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).