For the first time in its history, Venezuela will have two people officially declared saints. It will be Doctor José Gregorio Hernández and the religious sister Carmen Rendiles. The canonization ceremony will take place on October 19 at the Vatican. The person who has overseen both processes before the Holy See, postulator Silvia Correale, is fully aware of the importance of this event.
SILVIA CORREALE
Postulator before the Holy See
In the figures of these two, the whole Church is, in a way, represented. Because he is a layman, a man, and she is a religious sister, a woman. So sainthood is for men and for women, for laypeople and for those who are consecrated. That’s the beauty of it.
In the case of Mother Carmen Rendiles, one of the certified miracles involved a young woman who was in a vegetative state. After a visit to the tomb of the future saint, the woman was healed completely with no medical explanation.
The postulator for Mother Carmen Rendiles emphasizes her strength in facing a crisis in her religious order and leadership in founding a new one.
SILVIA CORREALE
Postulator before the Holy See
A woman of great faith and deep prayer life, especially Eucharistic prayer, and she had the serenity to understand the difficulty of the moment and to walk forward together with her bishops, the Venezuelan bishops.
As for José Gregorio Hernández, after the first miracle was approved for his beatification, Pope Francis waived the requirement for a second miracle due to the overwhelming popular devotion.
SILVIA CORREALE
Postulator before the Holy See
José Gregorio is part of Venezuela’s national identity. Everyone is devoted to José Gregorio. There isn’t a single Venezuelan who doesn’t know who he is because devotion to him is taught at home from a young age.
These two canonization causes received strong support from the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, particularly from Cardinal Parolin, who witnessed firsthand the immense devotion to these new saints during his time as nuncio in Venezuela.
SILVIA CORREALE
Postulator before the Holy See
We knew we had the support of Cardinal Parolin and of Monsignor Peña Parra. Whenever they could help, they encouraged us, supported us, and accompanied us.
A large turnout of Venezuelans is expected in October, for a canonization that will be preceded by a prayer vigil at Rome’s Cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Trans. CRT
