Pope Francis recognizes martyrdom of 95 victims of Spanish Civil War

June 05, 2013; Pope Francis recognized the martyrdom of 95 men and women religious and laymen who were killed during the Spanish Civil War. The pope's approval of a series of martyrdom decrees June 3 opened the way for their beatification to be scheduled. A miracle is required before any blessed may be canonized. Among the new martyrs were 66 Marist Brothers, four Discalced Carmelites, four Sister Servants of Mary, two laymen and a diocesan priest. They were killed between 1936 and 1939 during the Spanish Civil War. The Bishops Conference of Spain will hold a beatification celebration on 27 October.
•Mauro Abel Angelo Palazuelos Maruri and 17 Benedictine companions, who were killed in 1936;
•Joan of Jesus Vilaregut Ferre and 3 companions, Discalced Carmelites, who were killed along with Father Paul Segala Sole in 1936;
•Crisanto Casimiro Gonzalez Garcia, Aquilino Baldomer Baro Riera, and Cipriano Jose Julian Iglesias Banuelos; who were killed along with 63 Marist companioins and 2 laymen between 1946 and 1939; and
•Aurelia Clementina Arambarri Fuente and 3 companions of the Servants of Mary, who were killed in 1936.
The pope also approved four other decrees recognizing four founders of religious orders or associations for having lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way and declaring them "venerable." Recognition of a miracle attributed to each candidate's intercession is needed for that person's beatification. They include Italian priest, Nicola Mazza, who founded the Institute for Education; Portuguese Bishop João de Oliveira Matos, founder of the 'Liga dos servos de Jesus'; Giulia Crostarosa, the Italian founder of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, and the Spanish Teresa of St Joseph, founder of the Congregation of Teresian Carmelite Sisters of St Joseph.