On Tuesday, 16 May 2023, the final session of the diocesan process concerning the ascertainment of a miracle for the beatification of Venerable Bishop Janez Frančišek Gnidovec, C.M., was held in the Bishopric of the Diocese of Skopje (North Macedonia).
During the session, the Bishop of Skopje-Strumica, His Excellency Most Rev. Monsignor Kiro Stojanov thanked those present for their efforts, then the Postulator Fr. Giuseppe Guerra, C.M., the Episcopal Delegate Fr. Vinko Maslač, S.I., the Promoter of Justice Fr. Gotse Kostov and the Notary Fr. Vanča Nazov signed and sealed the necessary documents. The Postulator Fr Giuseppe Guerra will deliver a copy of the documentation to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The concluding session was also attended by Vice-Postulator Fr Sergej Pavlish, C.M., Fr Luigi Cannato, C.M. and the Daughters of Christian Charity. The session ended with a prayer for the beatification of Venerable Bishop Janez Frančišek Gnidovec, C.M.
Janez Frančišek Gnidovec was Bishop of Skopje from 30 November 1924 to 3 February 1939. The beginning of the beatification process was announced in Ljubljana on 15 December 1977. The diocesan process, during which testimonies and extensive documentation were collected, lasted from 8 February 1978 to 1984. At the end of the process, Janez Frančišek Gnidovec was awarded the title of Servant of God. On 27 March 2010, Bishop Janez Frančišek Gnidovec was declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI, after it was confirmed that the Servant of God lived heroic virtues according to the principles of the Christian faith.
Before the start of the process of ascertaining the miracle, the postulator Fr Giuseppe Guerra, C.M. wrote: “It is a question of establishing a miracle in the case of a lady from North Macedonia, not far from Skopje, where the Venerable Janez Frančišek Gnidovec was a bishop and missionary. The lady was in a car accident on 3 February 2021, on the anniversary of Gnidovec’s death, suffered severe injuries to her internal organs and was taken to hospital with serious injuries. As a result of the intercession of the Venerable Janez Frančišek Gnidovec, to whom so many prayed, she recovered from her injuries, which doctors described as fatal and hopeless, and has no signs or scars on her internal organs to indicate what happened. This suggests an unexplained recovery.
We invite all members of the Vincentian Family to accompany the proceedings with prayer. In particular, with the following prayer:
Lord, our God, Thy servant Janez Frančišek Gnidovec (John Francis Gnidovec), out of love for Thee gave himself completely to the service of the poor. Glorify your servant so that the Church may raise him to the honours of the altar so that we too may be enlightened by his example. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
