Catholic World News News Feature

22 candidates move toward beatification, canonization December 20, 2004

At a December 20 ceremony in the Vatican's Clementine Hall, Pope John Paul II approved a series of 22 decrees issued by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, advancing the causes for beatification or canonization of 22 different people.

The decrees-- read by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints-- testified to the heroic virtue, martyrdom, or miracles attributed to the candidates. They involved five Polish candidates-- who could possibly be beatified next June, if Pope John Paul goes through with the rumored plan for a trip to his native country during that month. There were also four Ukrainians mentioned on the list. But the most famous names were those of the French convert and monk, Charles de Foucauld; and the German Cardinal Clemens August von Galen.

The decrees included confirmation of miracles attributed to the intercession of three candidates who have already been beatified, and are now qualified for canonization:

1. Blessed Joseph Bilczewski (1860- 1923), the Archbishop of Leopoli, Ukraine;
2. Blessed Zygmunt Gorazdowski (1845- 1923), a Ukrainian priest and founder of the Sisters of St. Joseph; and
3. Blessed Gaetano Catanoso (1879- 1963), an Italian priest and founder of the Daughters of St. Veronica.

A Polish priest, Father Ladislaw Findysz (1907- 1964), was declared a martyr for the faith, and is now eligible for beatification. Father Findysz was imprisoned by the Polish Communist regime, and suffered severe mistreatment. Although he was eventually released, he died shortly thereafter from the effects of the abuse.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed the authenticity of miracles attributed to the intercession of 8 candidates who have already been declared "venerable," and will now be scheduled for beatification:

1. Cardinal von Galen (1878- 1946), the Archbishop of Munster, who was known for denouncing the Nazi extermination of the handicapped;
2. Father Charles de Foucauld (1858- 1916), the French soldier who became a convert, a priest, and died as a hermit living in southern Algeria;
3. Father Luigi Biraghi (1801- 1879), an Italian priest;
4. Father Bronislaw Markiewicz (1842- 1912), a Polish Salesian priest;
5. Mother Rita Amata di Gesu (1848-1913), born Rita Lopez de Almedia, a Portuguese religious;
6. Maria Crocifissa Curcio (1877- 1957), an Italian Carmelite;
7. Mother Ascencion del Corazon de Jesus (1868- 1940), born Fiorentina Nicol Goni, a Spanish Dominican; and
8. Mother Maria Anna Cop e (1838- 1918), born Barbara Cope, a German-born Franciscan who served and died in Hawaii.

Finally, 10 decrees testified to the "heroic virtue" shown by a group of candidates, who will now be known as "venerable" and can be beatified if a miracle is attributed to their intercession. They are:

1. Luigi Maria Olivares (1873- 1943), an Italian Salesian and bishop;
2. Bolewslaw Sloskans (1893- 1981), a Latvian bishop;
3. Virgilio Angioni (1878- 1947), an Italian priest;
4. Ignatius Klopotowski (1866- 1931), a Polish priest;
5. Michal Spocko (1888- 1975), a Polish priest;
6. Titus Horten (1882- 1936), a German Dominican priest;
7. Mariano de la Mata Aparicio (1905- 1983), a Spanish priest;
8. Mary Colomba Bialecka (1838- 1887), a Polish Dominican nun;
9. Mother Mary Merkert (1817- 1872), a Polish Sister of St. Elizabeth; and
10. Marta Wieka (1874- 1904), a Polish Daughter or Charity