Final Stage Nears in Preparation for 12 Canonizations

A public ordinary consistory here on March 7 will mark the final preparatory stage leading up to the canonization of 12 blessed.

Five of the 12 are Spanish and will be canonized by the Pope during his visit to Madrid from May 3-4. Four are Italian, two Polish, and one is Dutch.

The causes of canonization are for the following:

-- Pedro Poveda Castroverde (1874-1936), priest, martyr, founder of the Teresian Association (Spain);

-- Jozef Sebastian Pelczar (1842-1924), bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Poland);

-- Daniele Comboni (1831-1881), bishop, founder of the Congregation of the Combonian Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus and the Combonian Holy Mother Missionary Sisters of Nigrizia (Italy);

-- Arnold Janssen (1837-1909), priest, founder of the Society of the Divine Word, the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit and the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration (Netherlands);

-- José María Rubio y Peralta (1864-1929), priest, of the Society of Jesus (Spain);

-- Joseph Freinademetz (1852-1909), priest, of the Society of the Divine Word (Italy);

-- Urszula Ledochowska, nee Julia Maria (1865-1939), virgin, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony (Poland);

-- Genoveva Torres Morales (1870-1956), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and of the Holy Angels (Spain);

-- Maria de Mattias (1805-1866), virgin, foundress of the Congregation of the Adoring Sisters of the Blood of Christ (Italy);

-- Angela de la Cruz, nee María de los Angeles Guerrero González (1846-1932), virgin, foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (Spain);

-- Virginia Centurione Bracelli (1587-1651), widow, foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of Refuge on Mount Calvary (Italy);

-- María Maravillas de Jesus, nee Pidal y Chico de Guzmán (1891-1974), virgin, of the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Spain).