Beatification of John Paul II on May 1st
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope John Paul II will be beatified next May 1st, Divine Mercy Sunday. Benedict XVI today approved the promulgation of a decree concerning a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Polish Pope.
The choice of the date of the ceremony, which will be celebrated by Benedict XVI, is particularly close to John Paul II, who dedicated the Second Sunday of Easter to Divine Mercy, and died April 2, 2005, the eve of the feast.
A briefing note issued today by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints traces the cause of beatification, which began with a papal dispensation, "before the expiration of five years from the death of the Servant of God, required by law. This measure was requested by the imposing reputation for sanctity enjoyed by Pope John Paul II in life, death and after death". This was evidenced by the banners that read “Saint right now!” (pictured) that appeared the day of the funeral of John Paul II. "For the rest - continues the statement of the congregation - full canonical provisions regarding the common causes of beatification and canonization were observed."
"From June 2005 to April 2007 the main Roman Diocesan Investigation and the Rogatorial investigations in different dioceses, regarding the life, virtues, reputation of holiness and miracles, were thus celebrated. The legal validity of the canonical process was recognized by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints with the Decree of 4 May 2007. In June 2009, having examined the relative Positio, nine theological advisors of the Congregation gave their positive opinion on the heroic virtues of the Servant of God. In November, following the usual procedure, the same Positio was then submitted to the judgement of the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, who expressed their approval”.
"On 19 December 2009, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI authorized the promulgation of the decree of heroic virtue. In view of the beatification of the Venerable Servant of God, the postulation of the cause submitted for examination to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the recovery from "Parkinson’s Disease" of Sister Marie Simon Pierre Normand, a religious of the Institut des Petites Soeurs des Catholiques Maternités” .
"As usual, the copious Acts of the canonical investigation, along with detailed medical forensic evidence, were submitted to the Scientific Medical Council of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on October 21, 2010. Its experts, after studying with their usual thoroughness the evidence and the entire procedural documentation, expressed themselves in favor of the inability of science to explain the healing. The theological consulters, after reviewing the medical conclusions, on December 14, 2010 proceeded to the theological evaluation of the case and unanimously recognized its uniqueness, its antecedent and the choral invocation addressed to the Servant of God John Paul II , whose intercession was effective for miraculous healing. "
"Finally, on 11 January 2011, the Ordinary Session of the Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints was held, which issued a unanimous ruling in the affirmative, considering the miraculous healing of Sister Marie Simon Pierre, as made by God and scientifically inexplicable, as a result of the intercession of Pope John Paul II, confidently invoked by healed religious, as well as by many other faithful.
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