Per Christum Catholic Blog

Christmas came a little early for me when on December 17th the following was announced:

14 Candidates Closer to Beatification
Vatican, Dec. 18, 2007
(CWNews.com) - The Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints has released a series of decrees advancing the causes of 14 candidates for beatification.

At an audience on December 17 with Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Benedict XVI approved the decrees, which fall into two categories. In 6 cases, the decree attests to the validity of a miracle; in the other 8 cases, the decree proclaims the “heroic virtue” of the individual. By approving miracles, the decrees make the following eligible for beatification:

Michael Sopoćko (1888-1975), a Polish priest

James Ghazir Haddad (1875-1954), born Khalil Haddad, a Lebanese Capuchin priest of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins and founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Cross in Lebanon;

Maria Maddalena dell’Incarnazione Sordini (??- 1824), born Caterina Sordini, an Italian foundress of the Order of Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament;

Jeanne Emilie de Villeneuve (1811-1854), a French foundress of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception;

Vincenza Maria Poloni (1802-1855), born Luigia Poloni, an Italian foundress of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of
Verona; and

Maria Giuseppina di Gesu Crocefisso Catanea (1896- 1948) , born Giuseppina Catanea, an Italian Carmelite nun.

The 7 other decrees attested to the heroic virtue shown in the lives of the following, who will now be eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession:

Francesco Mottola (1901-1969), an Italian priest and founder of the Secular Institute of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart;

Serafino Morazzone (1747-1822), an Italian priest;

Raphael Louis Rafiringa (1856-1919), a religious from Madagascar of the Institute of Brothers of Christian Schools;

Stephen Nehme (1889-1938), born Joseph Nehme, a Lebanese Maronite monk;

Maria Marovich (1815- 1887) an Italian member of the Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary Immaculate;

Maria Piera De Micheli (1890-1945), born Giuseppa Maria Micheli, an Italian sister of the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of Buenos Aires;

Manuel Lozano Garrido (1920-1971), a Spanish layman; and

Antonia Meo (1930- 1937), an Italian laywoman.

See also http://newsaints.faithweb.com/news.htm