“Each in his or her own way” Lumen Gentium says. “We should not grow discouraged before examples of holiness that appear unattainable” (Gaudete et Exsultate no. 11). There are some testimonies that may prove helpful and inspiring, but that we are not meant to copy, for that could even lead us astray from the one specific path that the Lord has in mind for us. “The important thing is that each believer discern his or her own path, that they bring out the very best of themselves, the most personal gifts that God has placed in their hearts” (cf. 1 Cor 12:7) (Ibid.).
We need to express deep gratitude and praise to God for the holiness already recognised in the Salesian Family of Don Bosco and for others in process of recognition. The outcome of a Cause of Beatification and Canonisation is an event of extraordinary importance and ecclesial value. In fact, it is a matter of discerning the reputation of holiness of a baptised person who has lived the evangelical beatitudes to a heroic degree or who has given his or her life for Christ.
"From Don Bosco down to our own times we recognise a tradition of holiness to which we need to pay attention, since the embodiment of the charism that had its origin in him found its expression in a variety of states of life and in different forms, it is a question of men and women, young people and adults, consecrated persons and lay people, bishops and missionaries who in certain historical, cultural and social contexts, different in time and place, made the special light of the Salesian charism shine out, representing a heritage that continues to play an effective role in the life and in the communities of believers and of men and women of good will.”
The Salesian Postulation involves 173 individuals among Saints (10), Blesseds (117), Venerables (20), Servants of God (26). There are 58 Causes directly followed by the Postulation (plus 5 extra).
The Dossier, recalls the Postulator General for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, Fr Pierluigi Cameroni, after reporting the list and status of each Cause, presents the events of 2023, including the 3rd Seminar on the Promotion of Causes in the Salesian Family, held in Turin from 6 to 10 September with over 80 participants.
In addition, the following deserve to be remembered:
11 January 2023: legal validity of the diocesan inquiry for the Cause of the Servant of God Bishop Giuseppe Cognata, (Agrigento 14 October 1885 – Pellaro 22 July 1972) of the Pious Society of Saint Francis de Sales, Titular Bishop of Farsalo, former Bishop of Bova, Founder of the Institute of the Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart.
23 March 2023: Pope Francis authorised the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the Decree concerning the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Carlo Crespi Croci, professed Priest of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco; born on 29 May 1891 in Legnano (Italy) and died on 30 April 1982 in Cuenca (Ecuador).
28 March 2023: The Historical Consultants of the Dicastery expressed affirmative votes regarding the Positio super martyrio of the Servants of God John Świerc and 8 Companions, Professed Priests of the Society of St Francis de Sales.
30 March 2023: The Medical Board of the Dicastery gave a positive opinion to the alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Camille Costa de Beauregard, Diocesan priest (1841-1910), involving a child, René Jacquemond, for healing from "intense keratoconjunctivitis with grinding of the cornea, strong pericheratic injection, redness and injection of the conjunctiva, photophobia and tearing of the right eye due to violent trauma from a plant-bardan agent" (1910).
22 June 2023: the Supreme Pontiff authorised the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the Decree concerning the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Antônio de Almeida Lustosa, of the Salesian Society of St John Bosco, Archbishop of Fortaleza; born on 11 February 1886 in São João del Rei (Brazil) and died on 14 August 1974 in Carpina (Brazil);
19 September 2023: the Positio super Vita, Virtutibus et Fama Sanctitatis of the Servant of God Constantine Vendrame, Professed Priest of the Society of St John Bosco, was delivered to the Dicastery.
19 October 2023: the special Congress of Theologians of the Dicastery gave a positive vote to the alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Camille Costa de Beauregard (1841-1910), diocesan Priest.
Finally, the commitment to disseminate the knowledge, imitation and intercession of the members of the Salesian Family candidates for holiness is recalled, valuing and caring for different aspects: liturgical and celebratory, spiritual, pastoral, ecclesial, educational, cultural, historical, social, missionary...
At the bottom of the page you can download the Postulation Dossier – in Italian, English, Spanish, French and Portuguese – updated to 31 December 2023. It is also possible to download the 2023 Salesian Family Holiness Poster designed and created by graphic designer Andrea Cugini.
