162 Advance Toward Beatification.

Pope Benedict XVI has advanced the causes of 162 souls toward sainthood.

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 26, 2006 (Zenit.org).- Pope Benedict XVI approved the promulgation of 19 decrees of recognition of miracles, heroic virtues or martyrdom that allow 162 candidates to advance toward beatification.

During a private audience granted today to Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Sainthood Causes, the Pope authorized the publication of the following decrees.

Miracles

-- Venerable Servant of God Paolo Giuseppe Nardini, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family (1821- 1862).

-- Venerable Servant of God María of Mount Carmel of the Baby Jesus Gonzaléz Ramos García Prieto, born María Carmela, Spanish, founder of the Congregation of the Third Order Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (1834-1899).

-- Venerable Servant of God Maria Maddalena Della Passione, born Costanza Starace, Italian, founder of the Congregation of the Compassionist Sisters, Servants of Mary (1845-1921).

-- Venerable Servant of God Eufrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Eluvathingal, born Rosa, Indian, religious of the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (1877-1952).

-- Venerable Servant of God Maria Rosa, born Bruna Pellesi, Italian, professed sister of the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Christ (1917-1972).

For those of you with an interest in 20th century history, all but one of the martyrs advanced were killed in the Spanish Civil War. If you can't for the life of you imagine which side would slaughter faithful Catholics wholesale, look here.

Martyrs

-- Servants of God Bonaventura García Paredes, Spanish, professed priest of the Order of Friars Preachers (1866-1936), Miguel Léibar Garay, Spanish, professed priest of the Society of Mary (1885-1936), and 40 companions killed in 1936.

-- Servants of God Simón Reynés Solivellas (1901-1936), Spanish, and five companions of the Congregation of Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mercy, and Prudenza Canyelles i Ginestá, Spanish, laywoman, all killed in 1936.

-- Servants of God Celestino José Alonso Villar (1862-1936), Spanish, and nine companions of the Order of Friars Preachers, killed in 1936.

-- Servants of God Ángel María Prat Hostench (1896-1936) and 16 companions of the Order of Friars of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, killed in 1936.

-- Servants of God Enrique Sáiz Aparicio (1889-1936), Spanish, and 62 companions of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco, killed in 1936 and 1937.

-- Servants of God Mariano de San José Altolaguirre y Altolaguirre (1857-1936), Spanish, and nine companions of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, killed in 1936 and 1937.

-- Servant of God Francesco Spoto, Italian, professed priest of the Congregation of Missionary Servants of the Poor (1924-1964).

Heroic virtues

-- Servant of God Marco Morelli, Italian, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Agony (1834- 1912).

-- Servant of God Francesco Pianzola, Italian, diocesan priest and founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Queen of Peace (1881-1943).

-- Servant of God Antonio Rosmini, Italian, priest and founder of the Institute of Charity and of the Sisters of Providence (1797-1855). [From EWTN: Perhaps the most interesting case in the last group is that of Father Antonio Rosmini, whose controversial theories prompted the placement of his works on the Index of forbidden books in 1849. In 1887, the Holy Office specifically condemned 40 propositions attributed to the Italian priest. But in June 2001 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith-- the successor to the Holy Office-- wrote that the works of Father Rosmini should be recognized as "idealistic and not ontological," and when his writings are seen in that perspective he was faithful to the teachings of the Church.]

-- Servant of God Louise Marguerite Claret de la Touche, born Maria Luisa, French, founder of the Institute of Sisters of Bethany and of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1868-1915).

-- Servant of God Isabel Lete Landa, born Regina, Spanish, professed religious of the Congregation of Mercedarian Sisters of Charity (1913-1941).

-- Servant of God Wanda Justine Nepomucena Malczewska, Polish, laywoman (1822- 1896).

-- Servant of God Jerome Jaegen, German, layman (1841-1919).