PRESENTATION OF THE NEW INDEX OF THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 17, 1999 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office today, Archbishops Jose Saraiva Martins and Edward Nowak, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presented the "Index ac status causarum" (Index and Status of Causes).

Archbishop Saraiva explained that the "Index," prepared by his dicastery, is the "list of the causes for beatification and canonization, including those that have just started and are still in the diocesan phase, those that are more or less advanced and being examined by the congregation and, finally, those that have completed their 'iter' with the canonization of the Servants of God concerned." The book presented today is the 15th edition. The first was published in 1890 and the most recent in 1988; it comprises all the work undertaken by the dicastery from 1588 up to and including 1999.

Speaking of the selection of candidates for sainthood, the prefect affirmed that this "reflects the sensitivity and the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church, who is the promoter the causes." Whenever there is a serious and spontaneous rising of "a popular movement, not only of respect but also of admiration and of veneration" towards a Christian, then we must confirm whether, behind this, there truly lies "the finger of God. Verification consists in checking whether the fame of sanctity truly exists and whether it is founded on the heroic exercise of virtue (or) on popular emotion and credulity."

Archbishop Nowak pointed out that the preface of the "Index" gives information on the history and procedure of the causes of saints. In the first part, which is 402 pages long, mention is made of 1921 causes, "most of which are following their 'iter' at a speed in keeping with their complexity."

The second part, he continued, contains the list of "early 'blesseds' or 'saints', whose cults have been confirmed by the Holy See given that they pre-date 1534, in keeping with the provisions of Urban VIII (1634). ... The official recognition of their cult places them at the same level as formally declared blesseds. ... In order for them to be canonized, the heroic nature of their virtues and a miracle attributed to their intercession must be recognized. At the present time, the number of these blesseds is 1430."

Archbishop Nowak added that the third part comprises the "list of blesseds, which at present numbers 1742, going from the year 1609 to 1999." On this matter he recalled that up until now John Paul II has proclaimed 940 blesseds and 295 saints. The fourth section, concluded the archbishop, comprises "the catalogue of saints canonized from the congregation's foundation (1588) up until today, a total of 591."

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