VATICAN CITY, MARCH 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- An American nun who founded a congregation of sisters to minister to the poor and elderly, and particularly to slaves, is now recognized as venerable.
Sister Henriette Delille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family, is one of seven to be recognized as venerable with decrees authorized by Benedict XVI on Saturday.
Henriette Delille (1812-1862) was of African descent and lived in Louisiana but she was not a slave. She founded her congregation of black sisters in 1842.
In addition to the proclamation regarding Venerable Henriette, the Pope also authorized proclamations noting the heroic virtue of two Germans, two Italians, a Paraguayan and a Slovenian. The new venerables are:
— Maria Felicia de Jesús Sacramentado (born Maria Felicia Guggiari Echeverría), a Paraguayan professed sister of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (1925-1959);
— Maria Frances of the Cross (born Franziska Amalia Streitel), German founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows (1844-1911);
— Maria Theresia (born Regina Christine Wilhelmine Bonzel), German founder of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (1830-1905);
— Ivan Franjo Gnidovec, Slovenian bishop of Skopje-Prizren (1873-1939);
— Luigi Novarese, Italian diocesan priest and founder of the Silent Workers of the Cross (1914-1984);
— Francesco Antonio Marcucci, Italian archbishop-bishop of Montalto (1717-1798).
Martyrs and miracles
The Holy Father also approved recognition of miracles obtained through the intercession of six people. They are:
— Blessed Bonifacia Rodríguez de Castro, Spanish founder of the Servants of St. Joseph (1837-1905);
— Juan de Palafox y Mendoza, Spanish bishop of Osma (1600-1659);
— Maria Barbara of the Blessed Trinity (born Barbara Maix), Austrian founder of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1818-1873);
— Anna Maria Adorni, Italian founder of the Congregation of Handmaidens of Blessed Mary Immaculate and of the Institute of the Good Shepherd of Parma (1805-1893);
— María de la Inmaculada Concepción (born María Isabel Salvat y Romero), Spanish superior-general of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (1926-1998);
— Stephen Nehme (born Joseph), Lebanese professed religious of the Order of Maronites (1889-1938).
The Pontiff recognized three martyrs:
— Szilard Bogdanffy, Romanian bishop of Oradea Mare of the Latins, died in prison in Nagyenyed, Romania (1911-1953).
— Gerhard Hirschfelder, German diocesan priest, died in the Dachau concentration camp (1907-1942).
— Luigi Grozde, Slovenian layman and member of Catholic Action, killed at Mirna in hatred of the faith (1923-1943).
