***

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

I greet Cardinal Semeraro with the other Superiors of the Dicastery, the officials, the consultors, the postulators, and all of you who have taken part in the Conference on the theme of martyrdom and the offering of life. It had as its guiding Word that of Jesus in the Gospel of John: “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). And to canonize a martyr, miracles are not required. Martyrdom is enough; we thus save a little time, and paper, and money [Laughter].

And this giving of life for one’s friends is a Word that always instils comfort and hope. Indeed, on the evening of the Last Supper, the Lord speaks of the gift of self that would be consummated on the cross. Only love can make sense of the cross: a love so great that it has taken on all sin and forgives it, enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it, enters even into death to overcome it and save us. In the Cross of Christ there is all of God’s love, there is his immense mercy.

To be a saint does not only require human effort or personal commitment to sacrifice and renunciation. First of all, we must allow ourselves to be transformed by the power of God’s love, which is greater than us and makes us capable of loving even beyond what we thought we were capable of. It is not by chance that the Second Vatican Council, with regard to the universal vocation to holiness, speaks of the “fullness of Christian life” and the “perfection of charity”, capable of promoting “a much more human manner of living … in this earthly society” (Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium, 40).

This perspective also enlightens your work for the causes of saints, a precious service it offers the Church, so that the sign of lived holiness, always relevant, may never be lacking.

During the Conference you reflected on two forms of canonized holiness: that of martyrdom and that of the offering of life. Since antiquity, believers in Jesus have held in great esteem those who had paid in person, with their own lives, their love of Christ and the Church. They made their tombs places of worship and prayer. They joined together, on the day of their birth to heaven, to consolidate the bonds of a fraternity that in the Risen Christ transcends the limits of death, however cruel and painful.

In the martyr we find the features of the perfect disciple, who imitated Christ in renouncing himself and taking on his own cross, and, transformed by his charity, showed to all the salvific power of his Cross. I am reminded of the martyrdom of those good Orthodox Libyans: they died saying “Jesus”. “But father, they were orthodox!”. They were Christians. They are martyrs, and the Church venerates them as her own martyrs. On this we must… With martyrdom there is equality. The same happens in Uganda, with the Anglican martyrs. They are martyrs! And the Church takes them all as martyrs.

In the context of the causes of saints, the Church’s common feeling has defined three fundamental elements of martyrdom, which always remain valid. The martyr is a Christian who – firstly – in order not to deny his faith, consciously suffers a violent and premature death. Even an unbaptized Christian, who is Christian at heart, confesses Jesus Christ at the Baptism of blood. Secondly, the killing is perpetrated by a persecutor, moved by hatred against the faith or another virtue connected to it; and thirdly, the victim assumes an unexpected attitude of charity, patience, meekness, in imitation of the crucified Jesus. What differs, in the various ages, is not the concept of martyrdom, but the concrete ways in which, in a specific historic context, it occurs.

Even today, in many parts of the world, there are many martyrs who give their life for Christ. In many cases Christianity is persecuted because, driven by faith in God, he defends justice, truth, peace, the dignity of the person. This implies, for those who study the various martyrdom events, that – as Venerable Pius XII taught, “sometimes moral certainty results only from a quantity of clues and proofs which, taken individually, are not worth founding a true certainty” – that harmony of knowledge – “and only when taken together do they leave no reasonable doubt in the mind of a man of sound judgement” (Address to the Roman Rota, 1 October 1942).

In the Bull of Indiction of the next Jubilee I defined that of the martyrs as the most convincing testimony of hope. This is why, within the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, I wanted to set up the Commission for the New Martyrs – Witnesses of the Faith, which, distinct from the treatment of the causes of martyrdom, would gather the memory of those who, even within the other Christian denominations, were able to give up their lives in order not to betray the Lord. And there are many, many of other denominations, who are martyrs.

The experience then of the Causes of Saints and the continuous confrontation with the concrete experience of believers led me, on 11 July 2017, to sign the Motu Proprio “Maiorem hac dilectionem”, with which I intended to express the common sense of the faithful People of God regarding the witness of holiness of those who, inspired by Christ’s charity, voluntarily offered their lives, accepting a certain and imminent death. Since it was a question of defining a new path for the causes of beatification and canonization, I established that there must be a connection between the offering of life and premature death, that the Servant of God had exercised the Christian virtues at least to an ordinary degree, and that, especially after his death, he was surrounded by the fame and signs of holiness.

What distinguishes the offer of life, in which the figure of the persecutor is missing, is the existence of an external, objectively assessable condition in which the disciple of Christ freely placed himself and which leads to death. Even in the extraordinary witness of this type of holiness, the beauty of the Christian life, which is able to make itself a gift without measure, like Jesus on the cross, shines forth.

Dear brothers and sisters, I thank you, I encourage you to carry out your work for the causes of saints with passion, and with generosity. I entrust you to the intercession of the Virgin Mary and all the witnesses of Christ, whose names are in the book of life. I bless you from my heart, and please, I ask you to pray for me. Thank you.

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Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance, and Bishop Edward M. Lohse of Kalamazoo and a member of the same committee, facilitated the presentation of the cause to the bishops. With 205 votes in favor, 6 votes against, and 19 abstentions, the bishops affirmed their support for the advancement of the cause of beatification and canonization at the local level.

A brief biography of Dr. Gertrude Barber was provided by the Diocese of Erie:

Dr. Gertrude Agnes Barber was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, on September 16, 1911. After the death of her father during the 1918 flu pandemic, her eldest brother left school to support the family, ensuring his siblings could continue their education – a sacrifice that had profound impact on Gertrude’s lifelong advocacy of education.

She earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and began her career as a teacher in the Erie School District in 1931. While teaching, she continued her education, earning a master’s and doctoral degree in education, becoming a school psychologist and administrator. Her work with children with special needs profoundly impacted her and in 1952 she opened her first class for children with intellectual disabilities. Dr. Barber’s mission expanded throughout her career, opening the first home for children with disabilities in 1958. In 1971, she left the Erie School District to lead an organization serving individuals of all ages, providing care for children from 24 area school districts, adult training and job placement services, group homes and recreational programs, a retirement center for adults in their senior years, and mental health support services.

Dr. Barber passed away on April 29, 2000, but her legacy continues through the Barber National Institute, which provides services to thousands of children and adults with autism, intellectual, and physical disabilities and behavioral health challenges and their families across Pennsylvania.

The cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Dr. Gertrude A. Barber was formally opened by Bishop Lawrence T. Persico of Erie in December 2019.

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The Joint Christological Declaration, signed on 11 November 1994 by Saint John Paul  II and Catholicos Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV, put an end to 1.500 years of Christological  controversy dating back to the Council of Ephesus (431).

His Holiness Mar Awa III was accompanied by the members of the Joint Commission for  Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East,  which was established by the same Declaration and which has recently initiated a new  phase of dialogue on the liturgy in the life of the Church.

On this occasion, the Holy Father announced the inclusion in the Roman Martyrology of St Isaac of Nineveh, also known as Isaac the Syrian, one of the most venerated Fathers of  the Syro-Oriental tradition.

Isaac of Nineveh, a monk and bishop in the second half of the 7th century, belonged to  the pre-Ephesian tradition, i.e. the Churches of the Assyrian-Chaldean tradition. Born in  present-day Qatar, where he had his first monastic experience, he was ordained bishop of  Nineveh, near present-day Mosul (Iraq), between 676 and 680, by the Catholicos of  Seleucia-Ctesiphon, George I. After a few months as bishop, he asked to return to  monastic life and retired to the monastery of Rabban Shabur in Beth Huzaye (in present day southwestern Iran). There, he composed several collections of ascetic-spiritual  discourses that made him famous.

Despite belonging to a Church that was no longer in communion with any other, because  it had not accepted the Council of Ephesus of 431, Isaac’s writings were translated into  all languages spoken by Christians: Greek, Arabic, Latin, Georgian, Slavonic, Ethiopian,  Romanian and others. Isaac thus became an important spiritual authority, especially in  monastic circles of all traditions, which quickly venerated him among their saints and  fathers.

The inclusion of Isaac the Syrian in the Roman Martyrology proves that holiness did not  stop with separations and exists across denominational boundaries. As the Second  Vatican Council declared: ‘It is right and salutary to recognize the riches of Christ and  virtuous works in the lives of others who are bearing witness to Christ, sometimes even  to the shedding of their blood.’ (Unitatis Redintegratio 4). St. John Paul II, for his part,  declared that “the communio sanctorum speaks louder than the things which divide us”  (Tertio Millenio Adveniente 37) and that “in a theocentric vision, we Christians already  have a common Martyrology” (Ut Unum Sint 84).

The recent Synod on Synodality also recalled that ‘the example of saints and witnesses to  the faith of other Churches and Christian Communions is a gift we can receive by  including their memory in our liturgical calendar’ (Final Document 122).

It is hoped that the inclusion in the Roman Martyrology of Isaac of Nineveh, a witness to  the precious Christian spiritual heritage of the Middle East, will contribute to the  rediscovery of his teaching and to the unity of all Christ’s disciples.

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We talked about this with Sister Angela Coelho, who was the Postulator of the Causes of Canonization of Saint Jacinta and Saint Francisco Marto, and above all because of her personal link with Sister Lucia of Fatima. Today Sister Angela works to obtain from Heaven and the Church something that for her is an evident truth: Sister Lucia of Fatima’s sanctity.

Q: You are the Postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Sister Lucia de Jesus Rosa dos Santos (Sister Lucia of Fatima). She died in 2005 . . . Did you have the opportunity to know her before her death? How did that meeting impact your life? 

A: Yes, I had the opportunity to meet her on five occasions between 2001 and 2004. What impressed me most was the sanctity of her life. Her very normal, very natural style made me understand that holiness isn’t something that transforms one into an odd person. She was a very concrete person of our time.

One of the things that most impressed me was a visit she had from an important gentleman of the United States, who had many requests and questions, above all requests for Sister Lucia for one or another intention. And she always answered him: “I pray, but you also must pray the Rosary every day. In face of all requests, that was her answer. Then I said to myself . . .  if this woman, who knows much more than we do, insists that we pray the Rosary every day, this prayer must have something that is very important.

Q: Of the personal documents written by Sister Lucia that you know of today, and which are not of public access . . . Please, can you refer to one of them that you consider of high value for the process of canonization of the little shepherdess?

A: Well, I cannot talk about the documents that have not yet been published. But I can mention (that they show) her immense love for the Eucharistic Jesus, for the Virgin, for the Heart of Mary and her great love for her brothers and sisters who wrote to her asking for prayers. So Sister Lucia is truly a woman who intercedes, who prays a lot for us.

Q: The revelations that are attributed to an Angel, to the Virgin, to Jesus which occurred in Fatima and other places, are stories of Lucia. What are the main arguments of the Authorities of the Church to declare as credible the apparitions and revelations that Sister Lucia attests?

A: In the first place, the contents of the messages are all coherent with the public revelation and the Doctrine of the Church. There is nothing, nothing in the Virgin’s sayings that is contrary to the Doctrine (of the Church). Moreover, the conduct of the visionaries was always morally very faithful to the teachings of the Church and also very obedient to the Church. However, a very important sign to approve the apparitions was the miracle of the sun that the three little shepherds anticipated three months before, which 70,000 people saw and in their (thousands) of testimonies said they saw.

Q: Please mention a personal experience or that of third parties that have convinced you that Sister Lucia of Fatima is a Saint.

A: Reading her texts, I am personally convinced of her high level of sanctity surrendered for us. But there are also stories of many graces – none has characteristics of a miracle – that prove to me how people go to Lucia to ask for something, trusting in her intercessory power.

Q: Did Sister Lucia have doubts about the veracity of the apparitions and the revelations received? Why did she doubt? How did she resolve these doubts?

A: It happened briefly between Jjne and July of 1917. People who said to her that it was all a deception and she doubted at times. She resolved these doubts because Jacinta and Francisco prayed a lot for her.

Q: As Postulator are you already informed about some possible miracles that are attributed to God’s extraordinary mercy through Sister Lucia of Fatima’s intercession? 

A: There are no miracles yet.

Q: Was the reality of sexual abuses, of conscience and power attributed to members of the clergy, warned about in some way in the Fatima messages or in some writings of Sister Lucia of Fatima? 

A: In no Fatima message  or writing of Sister Lucia is there any warning on this subject.

Q: Sister Lucia and the events linked to Fatima seem far from our time. What is there relevance? Is there a Fatima spirituality that speaks to today’s young people?

A: The very self-referential characteristic of our society, very isolated, much affected by loneliness; with fear of existence, of what happens daily, delinquency, health, economic problems, the future. In face of these things, Fatima offers as a gift sent from Heaven the answers to be able to cure these wounds and asks us for commitment. For instance, in the face of self-referentiality, the Angel and the Virgin talked of Adoration, of putting God at the center. Moreover, in face of fear of existence and loneliness, Fatima offers Mary’s Heart as refuge and way to reach God and, as the Church teaches, Fatima says that you have a family, that you don’t walk alone and that this Church is your family.

When one looks at the Virgin’s requests, such as praying the Rosary , the First Saturdays, Eucharistic Adoration it’s obvious that Fatima is more relevant today than 100 years ago.

Q: In one of your conferences broadcast on YouTube in 2023, speaking of the third secret of Fatima and, concretely, the death of the “Bishop dressed in white”, which referred to a Pope, you pointed out: “The Church’s pilgrimage has not yet ended, that is why the third secret is open. In this sense, It’s not fulfilled. What’s going to happen to the Pope? I don’t know that, if it has been fulfilled or not as I believe that it is still open” . . .  In your opinion should we still hope in the fulfilment of the prophecy of that third secret of Fatima, which shows the death by martyrdom of a Pope? 

A: Well, I don’t know what the Lord will do. When I said that it is open it’s not that a Pope is literally going to die in a violent way, but that he continues suffering and, with him, many people suffer. It is in this sense that the secret of Fatima continues open.

Q: Francisco wanted to console God, Jacinta offered herself for sinners . . . and Sister Lucia? What could be the seal of her spiritual identity? 

A: I think it’s her surrender for the Church in obedience. Obedience up to death and death on a cross, as talked about in the Letter to the Hebrews. A woman totally obedient to the Church, who gives herself for the Church through her prayers and sacrifices. Also a sister we have in Heaven from whence she intercedes for us as she also did on earth.

Article published originally in PortaLuz.

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Sister Clare’s path to faith was nothing short of remarkable. In her youth, she showed little interest in religion, pursuing a promising career in acting. However, in the year 2000, a Holy Week retreat in Spain profoundly changed her life. She experienced a deeply moving conversion and felt an undeniable call to join religious life with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother. Her story—from a self-described “wild child” to a woman of unwavering faith—continues to inspire people across generations and continents.

An Irish Woman’s Faith Becomes a Global Inspiration

Born in 1982 amid the social upheaval of Northern Ireland’s Troubles, Sister Clare grew up in Derry, a city made internationally familiar by the popular show “Derry Girls”. But Sister Clare’s story offers a different glimpse into Derry’s soul: one of resilience, spiritual strength, and community devotion. Her life took a transformative turn, bringing her from a life on stage to missionary work around the world, eventually to Ecuador, where she served young people and communities until her life was tragically cut short in the 2016 earthquake.

Father Gerard Mongan, a priest from her parish in Derry’s Bogside neighborhood, described the announcement of her canonization cause as “overwhelmingly joyful.” He said the process, which will formally open on January 12 in Madrid, reflects Sister Clare’s enduring impact and has sparked a deep sense of anticipation for the people of Derry, who are eager to see one of their own recognized as a “Servant of God.”

“We are witnessing an extraordinary moment for our city,” Father Mongan shared. “She’s inspired a generation of young people here and elsewhere to rekindle their faith and find joy and purpose in it.”

A Legacy of Joyful Service and Compassion

Following her initial calling, Sister Clare joined the convent and embarked on a journey that spanned multiple countries. After taking her first vows in 2006, she served in various communities, including her work with young people facing difficult family circumstances in Belmonte, Spain. Known for her zeal and boundless joy, Sister Clare quickly became a role model for youth and a source of comfort and inspiration to those around her. Her mission eventually took her to Jacksonville, Florida, where she continued her pastoral work at Assumption Parish and School.

Father Frederick Parke, a priest who served with her in Florida and passed away in 2021, recalled her infectious enthusiasm. “Her joy was irresistible; the young people could see her love for the Eucharist, and they felt drawn to it themselves. She was a beacon of hope and kindness.”

The Power of a Life Transformed

Sister Clare’s story has gained a strong following, particularly among young Catholics who see in her a relatable yet extraordinary example of spiritual transformation. Her congregation, the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother, produced a documentary, “All or Nothing”, chronicling her life, which has amassed over 2.5 million views on YouTube. Additionally, the book “Sister Clare Crockett: Alone with Christ Alone”, published in 2020, offers an intimate look into her spiritual journey through her personal writings, letters, and the testimony of those who knew her.

Reflecting on her conversion experience, Sister Clare wrote about the profound impact of Good Friday in 2000. “There were no choirs of angels,” she recounted, “but I knew He was on the cross for me. That conviction became a calling.”

Steps Toward Sainthood Begin in Madrid

With the opening of her cause in Madrid, Sister Clare will be declared a “Servant of God,” marking the first stage of an intensive review of her life and service. The appointment of a postulator and vice-postulator will ensure that her story reaches the Vatican with careful scrutiny and dedication.

For her family, friends, and the many she has inspired, the prospect of her canonization is a dream realized. Father Mongan expressed hope that the cause would allow even more people to encounter Sister Clare’s legacy of compassion, humility, and joyous service.

“Sister Clare has brought countless people back to their faith,” Father Mongan said. “This moment is a powerful reminder of her spirit—a beacon of hope for a world that deeply needs it. We await with open hearts.”

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Jesus asks James and John: “What is it you want me to do for you?” (Mk 10:36).  Immediately afterwards he presses them: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized  with the baptism that I am baptized with?” (Mk 10:38). Jesus poses questions and, in doing so, helps  us to discern, because questions allow us to discover what is within us, casting light on our hearts’  desires. 

Let us allow the word of the Lord to question us. Let us imagine that he is asking each one  of us: “What is it you want me to do for you?”; “Are you able to drink my cup?”.

Through these questions, Jesus reveals the ties between him and the disciples, as well as their  expectations of him, with all the aspects typical of any relationship. James and John are indeed  connected to Jesus, but they also have certain demands.

They express the desire to be near him, but  only in order to occupy a place of honour, to play an important role, “to sit, one at your right hand  and one at your left, in your glory” (Mk 10:37). They obviously think of Jesus as a victorious and  glorious Messiah and expect him to share his glory with them. They see in Jesus the Messiah, but  regard him with the category of power.

Jesus does not stop at the disciples’ words, but delves deeper, listening to and reading the  hearts. Then, in the exchange, through two questions, he tries to reveal the desire behind their  requests.

First, he asks: “What is it you want me to do for you?”, a question that reveals the thoughts of  their hearts, bringing to light the hidden expectations and dreams of glory that the disciples secretly  cultivate. It is as if Jesus asks: “Who do you want me to be for you?”. In this way, he unmasks  their real desire: for a powerful and victorious Messiah who will give them a place of honour.

With his second question, Jesus refutes this image of a Messiah and so helps them to change  their perspective, that is to be converted: “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink or be baptized  with the baptism that I am baptized with?” Thus, he reveals that he is not the Messiah that they  think; he is the God of love, who stoops down to reach the one who has sunk low; who makes himself  weak to raise up the weak, who works for peace and not for war, who has come to serve and not to  be served. The cup that the Lord will drink is the offering of his life, given to us out of love, even  unto death, and death on a cross. 

Moreover, on his right and on his left there will be two thieves, hanging like him on the cross  and not seated on thrones of power; two thieves nailed with Christ in pain, not enthroned in glory.  The crucified king, the just man condemned becomes the slave of all: truly this man is God’s Son!  (cf. Mk 15:39). Those who dominate do not win, only those who serve out of love. We were also  reminded of this in the Letter to the Hebrews: “We do not have a high priest who is unable to  sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are”  (Heb 4:15).

At this point, Jesus can help his disciples to convert, to change their mindset: “You know that  among the gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones  are tyrants over them” (Mk 10:42). But it must not be that way for those who follow God, who made  himself a servant to reach everyone with his love. Those who follow Christ, if they wish to be great,  must serve by learning from him.

Brothers and sisters, Jesus reveals the thoughts, desires and projections of our hearts,  unmasking at times our expectations of glory, domination, and power. He helps us to think no  longer according to the world’s criteria, but according to the way of God, who becomes last so that  the last may be lifted up and become first. While these questions of Jesus, with his teaching on  service, are often incomprehensible to us as they were to the disciples, yet by following him, by  walking in his footsteps and welcoming the gift of his love that transforms our way of thinking, we  too can learn God’s way: service.

This is what we should yearn for: not power, but service. Service is the Christian way of life.  It is not about a list of things to do, so that once done, we can consider our part completed; those who  serve with love do not say: “now it’s someone else’s turn”. This is how employees think, not  witnesses. Service is born from love, and love knows no bounds, it makes no calculations, it spends  and it gives. It does not just do things to bring about results, it is not occasional service, but it is  something that is born from the heart, a heart renewed by love and in love. 

When we learn to serve, our every gesture of attention and care, every expression of tenderness,  every work of mercy becomes a reflection of God’s love. And so we continue Jesus’ work in the  world.

In light of this, we can remember the disciples of the Gospel who are being canonized today.  Throughout the troubled history of humanity, they remained faithful servants, men and women who  served in martyrdom and in joy, like Father Manuel Ruiz López and his companions. They are  priests and religious fervent with missionary zeal, like Father Joseph Allamano, Sister Marie Leonie  Paradis and Sister Elena Guerra. These new saints lived Jesus’ way: service. The faith and the  apostolate they carried out did not feed their worldly desires and hunger for power but, on the contrary,  they made themselves servants of their brothers and sisters, creative in doing the good, steadfast in  difficulties and generous to the end.

We confidently ask their intercession so that we too can follow Christ, follow him in service  and become witnesses of hope for the world.

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***

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster died on May 29, 2019, and was buried within days in a grave on the property of the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles monastery in Gower, Mo. She was buried without any embalming or other treatment of her body, in a simple unsealed wooden casket. Following the exhumation of the body of Sister Wilhelmina on April 28, 2023, for the purpose of moving her body into the Abbey church for interment, it was discovered that her body did not exhibit signs of decomposition that would normally have occurred after nearly four years of burial under the conditions described above.

On May 24, 2023, as the Bishop of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, I commissioned a team of local medical experts to conduct an examination and evaluation of Sister Wilhelmina’s body.  The team was led by a Doctor of Pathology, who was assisted by two other medical doctors and a former Missouri county coroner.  In addition to examining and evaluating the mortal remains of the deceased, the team inspected the casket, and interviews were conducted with eyewitnesses to events immediately preceding the burial in 2019 and the exhumation in April 2023.

In the final report, the investigative team noted that the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s body during the examination was notable for a lack of any detected features of decomposition. The lining of her casket had completely deteriorated, but her habit and clothing showed no features of breakdown. The report also noted that the related history of Sister Wilhelmina’s death and interment does not describe conditions that would be expected to protect against decomposition.

The investigative team was only able to conduct a limited examination but still concluded that “the condition of her body is highly atypical for the interval of nearly four years since her death, especially given the environmental conditions and the findings in associated objects.”

Along with the evaluation by medical experts, additional tests were soon conducted on the soil in which the burial took place. After analysis, no unusual elements were found which would have impacted the condition of Sister Wilhelmina’s body when it was exhumed.

In conclusion, within the limits of what has been observed during this time, the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster does not appear to have experienced the decomposition that would have normally been expected under such previous burial conditions.

The Catholic Church does not have an official protocol for determining if a deceased person’s body is incorrupt, and incorruptibility is not considered to be an indication of sainthood. There is no current plan to initiate a cause for sainthood for Sister Wilhelmina.

The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions. I pray that Sister Wilhelmina’s story continues to open hearts to love for Our Lord and Our Lady.

+Bishop James V. Johnston, Jr.

Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph

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The film crew followed the group as they traversed the Atlantic, documenting their visit to the tomb of Carlo Acutis, a teenager on the path to sainthood who will be canonized in 2025. This visit was especially moving for the students, who found themselves standing before the preserved body of a young man who, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, looked strikingly like one of their own.

Carlo, who passed away at just 15 in 2006, has been dubbed a «saint for the digital age» and is poised to become the first millennial to be canonized. His life and legacy resonate deeply with today’s youth, particularly those navigating the challenges of the modern, tech-driven world.

Jerome Richter, Vice President of the University of Mary in Bismarck, organized the pilgrimage. He described the students’ reactions as powerful and transformative. «Seeing the face of a saint who looked so much like them was overwhelming,» Richter shared. «Some cried without knowing why, while others were deeply inspired, feeling a connection to Carlo as a peer rather than a distant figure.»

These reactions are central to the documentary, which aims to explore how Carlo’s life and message provide guidance in an increasingly digital world. «We are viewing the world through Carlo’s eyes,» explained Tim Moriarty, Executive Producer at Castletown Media and the film’s director. «He approached the rapidly advancing digital landscape with a profound Catholic faith, offering a roadmap for how we can remain grounded in an ever-shifting world.»

Carlo’s story is a testament to the potential of technology when used with intention and faith. Known as «God’s influencer,» Carlo harnessed his self-taught computer skills to create a website cataloging Eucharistic miracles, an endeavor that blended his love for technology with his deep devotion to the Eucharist.

«Carlo was not just a passive user of technology,» Moriarty noted. «He used it as a tool for evangelization, setting boundaries for himself and focusing on what truly mattered. His life is a guide on how to engage with the digital world without losing sight of our spiritual and human connections.»

The documentary also features insights from Carlo’s family, friends, and other notable figures, painting a vivid picture of his life. Particularly compelling is the testimony from his mother, Antonia Salzano, who credits Carlo with deepening her own faith. Another powerful account comes from Rajesh Mohur, a former Hindu who converted to Catholicism after being profoundly influenced by Carlo’s devotion during his time as the family’s caretaker.

“Roadmap to Reality” is more than just a biography of a young saint; it’s a message of hope for today’s youth. As Moriarty emphasized, «In a world where many young people struggle with feelings of hopelessness, Carlo’s life shows that holiness is not only possible but relevant in our times.»

The pilgrimage, where students were encouraged to disconnect from technology to fully immerse themselves in prayer and reflection, serves as a potent backdrop for the film. The experience underscored the importance of stepping away from digital distractions to reconnect with faith and purpose.

Moriarty, whose own faith deepened during the making of the film, hopes “Roadmap to Reality” will inspire viewers to find their own path to holiness in the modern world. «Carlo’s story is one of hope and relevance,» he said. «He shows us that even in this digital age, sanctity is within reach.»

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Already at her funeral, she was acclaimed as a holy mother by the faithful. Her process of Beatification began six years later. After the diocesan phase, the documents were sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. During the closing ceremony of the first phase of the process, Monsignor Baldo Reina, Vice-Regent of the diocese of Rome,       to which Chiara Corbella belonged, pointed out that people from the farthest corners of the world were praying for her Cause. “Believers see in Chiara a friend of God, an eloquent witness of faith, a travel companion on the path of their lives, a sister that intercedes before God in many needs, obtaining from the Lord the gift of faith, of conversion and of consolation.”

Enrico Petrillo, Husband of the Future Saint

During the closing of the process, held in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran on June 21, Enrico Petrillo said that his wife’s life enabled him to know God happily and sweetly. In statements to the Italian edition of “Vatican News,” he underscored that he was still learning to be the husband of a future Saint.

He added that, looking at the sealed boxes of the documentation, which related the beautiful life of his wife, he thought that the Church keeps precious things wisely. “I thought that what I had to do, I did: I told the Church all that I thought, all that I lived,” said the future Blessed’s husband.

Asked about how he would describe his wife’s holiness twelve years after her death, Enrico Petrillo answered: “I think of her as I did years ago. Chiara is a daughter of God who let herself be loved and today is able to illumine our path, which is simple, but is certainly not easy. She points out a path that is also available to us. I’m moved by the fact that all feel so close to her. She wasn’t a woman that did extraordinary things, as a superheroine. What is extraordinary is that with simplicity she accepted what the King of history decided to write for her. She accepted it and became a great tree under which to find refuge.”

The future Blessed’s husband added that the fact that many people now pray for Chiara’s Cause, doesn’t take anything away from him: “I feel she continues to be mine, and the fact that she gets close to others doesn’t take away from me what is and will be mine for ever. Love multiplies, it doesn’t divide.”

Francesco, 13, Son of a Blessed Mother

On June 21, during the closing of Chiara Corbella’s Beatification process, Francesco, the 13-year-old son for whom she gave her life, was sitting next to his father. His face showed emotion and excitement, and the cameras showed him repeatedly squeezing hard his father’s hand.

Enrico Petrillo confessed that, in the course of the years, he had talked many times with his son about life, the options, and the holiness of his mother. When they were travelling to the closing ceremony of the judgment, he asked Francesco if he understood what was going to happen and his son answered not entirely. “He has a whole life ahead of him to understand, to reflect further on the things that affect him personally. That’s why I try not to overwhelm him too much. If he asks, I answer him, if he doesn’t ask, it doesn’t matter,” said the adolescent’s father.

For his part, Enrico confides that his and Chiara’s story is one of marital sanctity. “I don’t know why the good God decided that I continue here, but I know that I have experienced many graces with her, so her experience is also mine and I’m very happy for it,” he added.

Chiara’s Embrace of Mothers That Abort

Among the numerous testimonies of Chiara’s action in people’s life and the graces received through her intercession, Enrico mentioned the numerous conversions as the most important. “There are many reports of physical cures, each of which must be verified by a Scientific Commission. Conversion is something more difficult, because God respects our freedom. Hence, in my opinion, the loveliest testimony is to know that so many people return to the faith, that so many mothers are reconciled with their past, in which they did something evil. They don’t feel judged by Chiara, they feel she watches over them, that she understands them.”

Enrico Petrillo adds that many of them think that it’s Chiara’s love that embraces them. “In reality, it’s God who embraces Chiara, and Chiara lets herself be embraced by Him and she also embraces us with that love,” said the future Blessed’s husband.

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-Manuel Ruiz López and Seven Companions of the Order of Friars Minor, and Francis Mooti and Raphael Massabki, lay faithful, martyrs.

-Joseph Allamano, priest, Founder of the Institutes of Men Missionaries of the Consolata and Women Missionaries of the Consolata.

-Marie-Léonie Paradis (born Virginia Alodie), Foundress of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family.

-Elena Guerra, Foundress of the Congregation of the Oblates of the Holy Spirit, known as the “Sisters of Saint Zita.”

-Carlo Acutis, lay faithful.

In the course of the Consistory, the Holy Father decreed that Blessed Manuel Ruiz López and Seven Companions, and Blesseds Francis Mooti and Raphael Massabki, Blessed Joseph Allamano, Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis and Blessed Elena Guerra be inscribed in the Catalogue of Saints on Sunday, October 20, 2024, whereas Blessed Carlo Acutis will be inscribed in the Catalogue of Saints at a date yet to be determined.

Then the Optatio followed of three Cardinals of the Order of Deacons to the Order of Presbyters:

-At the request of Cardinal James Michael Harvey, the Diakonia of Saint Pius V in Villa Carpegna was elevated pro hac vice to the Presbyteral Title.

-At the request of Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Diakonia of St. Anselm all”Aventino was elevated pro hac vice to the Presbyteral Title.

-At the request of Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, the Diakonia of St. Agnese in Agone was elevated pro hac vice to the Presbyteral Title.

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