| Saints
Jacinta and Francisco?
With Canonization comes the obligation, not just the privilege, to
render the due justice of universal public veneration to someone whose
life, and God's working in that life, has been crowned with the
eternal vision of God. Canonization does not put a person in heaven,
it recognizes that God's grace and their cooperation with grace has
done so.
Between Beatification and Canonization there exists but two
obstacles, one procedural and one spiritual. The procedural obstacle
is the approval of a second miracle, first through a Process in the
diocese in which it occurred, and then by the Congregation for the
Causes of the Saints. The spiritual obstacle is the certainty of the
Supreme Pontiff that the person is worthy to be canonized.
Thus, in this way, by practical tests, of the life, of the
intercessory power of the candidate, and by the prayerful and serene
judgment of the Pontiff, the Holy Spirit works through human
instruments to ensure the authenticity of a canonization.
In the words of the formula from the canonization of St. Teresa
Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) we can see the solemn judgment
and infallible authority of the Supreme Pastor of the Church at work
and hope that the day will come when these words will be pronounced on
behalf of Jacinta and Francisco.
For the honour of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the
Catholic faith and the fostering of the Christian life, by the
authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the holy Apostles Peter and
Paul, and our own, after due deliberation and frequent prayers for the
divine assistance, and having sought the counsel of our Brother
Bishops, we declare and define that Bl. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross,
Edith Stein, is a saint and we enroll her among the saints, decreeing
that she is to be venerated in the whole Church as one of the saints.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
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