Holy See approves next phase of canonization process for 36 Spanish martyrs

Nov 1, 2006 / 22:00 pm

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has approved the diocesan phase of the cause of canonization of 36 Franciscan friars from Valencia who were martyred during the Spanish Civil War of 1936.

Benjamin Agullo, vice postulator of the cause of canonization for the 36 martyrs, told the AVAN news agency, “The approval of the diocesan phase is one of the necessary steps during the process of canonization and implies that the Holy See recognizes that the investigation carried out in Valencia is correct, and consequently the cause will move ahead in Rome.”

The Vatican congregation has also given the green light to the cause for canonization of four other nuns in Spain, who were also martyred during the Spanish Civil War.

Agullo explained that linking the two causes is “a common practice to speed up cases that are similar, and in this case the Holy See made the decision after receiving a request to do so from the general postulator of the Franciscan Order, Luca de Rosa.”