Fr Ignatius Spencer, who was ancestor of Princess Diana, Princes William and Harry and Sir Winston Churchill, has been moved another step closer to canonisation by the Vatican. It emerged this week that Rome’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints has approved moves to designate Fr Ignatius Spencer ‘Venerable’. Youngest son of the 2nd Earl Read more
The Vatican is reportedly investigating a possible miracle which may lead to the canonisation of Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman. The Archdiocese of Chicago has investigated the inexplicable healing of a young American mother who prayed for Cardinal Newman’s intercession when she became afflicted by a “life-threatening pregnancy”. Doctors who treated her reported that they Read more
Pope Francis has declared controversial Franciscan missionary Junipero Serra a saint, in a move which has drawn criticism from Native Americans. At a Mass outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC, on September 23, Serra became the first saint canonised on US soil. The Pope praised Serra’s treatment Read more
Pope Francis has reportedly voiced a desire to canonise Blessed Teresa of Calcutta during the upcoming Year of Mercy. Fr Caetano Rizzi, who works in the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, said the Pope “wants to beatify and canonise men and women that were a sign of mercy for the world in this Read more
An American academic has proposed Catholic social activist Dorothy Day as the perfect patron of the upcoming Year of Mercy. Dr Lance Richey has edited a recent edition of Day’s journal from the early years of the Catholic Worker Movement. He also organises an annual Dorothy Day conference. “I do think that it’s a very Read more
The Vatican is refusing to confirm that Mother Teresa of Kolkata will be canonised as a saint in September next year. Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi responded to reports in Italian media that she would be canonised before the end of the Holy Year of Mercy. “It is a working hypothesis, therefore no official confirmation can be Read more
Native Americans are voicing their opposition to the canonisation of Blessed Junipero Serra, which the Pope plans to do on September 23. A Spanish Franciscan, Blessed Serra introduced Christianity to much of California as he marched north with Spanish conquistadors in the 18th century. Many Native Americans, though, say Blessed Serra and other missionaries helped Read more
A campaign has been launched for the canonisation of the priest who stayed on board the Titanic as it sank in order to pray with his fellow passengers. According to survivors’ testimonies, Fr Thomas Byles twice refused a place on a lifeboat. Rather, he stayed on the ship to pray with the passengers who were Read more
Pope Francis is expected to canonise the parents of St Therese of Lisieux during the synod on the family in October. The canonisations of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin were announced by Cardinal Angelo Amato during a conference last month, according to a Catholic News Service report. “Thanks be to God, in October two spouses, Read more
Pope Francis returned to the canonisation rite reformed by Pope Paul VI for the canonisation of six saints on Sunday. The move by the Pontiff is a reversal of the “reform of the reform” instituted by Pope Benedict. “The Rite of Canonisation introduced on October 21, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI and which was largely based on the Rite Read more