NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

    VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Pope John Paul II will preside at the beatification of six people on October 3 in St. Peter's Square.

    Edward Joannes Maria Poppe (1890-1924) was a Belgian priest who was involved in the religious instruction of young people in Flanders. He had a profound effect on a generation of Belgian priests because of his service as spiritual director to seminarians.

    Ferdinando Maria Baccilieri (1821-1893) spent his entire life in the parish of St. Maria de Galeazza, in Bologna. He dedicated his life to preaching, missions, teaching, and spiritual direction. A priest with a deep affection for the poor, and a strong devotion to the Virgin Mary, he was sometimes compared with the Cure of Ars. He founded a women's religious order, the Servants of Mary, which now has members in Italy, Germany, Brazil, South Korean, and the Czech Republic.

    Arcangelo Tadini (1846- 1912), another Italian priest, did his pastoral work in Brescia, in northern Italy. He took a special interest in helping lay people to cope with the social and economic problems of the era, founding organizations devoted to mutual aid and promoting the sanctification of daily work.

    Mariano da Roccacasale (1778- 1866), the son of a farming family in Abruzzi, in central Italy, entered the Franciscan order when he was 24. After two years-- during which he gained a reputation for his exemplary conduct-- he moved to a more austere monastery outside Rome, and worked there among the poor and pilgrims, again gaining renown for his deep piety and acts of charity.

    Diego Oddi (1839 – 1919) met Mariano da Roccacasale while making a pilgrimage to Rome, and was inspired by his example to enter the Franciscan order himself. He lived out his days in the same monastery, in simple service, and was renowned for his sunny temperament as well as his deep faith.

    Nicola da Gesturi (1882-1958) was a Capuchin monk who lived in Sardinia and devoted much of his time to raising funds for the Church. As he performed that work, he also became a spiritual adviser to people from all walks of life, who saw in him a man of profound religious faith and wisdom. His remarkable popularity was manifest when 60,000 people came to his funeral.

    The beatification ceremony will be the 119th during the pontificate of John Paul II; during that time the Holy Father has beatified 938 people, including 712 martyrs.

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