13 sainthood causes advance

May 06, 2015

In an audience with the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on May 5, Pope Francis cleared the way for the canonization of three blesseds.

The Pope officially approved the canonization of Blessed Junípero Serra (1713-84) and approved decrees on miracles attributed to the intercession of Blessed Vincenzo Grossi (1845-1917), an Italian priest, and Blessed María de la Purísima (1926-98), the Spanish superior general of the Sisters of the Cross.

The Pope also cleared the way for three beatifications, approving a miracle attributed to the intercession of Ven. Giacomo Abbondo (1720-88), an Italian priest, and decrees on the martyrdoms of Father Mario Borzaga and Paul Thoj Xyooj, a missionary and lay catechist who were slain in Laos in 1960.

Finally, the Pope approved decrees on the heroic virtues of seven servants of God, who may now be honored with the title “venerable”:

• Bishop Jacinto Vera (1813-81), the first bishop of Montevideo, Uruguay
• Father Anton Antic (1893-1965), a Croatian Franciscan
• Juliette Colbert (1785-1864), a widow, naturalized Italian citizen, and philanthropist who founded a religious community
• Sister Brigida Maria Postorino (1865-1960), the Italian foundress of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate
• Sister Raffaela Maria Martínez-Cañavate Ballesteros (1915-91), a Spanish Capuchin Franciscan nun
• Sergio Bernardini (1882-1966) and his wife, Domenica Bedonni (1889-1971), the parents of ten children, eight of whom became priests or religious

 

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Further information:

• Promulgazione di Decreti della Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi (Holy See Press Office)