Vatican City, Nov 25, 2021: Titus Brandsma, a Dutch priest journalist, who was killed by the Nazis for protesting anti-Jewish laws, is among those Pope Francis on November 25 approved for canonization.
The authorized Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate a series of causes for their advancement towards sainthood.
A Vatican statement has revealed that a miracle has been attributed to Brandsma, who was born in 1881. The Carmelite priest was arrested when Germany invaded the Netherlands and told that he would be allowed to live a quiet life in a monastery if he would announce that Catholic newspapers should publish Nazi propaganda.
Brandsma refused and he died of hardship and starvation in the Dachau concentration camp on July 26, 1942.
Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Titus in 1985, saying that he “answered hate with love.”
Pope Francis has also approved Henri Planchat, Ladislas Radigue, and 3 companions, for canonization. The priests of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary were killed “in hatred of the faith” on May 26, 1871, during the insurrection of the Paris Commune. Their martyrdom has been recognized.
Blessed Sister Maria of Jesus, born Carolina Santocanale, founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Immaculate Mary of Lourdes. She was beatified by Pope Francis on June 12, 2016. A miracle attributed to her has been recognized. Her congregation continues to work with the sick, poor, disabled, and abandoned..
The decrees also recognize the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Antonio Bello, Bishop of the Italian town of Molfetta, who died in 1993; the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Giorgio Guzzetta, an Italian priest belonging to the Confederation of the Oratory of Saint Filippo Neri.
The Servant of God Natalina Bonardi, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Mary of Loreto; has been elevated to Venerable status. The same has been done to the Servant of God Maria Dositea Bottani, superior general of the Congregation of the Ursulines of Gandino and Servant of God Odette Vidal Cardoso, a nine-year-old girl, who died November 25, 1939, in Brazil.
Titus Brandsma Award
The International Catholic Union of the Press had set up an award to honor Titus Brandsma in partnership with the Dutch Province of Carmelites and the Dutch Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
One of the most prestigious awards of the media honored journalists, publishers, professors of communication, publications or institutes, who have suffered threats or persecution because of their engagement in the media on behalf of an important humanitarian or Christian issue.
The award winners included Ignatius Gonsalves, current president of the Indian Catholic Press Association.
The award recognizes initiatives that promote dialogue and respect for human dignity through the media.
(With inputs from the Vatican News)