Miracle Puts Belgian Blessed on Road to Canonization

(3 July 08-RV) Pope Benedict authorised the promulgation of 13 decrees concerning causes for canonisation and beatification. Top of the list was Belgian blessed Fr. Damian de Veuster, who dedicated his life to caring for people suffering from leprosy in 19th century Hawaii, eventually dying himself from the disease in 1889 at the age of 49. The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints has ruled that a Hawaiian woman’s cure from cancer was a miracle linked to her prayers to Blessed.