Introduction: Holiness in the Church

“The saints are not heroes but friends of God” (Cardinal Ratziner)

What is the meaning of saint? Who is called to be a saint? Many still think that the goal of holiness is something that is reserved for a select few individuals. Saint Paul, however, speaks about God’s great plan and affirms: he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemishbefore him (Ephesians 1:4).

Holiness, the fulness of the Christian life, does not consists of doing extraordinary things … rather holiness means that people unite themselves with Jesus Christ, live the mysteries of Christ, clothe themselves in Christ’s attitudes, thoughts and manner of acting.

Holiness is measured by degree to which people conform their lives to that of Jesus Christ, by the degree to which, with the help of the Holy Spirit, people model their lives on that of Jesus Christ. Saint Paul affirms that holiness is to be like Jesus: For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:29).

Saint Augustine stated: my life shall be a real life, when I am wholly filled by you[1]. The Second Vatican Council, in its Constitution on the Church, spoke about the universal call to holiness in which no one is excluded: The classes and duties of life are many, but holiness is one—that sanctity which is cultivated by all who are moved by the Spirit of God, and who obey the voice of the Father and worship God the Father in spirit and in truth. These people follow the poor Christ, the humble and cross-bearing Christ in order to be worthy of being sharers in His glory (Lumen Gentium, #41).

 Holiness in the Vincentian Family

In this regard St. Vincent stated: how easy it is to be a saint … holiness consists in doing the will of God in all things[2]! During the past four hundred years, such has been the reality that many of our brothers and sisters in the Vincentian Family lived. Only a few, very few in fact, have been recognized in some official manner by Church and thus, their holiness affirmed and recognized.

The reality of being declared a saint neither increases nor diminishes one’s holiness. The fact of being declared saints does not increase them or take anything away from their holiness. The saints are for us, who need exemplary models to follow, those men and women who walked before us along the streets of our towns, and who went forth and proclaimed the message of Jesus to the poorest … and did this in arduous and difficult areas where others did not have the courage to act in that manner. Men and women, persons just like us who fought against sin and were faithful to the Lord until the end of their life.

The previous postulator-general, Father Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel CM, has stated: We need saints who have give us example as they followed a specific path to holiness, thus providing us with witness to Christ and to the gospel. We need our own proper saints who have lived the Vincentian charism through a heroic life of virtue or who have endured the suffering of martyrdom in imitation of Christ. God has blessed out Vincentian Family with numerous saints and blessed who lived in accord with the gospel values and who also followed in the footsteps of Vincent de Paul[3].

Father Giuseppe Guerra, CM, the current postulator-general states that when we speak about the cause of beatification or canonization of the saints of our Congregation and that of the Daughters of Charity, it is important to remember that in the past, Vincentians did not initiate any cause in order to obtain canonization for its members. Because of a specific perspective with regard to humility, the only exception that was made was the initiation of the cause of Vincent de Paul who was beatified in 1729 and canonized in 1737[4].

The XVIII General Assembly of the Congregation of the Mission (1835) presented a petition for the initiation of the cause of Father Francesco Folchi (Province of Rome), but was rejected … unanimi voce reiecta … quia humilitati institute nostro minus consentanea videtur ….[5]”

Despite this mentality, the causes on behalf of Perboyre and Clet were initiated in 1842 as a result of the intervention of many prelates and Pope Gregory XVI who in 1843 signed the decree that initiated both causes. At the end of the XIX century, during the time of Father Fiat, the causes for some other members was presented. Fahter Verdier, in his circular letter of January 1, 1931, stated: With the passing of time, perspectives change and today, considering the fact that humility is one of the most necessary virtues for our Congregation, we do not believe it is a lack to humility to continue to present to Rome causes for the beatification and the canonization of our members. 

This mentality led to forgetting some extraordinary persons of holiness who are not known by us because their cause was never placed before the Church as models worthy of imitation. Today, when we look at our history, it is too late to initiate such a process because we do not have the ability to make the necessary investigations. Imagine if we had on our considered the causes of such people as Matthew Lee or Jean LaVacher or Marguerite Naseau or Maturina Guerin.

Our Family has a large gallery of holy men and women … people who were not only officially as such by the Church but many others who never receive such recognition. Looking objectively at things we can say that are members of a family that has many saints who ministered and died serving the Lord in the poor and abandoned people of the world.

I am touched by the fact that our present superior general, Father TomažMavrič, CM always mentions in his letters, Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, Saint Vincent de Paul, and all the other saints and blesseds of the Vincentian Family. During the Eucharistic celebration at the close of the Vincentian Symposium (2017) Father stated that in order to see the “face of Jesus” clearly before our eyes, to grow in charity, to be convincing followers of the Vincentian Charism it is of utmost importance for us …to renew, deepen, and revive our closeness to the Saints and Blessed of the Vincentian Family by spreading veneration of, trust in, and intercession to them at the local, national, and international levels.

Holiness during these past 400 years could be studied and viewed from various perspective … allow me to make the following distinctions:

1. By century:

XVII: The founder, Juan Le Vacher, Mateo Lee.
XVIII: Martyrs of the French Revolution.
XIX: Clet, Perboyre, De Jacobis, Ghebra, Ferreira Vicoso, Durando.
XX: Martyrs of the Spanish persecution, Micalizzi, Gnidovec, Manzella.
XXI: Us!

2. By special vocation:

Bishops: De Jacobis, Ferreira Vicoso, Codina, Gnidovec, Schraven, Lissón.
Priests: De Paúl, Clet, Perboyre, Durando, Manzella, De Andreis.
Brothers: Aguirre, González, Pascual.
Seminarists: Jan Havlík.

3. By continent:

Europe: De Paúl, Francois, Gruyer, Durando, Micalizzi.
Asia: Clet, Perboyre, Schraven.
America: Ferreira Vicoso, De Andreis, Lissón, Schumacher.
Africa: De Jacobis, Ghebra.

4. By ministry:

Formators: De Jacobis, Francois, Rogue, Micalizzi.
Foreign missions: Clet, Perboyre, De Jacobis, Manzella.
Visitors: Durando, Slatery, Ferreira Vicoso.
Superiors Generales: Slatery, Mc Cullen.
Directors of the Daughters: Durando.
Pastors: Caron, Colin, Gruyer.

5. By age:

Elderly: Clet, Carmaniú y Mercader.
Middle age:De Jacobis, Ireneo González.
Young: Perboyre, Rogue, Velasco, Aguirre.

SAINTS, BLESSEDS AND VENERABLES OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MISSION

1. SAINTS (4):

Saint Vincent de Paúl
Saint François Regis Clet
Saint Jean Gabriel Perboyre
Saint Justin de Jacobis

2. BLESSEDS (61):

MARTYRS OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION:

• Blesseds Luis José Francois , Juan Enrique Gruyer, Juan Carlos Caron y Nicolás Colin
• Blessed Pedro Renato Rogue
• Blessed Ghebra Miguel – Etiopía.
• Blessed Marco Antonio Durando  – Italia

MARTYRS OF THE SPANISH PERSECUTION (14) – First group:

• Fortunato Velasco Tobar
• Leoncio Pérez Nebreda
• Brother Luis Aguirre Bilbao
• Antonio Carmaniú y Mercader
• Ireneo Rodríguez González
• Gregorio Cermeño Barceló
• Vicente Vilumbrales Fuente
• Brother Narciso Pascual Pascual
• Tomás Pallarés Ibáñez
• Brother Salustiano González Crespo
• Amado García Sánchez
• Andrés Avelino Gutiérrez Moral
• Ricardo Atanes Castro
• Pelayo José Granado Prieto

MARTYRS OF THE SPANISH PERSECUTION (33) – Second group – Beatified November 11, 2017:

Archidiocese of Madrid
Martyrs of Vallecas

• José María Fernández Sánchez 23/10/1936
• Roque Guillén Garcés 24/10/1936
• Benito Paradela Novoa 24/10/1936
• Brother Saturnino Tobar González  24/10/1936
• Brother Agustín Nogal Tobar  24/10/1936
• Brother Cristóbal González Carcedo  24/10/1936
• Brother Cesáreo Elexgaray Otazua  24/10/1936
• Brother Juan Núñez Orcajo  23/10/1936

Martyrs of Canillas

• Brother Vicente Cecilia Gallardo  21/07/1936
• Brother Manuel TrachinerMontañana  21/07/1936

Martyrs of Madrid

• José Ibáñez Mayandía 27/07/1936
• Brother Perfecto del Río Páramo  12/08/1936
• Brother Estanislao Páramo Marcos  11/08/1936
• Hilario Barriocanal Quintana 12/08/1936
• Manuel Requejo Pérez 30/08/1936
• Eleuterio Castillo Gómez 03/10/1936
• Benjamín Ortega Aranguren 19/10/1936
• Maurilio Tobar González 23/09/1936
• Ponciano Nieto Asensio 23/09/1936
• Teodoro Gómez Cervero 16/11/1936
• Benito Quintano Díez 12/12/1936
• Brother Isidro Alonso Peña  14/12/1936

Martyrs of Hortaleza

• José Santos Ortega 23/09/1936
• Brother Roque Catalán Domingo  23/07/1936

Martyr of Vicálvaro

• Brother Bartolomé Gelabert Pericás  28/11/1936

Martyrs of Paracuellos

• Brother Gil Belascoain Ilarragorri  07/11/1936
• Victoriano Reguero Velasco 07/11/1936
• Laureano Pérez Carrascal 08/11/1936
• Brother Pedro Armendáriz Zabaleta  28/11/1936
• Brother José García Pérez  28/11/1936
• Pedro Pascual García Martín 01/12/1936
• Brother Joaquín Zubillaga Echarri  30/11/1936
• Francisco Morquillas Fermández 30/11/1936MARTYRS OF THE SPANISH PERSECUTION (7) –Third Group: Beatified November 11, 2017:

Archidiocese of Barcelona
Martyrs of Barcelona

• Vicente QueraltLloret 30/11/1936
• Manuel Binimelis Cabré 12/09/1936
• Luis Berenguer Moratonas 28/05/1937

Diocese of Gerona
Martyr of Figueras

• Juan Puig Serrá 13/10/1936

Archidiocese of Valencia
Martyrs of Valencia

• Agapito Alcalde Garrido 31/07/1936
• Rafael Vinagre Torres 11/09/1936

Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia
Martyr of Totana

• José Acosta Alemán 31/01/1937

VENERABLES (3):

• Venerable Salvatore Micalizzi
• Venerable Juan Francisco Gnidovec
• Venerable Antonio Ferreira Viçoso

SAINTS AND BLESSEDS OF THE DAUGHTS OF CHARITY

1. SAINTS (2):

Saint Luisa de Marillac

Saint Catalina Labouré

2. BLESSEDS (42):

• BLESSED María Magdalena Fontaine,
• BLESSED María Teresa Lanel,
• BLESSED Teresa Magdalena Fantou,
• BLESSED Juana Gerard – MARTYRS OF CAMBRAI Y ARRAS
• BLESSED Margarita Rutan.
• BLESSED María Anna Vaillot
• BLESSED Odilia Baumgarten – MARTYRS OF ANGERS 
• BLESSED Josefina Nicoli
• BLESSED Lindalva Justo de Oliveira
• BLESSED Marta Anna Wiecka
• BLESSED Rosalía Rendu

MARTYRS OF THE SPANISH RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION (27) First group:

• Sister Melchora Adoración Cortés Bueno
• Sister María Severina Díaz-Pardo Gauna
• Sister María Dolores Barroso Villaseñor
• Sister Estefanía Saldaña Mayoral
• Sister Mª Asunción Mayoral Peña
• Sister Dolores Úrsula Caro Martín
• Sister Concepción Pérez Giral
• Sister Andrea Calle González
• Sister Modesta Moro Briz
• Sister Pilar Isabel Sánchez Suárez
• Sister Josefa Gironés Arteta
• Sister Lorenza Díaz Bolaños
• Sister Gaudencia Benavides Herrero
• Sister Juana Pérez Abascal
• Sister Ramona Cao Fernández.
• Sister Josefa Martínez Pérez
• Sister Martina Vázquez Gordo
• Sister Josefa Laborra Goyeneche
• Sister Carmen Rodríguez Barazal
• Sister María del Pilar Nalda Franco
• Sister Estefanía Irisarri IrigaraY.
• Sister Isidora Izquierdo García
• Sister Joaquina Rey Aguirre
• Sister Victoria Arregui Guinea
• Sister Mª del Rosario Ciércoles y Gascón
• Sister Micaela Hernán Martínez
• Sister Mª Luisa Bermúdez Ruiz

MARTYRS OF THE SPANISH RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION (2) Second group: Beatified on November 11, 2017:

• Sister Toribia Marticorena Sola  24/10/1936
• Sister Dorinda Sotelo Rodríguez  24/10/1936

VENERABLE (1)

Mother JUSTA DOMINGUEZ DE VIDAURRETA,  DC ​​(1875 -1958)
Visitatrix of the Province of Madrid (Saint Vincent) from 24.7.1932 until the time of her death …declared benerable on April 14, 2018.

III.       SAINTS, BLESSEDS AND VENERABLES OF THE VINCENTIAN FAMILY

1. SAINTS:

• Saint Elisabeth Ana Seton – Founder of the Sisters of Charity (United States).
• Saint Juana Antida Thouret – Founder of the Sisters of Charity – France.
• Saint Agustina Pietrantoni – De las Hermanas de la Caridad – Thouret.
• Saint Gianna Beretta Molla – Society of Saint Vincent de Paul – Italy
• Saint José María Yermo – diocesan priest – Mexico

2. BLESSEDS:

• Blessed Federico Ozanam – Founder of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
• Blessed Ceferino Jiménez – Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
• Blessed Pedro Jorge Frassati- Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
• Blessed Dolores Broseta Bonet –Daughter of Mary of the Miraculous Medal
• Blessed Nemesia Valle -Sisters of Charity – Thouret.

MARTYRS OF THE RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION IN SPAIN (18): 5 diocesan priests, 7 members of the Miraculous Medal Association and 6 Children of Mary of the Miraculous Medal
Martyrs of Madrid

• Justo Ramón Piedrafita  24/08/1936 – Members of the Milagrosa Parish
• Agustín Fernández Vázquez  18/08/1936
• Felipe Basauri Altube  18/08/1936

Martyr of Paracuellos

• Miguel Aguado Camarillo  28/11/1936 – Member of the Milagrosa Parish

Martyrs of Aravaca– Members of the Milagrosa Parish

• José Garvi Calvente  22/08/1936
• Eduardo Campos Vasallo  21/08/1936

Archdiocese of Valencia
Martyr of Silla

• Rafael Lluch Garín 15/10/1936

Diocese of Cartagena-Murcia
Martyrs of Totana

• Fr. Juan José Martínez Romero  31/01/1937 – Diocesan priests
• Fr. Pedro José Rodríguez Cabrera  31/01/1937

Martyrs of Cartagena

• Pedro Gambín Pérez 15/08/1936 – Diocesan priest
• Mr. Isidro Juan Martínez  18/10/1936 – Children of Mary of the Miraculous Medal
• Mr. Francisco García Balanza  25/08/1936
• Mr. Modesto Allepuz Vera  22/09/1936
• Mr. Enrique Pedro Gonzálbez Andreu  22/09/1936
• Mr. José Ardil Lázaro  22/09/1936
• Mr. Francisco Roselló Hernández  18/10/1936

Martyrs of Jumilla

• Fr. Cayetano García Martínez  15/08/1936 – Diocesan Priest

Martyr of Archena

Fr. José Sánchez Medina 17/10/1936 – Diocesan Priest

3. VENERABLE:

Jean-Léon Le Prevost – Founder of the Religious of Saint Vincent de Paul.

4. SERVANTS OF GOD

•  Servants of God Mons. FRANCOIS XAVIER SCHRAVEN, CM and his companions:
• LucienCharny , CM, born November 29, 1882 in Melun (France).
• Thomas Ceska , CM, born May 17, 1872 in Brdovac, Zagreb (Croatia).
• Eugène Bertrand , CM, born August 9, 1905 in Aurillac (France).
• Gérard Wouters , CM, born July 5, 1909 in Breda (Lower Countries).
• Antoine Geerts, CM , born July 28, 1875 in Oudensbosh (Lower Countries).
• H.Vladislas Prinz , CM, Born June 22, 1909 in Szlacheckie (Poland). Died in Tcheng-fu  – China, October 9, 1937.
• Servant of God JAN HAVLIK.C.M. (1927 – 1965). Died as a novice before taking vows.
• Servant of God Obispo BUENAVENTURA CODINA, CM Bishop of Canarias (1785-1857)
• Servant of God Sister CLEMÊNCIA OLIVEIRA, (1896-1966) DC Proivince of Fortaleza (Brazil)
• Servant of God SANTIAGO MASARNAU FERNÁNDEZ (1805-1882) Founder and First President of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul in Spain.
• Servant of God Sister GABRIELLA BORGARINO, DC (1880 – 1949) – Province of Turín – Italy
• Servant of God Sister ANNA CANTALUPO, DC (1888- 1983) Province of Naples – Italy
• Servant of God Bishop EMILIO FRANCISCO TRINIDAD LISSON CHAVEZ, CM -Archbishop of Lima (1872-1961)
• Servants of God Giuseppe FLORKO, CM (08.05.1915 – 1945) and 10 companions. Poland. Martyrs of Nazi terrorism .
• Servant of God Sister CECILIA CHARRIN, DC (1890 -1973)- Guatemala
• Servant of God Sister BARBARA ESTANISLAO SAMULOWSKA, DC (1865 – 1950) – Guatemala.
• Servant of God Sister LEOPOLDINA BRANDIS, DC (1815 – 1900). Austria.
• Servant of God Sister TERESA TAMBELLI, DC (1884 – 1964). Turín – Italy
• Servant of God FR. JORGE MARÍA SALVAIRE, C.M. (1847 – 1899). Argentina
• Servant of God Sister MARIE DE MANDAT-GRANCEY, DC (September 13, 1837 – May 31, 1915), most known for his participation in the Discovery of the house of the Blessed Mother in Ephesus, Turkey. – United States

By: Father Marlio Nasayó Lievano, CM
Province of Colombia

[1]St. Augustine, Confessions, Book 10, chapter 28 … an English edition of this book can be found at: https://www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/hum100/augustinconf.pdf

[2]Translator’s Note: I have done a word search on this phrase and count find nothing.

[3]Translator’s Note: the author provided no reference for those words and I was unable to find the source.

[4]Translator’s Note: once again, the author has provided no reference for those words.

[5]Translator’s Note: and again, no reference although if I had to guess those words can probably be found in the Minutes of the General Assembly.