VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints today issued a series of decrees: 10 affirming that candidates for beatification had lived lives of "heroic virtue," 8 recognizing a miracle performed intercession the intercession of a candidate, and one recognizing the death of a martyr.

      The formal recognition of a life of "heroic virtue" completes the first major step in the progress of a case for beatification; after that decree is published, the approval of a miracle paves the way for the Pope to approve and schedule the beatification. The recognition of a martyr's death, on the other hand, opens the route to beatification directly.

      The list of decrees published today covers a number of priests, nuns, and religious brothers, from Italy, France, Spain, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, and Brazil. A martyr's death was proclaimed for Sister Maria Restituta-- born Helene Kafka-- who was killed by Nazis in 1943 and will be beatified by Pope John Paul II during his June trip to Austria.

April 7, 1998 volume 9, no. 69         DAILY CATHOLIC