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CV NEWS FEED // Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis has declared more equipollent canonizations than any other modern pontiff, leading to the formally recognized sainthood of eight previously lesser-known holy men and women.
According to Aleteia, equipollent canonization is a unique process approved by the Church in which the pontiff elevates a candidate for sainthood to that level by decree. The candidate “must have enjoyed a long and uninterrupted devotion, as well as a reputation for signs and graces.”
The regular process for canonization takes significantly longer and requires a candidate for sainthood to rise through several levels, including servant of God, venerable, and blessed. Unless canonized by decree, a candidate must also have verified miracles attributed to them.
According to Aleteia, equipollent canonization is especially useful in situations where the candidate for sainthood died centuries ago, making the standard procedure significantly more challenging.
Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Paul VI each declared only one equipollent canonization during their pontificates, and St. Pope John Paul II declared none, according to GCatholic. Pope Francis’ first equipollent canonization was of an Italian woman in 2013, shortly after he became pope.
St. Angela of Foligno (1248 – 1309)
Beatified in 1693 and declared a saint by Pope Francis Oct. 9, 2013, St. Angela of Foligno was a wealthy Italian wife and mother who experienced a profound conversion from her worldly life at the age of 40, according to Franciscan Media. She then began devoting herself to prayer and works of charity.
When her husband and children died shortly after, she decided to join the Secular Franciscan Order and remained devoted to the poor and the crucified Christ. She also wrote a book called The Book of Visions and Instructions, which Franciscan Media reported contains “some of the temptations she suffered after her conversion” as well as “her thanks to God for the Incarnation of Jesus.” She has been called the “Teacher of Theologians” because of her book.
Her feast day is Jan. 7.
St. Peter Faber (1506 – 1546)
St. Peter Faber was among the first of St. Ignatius of Loyola’s followers and became an expert on the Spiritual Exercises throughout his life as a Jesuit priest, according to IgnatianSpirituality.com. He traveled across Europe in the last few years of his life doing missionary work, first going to Germany in 1541, then ministering in Spain and Portugal between 1544 and 1546.
“He worked for the renewal of the Church a person at a time, leading many in the Spiritual Exercises. Princes, prelates, and priests would especially find Peter Faber a gentle source of instruction and guidance leading to renewal,” IgnatianSpirituality.com reported.
He traveled to Rome in 1546 and died of exhaustion at just 40 years old. Pope Francis declared him a saint Dec. 17, 2013, and his feast day is Aug. 2.
St. Joseph de Anchieta (1534 – 1597)
St. Joseph de Anchieta, also known as José de Anchieta, was a Jesuit priest and missionary from the Canary Islands who served as a key influence in Brazil. According to IgnatianSpirituality.com, he was among the founders of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro and is considered to be the first Brazilian author, thanks to his prolific and detailed writings.
“Anchieta wrote a famous poem to the Virgin Mary, allegedly writing it every morning on the wet sand of a beach and committing it to memory, until he could much later transcribe its more than 4,900 verses to paper,” IgnatianSpirituality.com reported. The saint also wrote extensively on theology and theater, and provided reports on Brazil’s indigenous peoples, wildlife, and geography.
Pope Francis declared him a saint April 3, 2014, and his feast day is June 9.
St. Marie of the Incarnation (1599 – 1672)
Before she was an Ursuline nun, Marie Guyard was a young wife and mother in Tours, France, according to Catholic Online. Her husband died after two years of marriage, leaving Marie with one young son. After working as a bookkeeper for some time, she joined the Ursulines in 1629 and became Marie of the Incarnation.
Ten years later, she was sent to Canada and laid the cornerstone of Quebec’s first Ursuline convent. She spent the rest of her life in Quebec working among the Algonquin and Iroquois tribes. She was also a mystic, according to Catholic Online.
She wrote extensively about her spiritual life as well as typical life in Quebec. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1980 and Pope Francis declared her a saint April 3, 2014. Her feast day is April 30.
St. François de Laval (1623 – 1708)
St. François de Laval was born in France and was ordained a priest in 1647. He spent several years ministering in France and then began foreign mission work, traveling to Vietnam and later Quebec, Canada, as the Apostolic Vicar in 1659 after being ordained a bishop a year earlier.
The saint founded the Major Seminary of Quebec in 1663 and a minor seminary and an arts and trades school several years later. He was officially made the bishop of Quebec in 1674 and spent years working among the Canadian settlers.
Bishop de Laval dedicated significant sums of money to help the poor and to educate children. He administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to the colonial settlers and to the local Indigenous population and encouraged the faithful to establish pious societies. In 1681, he undertook his final pastoral visit and in 1684 he submitted his resignation,” the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote.
He died in 1708 and Pope John Paul II declared him blessed in 1980. Pope Francis declared him a saint April 3, 2014. His feast day is May 6.
St. Bartholomew of Braga (1514 – 1590)
St. Bartholomew of Braga was born near Lisbon, Portugal, and became a Dominican in 1527. He then taught philosophy and theology and pursued a master’s degree in Salamanca, according to New Advent.
He later became sought after for religious guidance and was appointed to the archiepiscopal See of Braga. During his time as archbishop, he participated in the Council of Trent and influenced the theological discussions with his expertise and wisdom. He then took it upon himself to carry out the Council’s reforms throughout his archdiocese.
He died in 1590 and was declared venerable by Pope Gregory XVI in 1845. Pope Francis declared him a saint July 5, 2019. His feast day is July 16.
St. Margaret of Castello (1287 – 1320)
St. Margaret of Castello was born near Florence, Italy, with several physical sufferings, including dwarfism, lame legs, and blindness. Her wealthy family, embarrassed of her, hid her and later abandoned her, according to her official website.
She ultimately was taken in by the local community and became a Dominican tertiary, practicing prayer and charitable works for the remainder of her short life.
“Despite her suffering, Saint Margaret remained serene, calm, cheerful and courageous. She never became bitter, complained, criticized others or became discouraged. She went to mass daily, and prayed fervently to Jesus, Mary, Joseph and St. Dominic,” her official website states.
Margaret died at age 33 in 1320, and her body remains in an incorruptible state. She was declared blessed in 1609, and Pope Francis canonized her April 24, 2021. Her feast day is April 13.
Martyrs of Compiègne
During the French Revolution, several nuns from Carmelite convent in Compiègne remained true to the Catholic faith despite France’s hostility to religion at the time.
According to Vatican News, all 20 nuns were forced to evacuate their monastery and were forbidden to wear habits. To help bring about the salvation of France, the prioress, Mother Teresa of St. Augustine, proposed that they offer themselves in prayer as sacrifices. Beginning Nov. 27, 1792, the nuns began to pray daily acts of self-offering for France’s redemption.
They were discovered to still be living as consecrated nuns two years later and were sentenced to death for being “enemies of the People.” The nuns were executed on the guillotine July 17, 1794, singing the Te Deum and the Veni Creator Spiritus.
“Ten days later, Robespierre was arrested and executed the next day, leaving little doubt that the Lord accepted their act of sacrificial offering of their lives,” Vatican News reported.
Pope Pius X beatified the Martyrs of Compiègne in 1909, and Pope Francis declared them saints Dec. 18, 2024. Their feast day is July 17.
