Pope advances Causes for beatification

Vatican City, 8 February 2014: Pope Francis has authorized on Friday the Congregation for the Causes of saints to promulgate decrees concerning the heroic virtues of 3 ‘Servants of God’ and the martyrdom of servant of God Fr. Francesco Zirano of the Order of Friars Minor, killed in Algeria and Servants of God Paul Yun Ji-chung, and 123 companions, killed in Korea between 1791 and 1888. The authorization came at a private audience in which the Pontiff received Cardinal Angelo Amato SDB, prefect of the Congregation.

Among the now venerable are Bishop Maria Jesus Aguirre y Echavarría, founder of the Sisters Catechists of Guadalupe; two priests from the Order of Friars Minor, a nun from the Congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God, and 124 lay martyrs from Korea.

Here are the details:
- The martyrdom of the Servant of God Francesco Zirano, professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor, born in Sassari (Italy) in 1564, killed for the faith, in Algiers (Algeria) January 25, 1603;
- The martyrdom of the Servants of God Paul Yun Ji- chung, and 123 companions, killed for the faith in Korea between 1791 and 1888;
- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Maria Jesus Aguirre y Echavarría, bishop of Saltillo (Mexico), founder of the Sisters Catechists of Guadalupe, born in Real de San Pedro de Bacubirito (Mexico) July 6, 1858 and died in Saltillo (Mexico) April 5, 1954;

- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Faustino Ghilardi (born William James) , professed priest of the Order of Friars Minor , born in Pieve a Nievole (Italy) May 6, 1858 and died in San Vivaldo, Montaione (Italy) October 25, 1937;

- The heroic virtues of the Servant of God Mary of Jesus Crucified Rocío (nee Maria Josefa Rodríguez Xuárez de la Guardia), professed nun of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Love of God, born in Colmenar (Spain) May 16, 1923 and died in Rome (Italy) on 30 March 1956.
Source: VR Sedoc