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Seminar on the Causes of beatification, canonization
Rome meet '16

The first ever seminar on the promotion of the causes of beatification and canonization of the Salesian Family was held at the Generalate of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Rome, from 6 to 10 April. About 120 members comprised of experts and representatives of all the groups of the Salesian Family participated in the seminar. From the MSMHC Congregation, Sr. Philomena Mathew, Superior General and Sr. Jane Francis, General Councillor along with Sr. Martha D’ Rosario and Sr. Rosita Joseph from Italy attended. 

Clarifying the objectives of the seminar the Postulator General, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni SDB stated that the seminar aims to enhance the spiritual, pastoral and educational heritage of holiness born of Don Bosco; to offer guidelines and best practices for promoting the causes of candidates for canonized sainthood in the Salesian Family; to help in investigating and following up alleged miracles; and to understand the true meaning and purpose of a canonization process. His presentation gave a clear view on the state of the causes of the Blesseds and Saints of the Salesian Family and gave an explicit invitation to greater attention and effort in this area.

Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the causes of Saints, led the participants to understand the pastoral and spiritual relevance of the causes of Saints, solid pillars of the Church and tangible expressions of God’s goodness in the heart of the world. 

Stressing on matters related to the theology of holiness and the methods and best practices of the causes of canonization Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, dean and professor of theology at Turin-Crocetta spoke on the dynamics of grace in the lives of the saints, and Dr. Maria Ludovica Zanet, collaborator of the Postulator, on the requirements of “demonstrable holiness”. There was also input by the two officials of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Mons. Robert Sarno and Mons. Michele Prattichizzo, on the scientific and theological elements necessary to verify an alleged miracle, and the administrative aspects related to the causes of Saints, in accordance with criteria of transparency and solidarity.

On the final day while addressing the assembly, the Rector Major, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime drew attention to the idea expressed in the Strenna of this year and stressed on the need of gaining a deeper knowledge on the spiritual lives of the brothers and sisters who have travelled the adventure of the Spirit with Jesus. He said, “It is a strong call to study deeply the spiritual lives of these brothers and sisters. It is not enough to know their life and works, we have to go deeper, to discover their spiritual wealth, the specific ways in which they were conformed to Jesus Christ and lived their membership of the Church and of the Salesian Family.”

The seminar gave emphasis on the need for spiritual and pastoral mobilization of the whole Salesian Family, of all the friends and admirers of Don Bosco and his charism to make them all aware of the rediscovery of the heroes of the Family. 

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