Fifth beatification
MORE than 30,000 people,
including seven Cardinals, attended the beatification in St. Peter's on Sunday of the Ven. Paolo Elisabetta Cerioli, an Italian widow, mother of three children and foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family. It was the fifth beatification ceremony of the Holy Year.
In the evening, the Pope, accompanied by 12 Cardinals, descended into the Basilica and venerated a relic of the new Beata.
The Holy Father presided at a Secret Consistory of Cardinals last week to approve the following five canonisations during the Holy Year : April 23 : Blessed Marie Emilia ge Rodat, foundress of the Conregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family. Her canonisation will be the first of the Holy Year.
May 7 : Blessed Maria Goretti, Roman girl who died in defence of her chastity early this century, June 11 :Blessed Antonio Maria Claret, Spanish founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
June 25: Blessed Vincenzo Strambi, Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino and a member of the Passionist Congregation, who died in 1824, and
July 9 : Blessed Maria Anna de Jesu de Paredes, a native of Quito, Ecuador. who lived in the 17th century.