41 martyrs recognized; 6 other sainthood causes advance

June 08, 2015

In an audience with the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on June 5, Pope Francis approved decrees of the martyrdom of 37 priests and lay faithful, clearing the way for their beatification.

Federico da Berga (1877-1937) and his 25 companions were Capuchin Franciscan priests and lay brothers who were killed by Marxists in Catalonia in 1936 and 1937, during the Spanish Civil War.

Father Giuseppe Thao Tien (a diocesan priest), ten other priests (of the Paris Foreign Missions Society and the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate), and four of the lay faithful were martyred in Laos between 1954 and 1970.

The Pontiff also approved decrees on miracles attributed to the intercession of Venerable Francisco de Paula Victor (1827-1905), a Brazilian diocesan priest, and Venerable Klara Ludwika Szczesna (1863-1916), co-foundress of the Sister Servants of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, clearing the way for their beatification.

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

• Father Antonio Celona (1873-1952), an Italian priest who founded the Handmaids of Reparation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus;
• Father Ottorino Zanon (1915-72), an Italian priest who founded the Society of Saint Cajetan;
• Father Marcello Labor (1890-1954), a Jew, a medical doctor, author, and father of three who converted to Catholicism with his wife (1929), was widowed (1934), and ordained to the diocesan priesthood in Italy (1940)
• Sister Rachele Lalia (1839-1914), foundress of the Dominican Sisters of San Sisto Vecchio.

 

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Further information:

• Promulgazione di Decreti della Congregazione delle Cause dei Santi (Holy See Press Office)
• Federico da Berga e XXV soci nel martirio (General Curia, Capuchin Franciscan Order)
• Martyrs of Laos (Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate)