The Holy See Press Office published this notice yesterday concerning the canonization of the Sixteen Carmelite Martyrs of Compiègne, brutally murdered during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror:
During the audience granted to His Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Supreme Pontiff approved the votes in favour of the Ordinary Session of Cardinals and Bishops, Members of the Dicastery, and decided to extend to the universal Church the cult of Blessed Teresa di Sant’Agostino (née Maria Maddalena Claudia Lidoine) and fifteen companions of the Order of Descalced Carmelites of Compiègne, martyrs, killed in odium fidei on 17 July 1794 in Paris, France, inscribing them in the Book of Saints (equipollent canonization).
The martyrs in question are the subjects of numerous historical, literary, and artistic works, including the excellent novel, The Song at the Scaffold, by Gertrud von Le Fort; Georges Bernanos’ novel, Dialogues des Carmélites; and Poulenc’s opera of the same name — with its stunning final scene — based upon the Bernanos novel.
Equipollent, or equivalent canonization is the proclamation of a saint by the pope without the formal process of canonization. It is not new. Here are some links for further information:
- What is equipollent canonization, and why do we need it? (Catholic World Report)
- Equivalent canonization (Wikipedia)
More on the martyrs and yesterday’s equipollent canonization may be read here, at CNA.
The execution of the martyrs of Compiègne, painting located inside the church of the convent of Santa Teresa in Palma, Spain. Cropped from original. Image credit: Joan Gené, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
