John Baptist Scalabrini – Beatification

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John Baptist Scalabrini – Beatification

giovanni paolo II e il beato giovanni battista scalabrini

  • The Beatification Process

    • May 5, 1936 – Bishop Ersilio Menzani introduced the Cause of Beatification in Piacenza.

    • 1936-40 – The Diocesan Beatification Process took place in Piacenza.

    • May 30, 1940 – The Apostolic Process was introduced in Rome.

    • September 9, 1970 – The Votes of the Censors super scripta were published.

    • May 11, 1982 – Pope John Paul II ratified the decree for the introduction of the Cause.

    • November 25, 1986 – The Theological Consultants gave favorable votes.

    • February 17, 1987 – The Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals and Bishops approved the affirmative response over the practice of heroic virtues.

    • March 16, 1987 – The Pope declared solemnly the evidence of “the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity toward God and neighbor and the cardinal virtues of Prudence, Justice Temperance and Fortitude and connected virtues practiced to the heroic degree by the Servant of God John Baptist Scalabrini, Bishop of Piacenza”.

    • December 23, 1994 – June 5, 1995 – The Diocesan Process over the alleged miracle attributed to Bishop Scalabrini took place.

    • 1995 – The Process over the alleged miracle began in Rome.

    • December 5, 1996 – The medical members of the commission gave favorable vote.

    • March 21, 1997 – The Theologian Consultants gave unanimous favorable vote over the alleged miracle attributed to the intercession of Bishop Scalabrini.

    • June 3, 1997 – The Congregation of Cardinals gave unanimous vote and declared: “The healing of Sister Paolina has no natural explanation and this fact is attributable to the intercession of the Venerable John Baptist Scalabrini”.
    • July 4, 1997 – The decree of the Pope.

    • November 9, 1997 – Beatification of John Baptist Scalabrini in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

Homily of Pope John Paul II

On November 9, 1997, the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, Pope John Paul II proclaimed “Blessed” Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini, assigning his liturgical feast on June 1, the date of his death.

«On this Sunday the Church in Rome and all Christian people celebrate the feast of the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, considered by very ancient tradition to be the mother of all churches. The liturgy speaks to us of the temple: the temple which is first of all Christ’s body, but which through Christ is also every individual. The Apostle Paul asks: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor 3:16). This temple is built on the foundation laid by God himself. “No other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 3:11). He is the cornerstone of the divine building.

On Christ, the Church’s firm foundation, the three servants of God whom I have the joy today of raising to the glory of the altars built the temple of their lives: Vilmos Apor, Bishop and martyr, John Baptist Scalabrini, Bishop and founder of the Missionaries and Missionary Sisters of St Charles, and María Vicenta of St Dorothy Chávez Orozco, foundress of the Institute of the Servants of the Holy Trinity and the Poor”.

(…)

“God’s temple is holy, and that temple you are” (1 Cor 3:17). The universal call to holiness was constantly felt and personally lived by John Baptist Scalabrini. He loved to say over and over: “Would that I could sanctify myself and all the souls entrusted to me!”. Striving for holiness and proposing it to everyone he met was always his first concern.

Deeply in love with God and extraordinarily devoted to the Eucharist, he knew how to translate the contemplation of God and his mystery into intense apostolic and missionary activity, making himself all things to all men in order to proclaim the Gospel. This ardent passion of his for the kingdom of God made him zealous in catechesis, pastoral activities and charitable work, especially for those most in need. Pope Pius IX called him the “Apostle of the Catechism” because of his efforts to promote the systematic teaching of the Church’s doctrine to children and adults in every parish.

Out of his love for the poor, particularly for emigrants, he became the apostle of his many compatriots compelled to leave their country, often under difficult conditions and in concrete danger of losing their faith: for them he was a father and sure guide. We can say that Bl. John Baptist Scalabrini intensely lived the paschal mystery, not through martyrdom, but by serving the poor and crucified Christ in the many needy and suffering people whom he loved with the heart of a true Shepherd in solidarity with his flock.

(…)

The first reading, taken from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, speaks of the symbol of water. For us, water is associated with the sacrament of Baptism and signifies the rebirth to new life in Christ. Today, as we proclaim Vilmos Apor, John Baptist Scalabrini and María Vicenta of St Dorothy Chávez Orozco blessed, we wish to thank God for the grace of their Baptism and for all that he accomplished in their lives: “… unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (Jn 3:5).

See, these blesseds, reborn by the Holy Spirit, have entered the kingdom of God, and today the Church proclaims it and solemnly confirms it. Built on the foundation which is Christ, the Christian community rejoices over the exaltation of these her children and raises a song of thanksgiving to heaven for the good fruits produced by their total fidelity to God’s will.

Supported by their witness and their intercession, together with the Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles and Martyrs, she looks to the future with confidence and enthusiastically prepares to cross the threshold of the new millennium, proclaiming that Christ is the one Redeemer of humanity: yesterday, today and forever. Amen!».

Urn of Blessed Scalabrini: the live webcam from the Cathedral of the Diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio.
On Sundays and Feast Days the recitation of the Rosary and the prior to Blessed Scalabrini is conducted at 5:30 PM (Piacenza time).