87 new causes for sainthood promulgated today in Vatican

Vatican City, Jun 21, 2004 / 22:00 pm

The causes for the beatification and canonization of 87 Servants of God were promulgated this morning in the Clementine Hall in the presence of the Holy Father, members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the postulators of the respective causes.  

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation, read a biography of each of the lives of the Servants of God, grouping them under three separate categories: heroic virtues, martyrdom, and miracles.  

The servants of God are comprised of one Indian, one Argentine, five Italians, 14 Mexicans, and 66 Spaniards.  

Under the category of those who lived virtue to a heroic degree are: 

• Servant of God Pedro Tarres i Claret, Spain, priest of the archdiocese of Barcelona,  (1905-1950).
• Servant of God Augustine Thevarparampil, Indian, called 'Kunjachan,' priest of the eparchy of Palai, India (1891-1973).
• Servant of God Julia de las Espinas del Sagrado Corazón, nee Julia Navarrete Guerriero, Mexican, foundress of the Institute of the Religious Missionaries, Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary (1881-1974).
• Servant of God Alfonsa Clerici, Italian, religious of Congregation of the Sisters of the Most Precious Blood in Monza, Italy (1860-1930).
• Servant of God Maria Crescencia, nee Maria Angelica Perez, Argentine,  religious of the Congregation of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Garden (1897-1932).
• Servant of God Serafina Gregoris, nee Vittoria, Italian, religious of the Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King (1873-1935).

Martyrs whose cause is being promulgated are: 

• Servants of God, Jose Trinidad Rangel Montaño, Mexico, priest of the diocese of Leon (1887-1927), Andres Sola Molist, Spanish, priest of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Claretians) (1895-1927), and Leonardo Perez Larios, Mexican, lay person (1883-1927), martyred in Rancho de San Joaquin during the religious persecution in Mexico.
• Servant of God, Dario Acosta Zurita, Mexican, priest of the diocese of Veracruz (1908-1931), killed during the religious persecution in Mexico.
• Servants of God Lucas de San Jose, ne Jose Tristany Pujol, Spanish, priest of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites (1872-1936), killed for the faith in Barcelona, Leonardo Jose, ne Jose Maria Aragones Mateu, religious of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian School (1886-1936), killed for the faith in Traveseres, Apollonia del Santisimo Sacramento, nee Apolonia Lizarraga, nun of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Charity (1877-1936), killed for the faith in Barcelona, and 61 companions, killed for the faith during the religious persecution in Spain between 1936-1937.
• Servant of God Brother Bernardo, ne Placido Fabrega Julia, of the Institute of the Marist Brothers of the Schools (1889-1934), killed for the faith in Barruelo during the religious persecution in Spain.
• Servants of God Anacleto Gonzalez Flores, Mexican, lay person (1888-1927), killed for the faith in Guadalajara, and 7 lay companions, killed for the faith during the religious persecution in Mexico between 1927-1928.
• Servant of God Jose Sanchez Del Rio, Mexican, lay person (1913-1928), killed for the faith the religious persecution in Mexico.  

Those to whom have been attributed miraculous intercessions:        

• Venerable Servant of God Pedro Tarres i Claret, Spanish, priest of the archdiocese of Barcelona (1905-1950).
• Venerable Servant of God Maria Pia Mastena, ne Teresa Maria, Italian, foundress of the Institute of Sisters of the Holy Face (1881-1951).
• Venerable Servant of God Eurosia Fabris Barban, Italian, widow, wife and mother, of the Third Order of St. Francis of Assisi (1866-1932). 
• Venerable Servant of God Pina Suriano, Italian, lay person (1915-1950).