Decrees promulgated furthering 13 on path to sainthood
(Vatican Radio) The Church will soon have three new saints and three new blesseds. Pope Francis has authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate decrees elevating six lay people and religious in the process towards sainthood. Seven people count among the new Venerable, including a married couple from Italy.
On September 23, the canonization of Friar Junipero Serra
Among the future Saints is Junipero Serra, an 18th century Spanish Friar Minor of California. The Pope will canonize him on September 23 during his apostolic visit to the US.
Among the Saints: Don Vincenzo Grossi and Maria of the Immaculate Conception
Also to become saints are a priest of Cremona, Italy: Vincenzo Grossi, founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Oratory (Pizzighettone March 9, 1845 – Vicobellignano November 7, 1917) and Maria of the Immaculate Conception (born Maria Isabella Salvat Romero), superior general of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (Madrid February 20, 1926 – October 31, 1998 Seville).
Two martyrs in Laos and an Italian priest become Blessed
Among the Blesseds are two young martyrs in Laos: the Italian missionary Oblate Mario Borzaga and the Laotian lay catechist Paul Thoj Xyooj, killed in hatred of the faith in 1960. The first was 27 years old, the latter, 19. Don Giacomo Abbondo, an Italian country parish priest (Salomino August 27, 1720 – February 9, 1788 Tronzano) has also been named a blessed.
New Venerable Servants of God
A married Italian couple, Sergio Bernardini (Sassoguidano May 20, 1882 – October 12, 1966 Verica) and Domenica Bedonni (Verica April 12, 1889 – 27 February 1971 Modena) are among the new Venerable Servants of God. Farmers in northern Italy, they educated their 10 children in the faith and service to the poor. 6 became religious and two others, Capuchin friars.
The other new Venerable are: Giacinto Vera, Bishop of Montevideo (born off the Atlantic Ocean July 3, 1813 – May 6, 1881 Pan de Azucar, Uruguay); Antonio Antié, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor (Prvic Sepurine, Croatia April 16, 1893 – March 4, 1965 Zagreb); Giulia Colbert Falletti di Barolo, a lay widow and founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus the Good Shepherd (Maulévrier, France June 26, 1786 – January 19, 1864 Turin, Italy); Brigida Maria Postorino, foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate (Catona in Reggio Calabria, Italy November 19, 1865 – March 30, 1960 Frascati, Italy); Raffaela Maria Gesu Ostia (born Raffaela Martínez-Cavavate Ballesteros), professed nun of the Order of the Capuchin Sisters of St. Clare (Maracena, Spain March 31, 1915 – May 29, 1991 Chauchina, Spain).