Cardinal Newman cleared for beatification

July 03, 2009

The Vatican has verified a miracle-- the sudden healing of a Massachusetts deacon-- through the intercession of Cardinal John Henry Newman, clearing the way for the beatification of the great 19th-century English convert and apologist. That ceremony will probably be scheduled for later this year.

The formal announcement of Cardinal Newman's impending beatification-- which had been expected for weeks-- came on July 3, as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints released a series of decrees regarding candidates for beatification.

The announcements-- released by Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation, and approved by Pope Benedict XVI-- included the following in addition to Cardinal Newman:

The Congregation approved the authenticity of miracles in three other cases:

1. Blessed Candida Maria (born Juana Josefa) de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola (1845-1912), a Spanish nun, who will now be eligible for canonization;
2. Angelo (born Francesco) Paoli (1642-1720), an Italian Carmelite priest, who can now be beatified; and
3. Alfonsina Danil (born Soultaneh Maria) Ghattas (1843-1927), a founder of the the Congregation, who can also be scheduled for beatification.

The Congregation affirmed the martyrdom of the following, who are also eligible for beatification:

1. Jose Samso i Elias (1887-1936), a Spanish priest who died during that country's civil war;
2. Teofilo (born Beniamino) Fernandez de Legaria Goni and four companions, Spanish priests of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who also died during the civil war in 1936;
3. Georg Hafner (1900- 1942), a German priest who died at Dachau; and
4. Zoltan Ludovico Meszlenyi (1892-1951), a Hungarian bishop and victim of Communist persecution.

Finally the Congregation proclaimed the "heroic virtue" of the following, who will become eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession:

1. Engelmar (born Uberto) Unzeitig (1911- 1945), a German Marianhill priest;
2. Anna Maria Janer Anglarill (1800- 1885), a Spanish religious;
3. Maria Serafina del Sacro Cuore di Gesu (born Clotilde) Micheli (1849- 1911), an Italian religious; and
4. Teresa Manganieloo (1849- 1876), an Italian laywoman.

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• Decrees of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints (VIS)

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