An important step in João Luiz Pozzobon beatification process
In Brazil, the Cause for the Beatification of the Servant of God João Luiz Pozzobon begins an important stage. The Archdiocese in which he was born and lived has opened a commission that is currently studying a possible miracle.
João Pozzobon has become known throughout the world for initiating the Schoenstatt Rosary Campaign. Immersed in Schoenstatt spirituality and inspired by the Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, he created a simple and effective apostolate that takes the Blessed Mother to the most distinct and distant places on the planet - about 200,000 MTA images peregrinate through more than 100 countries on all continents.
Written by: Karen Bueno, Periodista Schoenstatt Brasil.
In this interview, the archdiocesan postulator of the Process, Father Vandemir J. Meister, from the Institute of the Schoenstatt Fathers, shared the news about the Beatification process:
What’s new in the Cause of Beatification?
The Archdiocese of Santa Maria (state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) officially opened a commission on August 19th, 2019 to investigate a supposed miracle through the intercession of João Pozzobon.
The local bishop is the one who promotes the Cause of Beatification of any faithful. Since João Luiz Pozzobon is a member of the Archdiocese of Santa Maria, the investigation starts there.
Archbishop Helio Adelar Rubert opened this diocesan commission. It’s not the investigation of a miracle, but of a POSSIBLE miracle. This is because it’s the Vatican Secretariat for the Cause of the Saints that determines whether or not it’s miracle, after all the necessary analyses.
Who is part of this commission and what is its role?
The commission is composed of a promoter, a delegate, a secretary, an expert doctor, and the current postulator. The people appointed takes an oath under the Word of God (Bible) before the Archbishop, committing themselves to look after the veracity of the facts and guard the corresponding secrecy until the final pronouncement by the Secretariat of the Cause of Saints.
This commission investigates some people, goes to them to testify and analyzes the event that supposedly happened and could be a miracle. They follow the guidelines and scientific methodology that the Secretariat for the Cause of the Saints establishes for this type of work.
The investigation searches for all the previous and post-occurring facts in fine detail. And, ultimately, it’s the Vatican Secretariat for the Cause of the Saints that come to the conclusion whether or not it’s a proven miracle.
How can we follow the investigation?
The news about the opening of this commission is now public, as defined by the process; so, it’s now asked that people unite in prayer at this time, together with the bishop and the whole archdiocese, so that all the work that will be done goes well and can be presented promptly in the Vatican.
The topics that are discussed run in secret: the city is not named, the country and place, the relatives and the people involved in the supposed miracle are not named. The materiality of the study runs in secret.
How long does this study last?
The time is indefinite. We can’t say that it’ll be one month, two months, six months, one year, three years, five years… Sometimes, the process is slow due to the territorial distances; it also takes time for this team, among the various people, to be present at these moments of the investigation. Every investigative act must be endorsed by evidence and analyzed by the Vatican Secretariat, who might have more questions and request further explanations about certain things.
It’s a process that has just started. We ask people: Pray for this undergoing work and keep asking for the intercession of João Luiz Pozzobon for miracles.
