Vatican set to canonize Blessed Pedro Calungsod as Philippines’ second Catholic saint
1 of 19
The Vatican in Rome announced his canonization on Oct. 21 together with six others. The Archdiocese of Cebu, where the archbishop emeritus, Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is, handles the preparations of Calungsod's canonization. (Photo courtesy of images mitrasites)
CEBU CITY— Following the approval by Pope Benedict XVI of the canonization of Blessed Pedro Calungsod, the Vatican announced his official date of canonization on October 21. Born in Molo, Iloilo in 1655 and martyred as a young missionary catechist at the age of 17 on April 2, 1672 in Guam, Blessed Pedro Calungsod reaps the honor of being the country’s second Catholic saint, after Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Lorenzo Ruiz in Vatican City on October 18, 1987.
Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at St. Peter’s Basilica Angelo Cardinal Amato echoed the pope’s announcement after a formal ceremony in which 22 bishops from around the world were elevated to the rank of cardinal.
Besides Calungsod, six others will be canonized on October 21. They are 1) Jacques Berthieu, a French martyr and priest of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits); 2) Giovanni Battista Piamarta, an Italian priest and founder of the Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth and of the Congregation of the Humble Sister Servants of the Lord; 3) Maria del Carmen, a Spanish founder of the Conceptionist Missionary Sisters of Teaching; 4) Maria Anna Cope, a German religious of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Syracuse; 5) Kateri Tekakwitha, an American laywoman, and 6) Anna Schaffer, a German laywoman.
A lay catechist, Calungsod died at 17 in Guam while trying to defend his fellow mission worker, Jesuit priest and now Blessed Diego Luis de San Vitores, when 2 native chiefs Matapang and Hirao killed them with bone-tip spear and machete on April 2, 1672.
The Vatican officially set April 2 as Calungsod’s feast day.
The Archdiocese of Cebu where the archbishop emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal is, handles the preparations for Calungsod's canonization.
On March 5, 2000, Pope John Paul II beatified Calungsod along with 43 other martyrs in ceremonies held at St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
The major miracle attributed to the Blessed Pedro Calungsod was his waking up of a Cebu businesswoman who was dead for 2 hours without suffering brain damage. Doctors attested it was medically unexplainable. Report said this miracle was recognized by the Vatican.
Source: inquirer news
No comments:
Post a Comment