With a series of 16 decrees made public on July 1, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has advanced the causes of 41 candidates for canonization or beatification. At a private audience with Archbishop Angelo Amato, the prefect of the Congregation, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the release of the decrees, which recognized 31 martyrs, authenticated 5 miracles, and attested to the “heroic virtue” of 6 candidates for beatification.
The Vatican declared the validity of miracles attributed to the intervention of:
- Blessed Luigi Guanella (1842- 1915), an Italian priest, who is now eligible for canonization;
- Ven. Giustino Maria Russolillo (1891- 1955), an Italian priest who is now eligible for beatification;
- Ven. Maria Serafina of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1849-1911), born Clotilde Micheli, an Italian religious who is now eligible for beatification;
- Ven. Alfonsa Clerici (1860-1930), an Italian religious who is now eligible for beatification; and
- Ven. Cecilia Eusepi (1910-1928), an Italian member of the Third Order of the Servants of Mary, who is now eligible for beatification.
The Vatican decrees proclaimed the martyrdom of the following, all of whom may now be beatified:
- Janos Scheffler (1887- 1952), a Romanian bishop;
- Jose Maria Ruiz Cano, Jesus Anibal Gomez Gomez, Tomas Cordero Cordero, and thirteen companions who died during the Spanish Civil War;
- Carmelo Maria Moyano Linares and nine companions, also killed during the Spanish Civil War;
- Johannes Prassek and two companions, German priests killed by Nazis in November 1943; and
- Marguerite Rutan, a French nun who died in 1794.
Finally the Congregation recognized the “heroic virtue” that was evident in the lives of the following, who will now be eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their influence:
- Basilio Martinelli (1872-1962), an Italian priest;
- Maria Antonia of St. Joseph (1730-1799), born Maria Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, an Argentine religious;
- Maria Casimira Kaupas (1880-1940), a Lithuanian religious;
- Maria Luisa Prosperi (1799-1847), an Italian abbess;
- Maria Teresa Albarracin (1927-1946), a Spanish religious; and
- Maria Plautilla (1913-1947, born Lucia Cavallo, an religious.