
The Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff announced Tuesday the rites of beatification approved by the Holy Father to be held over coming months.
This Saturday will be the first: that of Manuel Lozano Garrido, known as Lolo. This Spanish layman was a journalist and writer and he will be beatified in Linares, Spain.
Another layman will be raised to the altars the following day: Lojze Grozde of Slovenia. Born in 1923 but rejected by his mother because he was conceived out of wedlock, Grozde endured a difficult childhood before finding God through Catholic Action. He came to live an intense life of prayer, but in 1943 on a trip to visit relatives, he was detained and accused of spreading anti-Communist propaganda. He was tortured to death the night of his arrest. He will be beatified in Celje, Slovenia.
Also in June, Stephen Nehme (born Joseph), a Lebanese professed religious of the Order of Maronites will be beatified. His ceremony will take place June 27 in Kfifan, Lebanon.
September will bring three beatifications:
— Leopoldo Sánchez Márquez de Alpandeire (born Francisco), a Spanish professed layman of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins, on Sept. 12 in Granada, Spain.
— María de la Inmaculada Concepción (born María Isabel Salvat y Romero), Spanish superior-general of Sisters of the Company of the Cross, on Sept. 18 in Seville, Spain.
— Chiara Badano, an Italian lay woman, on Sept. 25 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love, Rome. Badano died of cancer at age 18; she will be the first member of the Focolare Movement to be beatified.
Three more beatifications approved by the Pope are:
— Anna Maria Adorni, Italian founder of the Handmaidens of Blessed Mary Immaculate and of the Institute of the Good Shepherd of Parma, on Oct. 3 in Parma, Italy.
— Szilard Bogdanffy, bishop and martyr, on Oct. 30 in Oradea Mare, Romania.
— Maria Barbara of the Blessed Trinity (born Barbara Maix), Austrian founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, on Nov. 9 in Porto Alegre, Brazil.
