Catholic Mission National Director Fr Brian Lucas has welcomed with great joy the announcement of the beatification of Pauline Jaricot, the founder of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, in a letter dated 5 October.
Pope Francis has appointed Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, to preside over the beatification ceremony of Venerable Pauline Jaricot in Lyon on May 22, 2022.
Fr Brian says it is very fitting that Pauline Jaricot’s beatification will occur during year marking the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
“As a laywoman committed to supporting the missionary activities of the church, she reminds us that holiness is not confined to those in holy orders or members of religious congregations,” Fr Brian said.
“Through her vision and energy, she established a network of prayer and support which continues to this day so that local churches in solidarity can assist those missionary churches that are in need, due to persecution, minority status, or lack of material resources.”
“As we journey to the formal beatification ceremony in Lyon on 22 May 2022, we pray that her spirit will continue to enliven the Church in Australia to a true missionary outreach,” he added.
Pauline-Marie Jaricot (1799-1862), foundress of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, known in Australia as Catholic Mission, was declared Venerable on 25 February 1963, by Saint John XXIII.
On 26 May 2020, Pope Francis authorised the publication of the decree recognising the miracle attributed to her intercession opening the path to her beatification.
The miracle approved by the decree of Pope Francis took place in 2012, on the 150th anniversary of Pauline’s birth.
Three-year-old Mayline Tran became unconscious due to suffocation caused by food.
The little girl, hospitalised, was considered dead, but the family refused to stop artificial life assistance and began a novena to Pauline Jaricot.
Shortly thereafter, the little girl woke up and, against all hope, completely recovered.
The beatification ceremony will take place on 22 May 2022 during the General Assembly of the national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies which has been relocated from Rome to Lyon where Pauline lived.
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