Quito, Ecuador, Jan 19, 2007 / 09:39 am
Officials of the Archdiocese of Guayaquil announced that in April Pope Benedict XVI could approve the Decree of Canonization of Blessed Narcisa de Jesus Martillo Moran of Ecuador.
The canonization ceremony could possible take place in September or October of this year.
According to the Archdiocese of Guayaquil, doctors at the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints voted in favor a recognizing a miracle that took place through Blessed Narcisa’s intercession and which was presented in Rome in 2001.
The case brought forth was that of Edelmina Arellano, whose cure from a congenital defect in 1992 was determined to be “unforeseen, complete, lasting, and scientifically inexplicable.”
Edelmina was born without her genital organs, and at the age of 7 she was inexplicably cured after her mother took her to a shrine dedicated to Blessed Narcisa and prayed for the Ecuadorian’s intercession. That same day the child had an appointment with her doctor who testified that, suddenly and without any medical explanation, the girl was completely normal.
Blessed Narcisa was born on October 29, 1832 in the city of Nobol, Ecuador. Her parents were farmers and devout Christians. During her youth she was a seamstress and showed a great love for prayer.
She dedicated her early life to the service of her family, caring for the home and creating an atmosphere of charity, joy, and peace between her eight brothers and sisters. After the death of her mother, she also devoted herself to education her younger siblings.
Later she went to Guayaquil where she devoted herself to caring for abandoned children and young people. She lived in Cuenca and later moved to Lima, Peru, where she was renowned for her qualities as a catechist of children and young people, until her death on December 8, 1869.
In 1955 her incorrupt body was transferred from Peru to Guayaquil, and in 1972 her remains were returned to Nobol. Pope John Paul II beatified Narcisa on October 25, 1993.