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Catholic World News News Feature

Beatifications re-scheduled for October, November July 15, 2005

The Vatican has set new dates for beatifications that were postponed because of the death of Pope John Paul II.

Although new dates for the ceremonies have not yet been announced, the postulator for the cause of Cardinal Clemens August Graf von Galen (1878- 1946) has disclosed that the German prelate will be beatified on October. Charles de Foucauld (1858- 1916), the French monk who lived in Algeria, will be beatified on November 13, along with two Italian nuns: Maria Pina Mastena (1881-1951) and Maria Crocifissa Curcio (1877-1957).

Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at the beatification of Cardinal von Galen in the Vatican basilica. The October 9 date was chosen for the ceremony because it coincides with the 1200th anniversary of the founding of the Münster archdiocese, the oldest in Germany, which the cardinal headed from 1933 to 1943. Many Catholics from the northwest German archdiocese were expected to make a pilgrimage to Rome for the anniversary; the beatification ceremony is certain to draw a larger attendance.

Cardinal von Galen, known as the "Lion of Münster," was a fierce opponent of the Nazi regime during World War II, denouncing Nazi racial and eugenic policies from his pulpit. He was elevated to the College of Cardinals, evidently in recognition of his heroic witness, shortly before his death in 1946.

Although the beatification of Charles de Foucauld has been set for November 9, the postulator for his cause, Msgr. Maurice Bouvier, indicates that it is not yet known who will preside at the ceremony. Msgr. Bouvier also said that he was not sure whether or not an official delegation from Algeria would attend the ceremony. An Algerian delegation had been expected in Rome on May 15, when the beatification ceremony was originally scheduled.

The beatifications of Maria Pina Mastena and Maria Crocifissa Curcio has also been scheduled earlier: for April 24. Those ceremonies, too, were delayed because of the death of Pope John Paul. Rescheduling those ceremonies presented no serious difficulties, since the religious congregations with which they were affiliated are in Italy, and members should have no trouble attending their beatification.