Saint Luigi Guanella 19th C. Italian Priest
Saint Luigi Guanella was a 19th-century Italian priest. He was born on December 19, 1842, and he died on October 25, 1915. In his life, Saint Luigi Guanella founded several religious institutes, including the Daughters of Saint Mary of Providence in 1890 and the Servants of Charity on March 24, 1908, with his friends David Albertario and Giuseppe Toniolo. Saint Luigi Guanella also founded the Pious Union of Saint Joseph in 1914, with the support of and as the first member, Pope Pius X. These religious communities focused on providing relief to the poor throughout the world. This article will focus on the process in place to become a saint. Do you know the process to become a saint?
The Canonization of Saint Luigi Guanella
The first thing necessary to become a saint is sanctification. The cause of Saint Luigi Guanella began on February 1, 1923, and was tasked with compiling available evidence and documentation that could establish both a biographical profile and reasons that would attest to the late priest’s saintliness. The process for Saint Luigi Guanella closed on May 21, 1929. This type of sanctification is required for all who are being considered for sainthood.
All of Saint Luigi Guanella’s writings were gathered and used to ascertain whether or not his texts were in line with the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church. They were approved as of July 12, 1932. All people being considered for sainthood need to have this approval. Then, the cause for sainthood must begin. For Saint Luigi Guanella, the formal introduction of the sainthood cause came on March 15, 1939, when Pope Pius XII was Pope. The title of Servant of God was granted to Saint Luigi Guanella as the first official stage in the process.
The apostolic process that opened after this formal introduction spanned from June 27, 1940, to October 10, 1941. The candidate must be proclaimed to have lived a model Christian life. Saint Luigi Guanella was declared to have lived this sort of life by Pope John XVIII on April 6, 1962. When the Pope declares this, he declares the candidate to be venerable. All that is needed at this point to become a saint is 3 miracles. The first two beatify the candidate. The third one canonizes him, or her.
The informative diocesan process for the first miracle needed for beatification opened on November 20, 1942, and closed on November 28, 1942. The process for the second miracle opened on November 29, 1942, and closed on December 28, 1942. The two processes were validated on 27 July 1962, while both miracles received formal papal approval on July 15, 1964. Saint Luigi Guanella would just need one miracle for canonization.
The miracles, according to Catholic News Service (CNS), include the miracle healing of an adult male, William Glisson. Glisson had fallen over a hole and hit his head while skating backward without a helmet, rollerblading down the Baltimore Pike. A doctor, who was both a friend and worked at a rehabilitation center that the Opera Don Guanella ran, gave Glisson’s mother two relics of the late priest. The Opera’s website stated that Glisson was released from the hospital less than a month after the accident and returned to work just seven months later, in what was seen as a rapid healing for someone in his condition.
The third miracle resulting in canonization was investigated, and the process concluded its assignment on 19 February 19 2007. It received validation on 20 April 20 2007. Then the Congregation for the Causes of Saints began its investigation into the alleged miracle. The medical board approved it on 12 November 12 2009. Pope Benedict XVI gave his final approval to the miracle on 1 July 2010 and canonized Saint Luigi Guanella on 23 October 23 2011.
Conclusion
Saint Luigi Guanella is used as an example in this article. His process to become a saint is detailed. He lived an interesting life as a priest and the founder of three religious societies. Nevertheless, it is instructive to learn about the intense process needed to become a saint. Sometimes, this process goes quickly, and sometimes it takes several decades. The canonization process for Guanella is of average duration.
