Vatican City, Jul 3, 2008 / 08:50 am
The head of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, met with Pope Benedict today to present him with 14 causes for canonization in their various stages. Among those approved for advancement towards sainthood are Fr. Damien De Veuster, a Belgian missionary to Hawaii, and the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux.
The miracle attributed to Fr. Damien is the cure of Audrey Toguchi, a 79-year-old retired schoolteacher who became ill in 1997 with a cancerous lump on her left thigh.
Upon discovering her cancer, Toguchi went to Fr. Damien’s grave and asked him to intercede for her healing. She then underwent surgery, but her doctor informed her afterwards that he could do nothing more since the cancer had spread to her lungs. Toguchi turned once again to Fr. Damien and the cancer soon began to inexplicably disappear of a four month period. To watch a video on Fr. Damien click here.
The miracle credited to the parents of St. Therese involved the healing of Pietro Schiliro, an Italian newborn who was born in 2002 with partial lungs. The condition was so grave that doctors could do nothing and Pietro’s parents immediately had him baptized.
The Schiliro’s also began a novena to St. Therese’s parents and within a few weeks the Pietro made an unexpected recovery. To watch a video on Luis and Zelia Martin click here.
The full list of those advancing along the road to sainthood along with the various steps being recognized is listed below.
MIRACLES
- Blessed, Fr. Damian de Veuster, Belgian professed priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1840-1889).
- Blessed Bernardo Tolomei, Italian founder of the Olivetan Benedictine Congregation (1272-1348).
- Blessed Nuno di Santa Maria Alvares Pereira (ne: Nuno), Portuguese professed layman of the Order of Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (1360-1431).
- Servant of God Luis Martin, French lay man (1823-1894) and Servant of God Maria Zelia Guerin Martin, French lay woman (1831-1877).
MARTYRDOM
- Servant of God Francesco Giovanni Bonifacio, Italian, killed in hatred of the faith at Villa Gardossi, Italy (1912-1946).
HEROIC VIRTUES
- Blessed Nuno di Santa Maria Alvares Pereira (ne: Nuno), Portuguese professed layman of the Order of Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (1360-1431).
- Servant of God Stephen Douayhy, Lebanese patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites (1630-1704).
- Servant of God Bernardino Dal Vago da Portogruaro (ne: Giuseppe), Italian archbishop of the Order of Friars Minor (1822-1895).
- Servant of God Giuseppe Di Donna, Italian bishop of Andria, of the Order of the Blessed Trinity (1901-1952).
- Servant of God Maria Barbara of the Blessed Trinity Maix (nee: Barbara), Austrian foundress of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (1818-1873).
- Servant of God Pius Keller (ne: Hans), German professed priest of the Order of St. Augustine (1825-1904).
- Servant of God Andres Hibernon Garmendia (ne: Francisco Andres), Spanish professed brother of the Institute of Brothers of Christian Schools (1880- 1969).
- Servant of God Chiara Badano, young Italian lay woman (1971-1990).
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