Vatican City, Oct 30, 2005 / 22:00 pm
This past weekend at the Vatican, eight Spanish martyrs moved one step closer to Sainthood when they were beatified in a ceremony led by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Speaking by order of the Holy Father, the Cardinal pronounced as blessed, Servants of God: Josep Tapies Sirvant and six companions, priests, martyrs; and Maria de los Angeles Ginard Marti, professed religious of the Sisters Guardians of the Eucharistic Cult, virgin and martyr.
The event occurred during a special Eucharistic ceremony in which Cardinal Martins read an Apostolic Letter from the Pope making the pronouncement.
At the end of the ceremony, Pope Benedict himself made an appearance at the basilica to venerate the relics of the martyrs and to address the Spanish and Catalan pilgrims present.