New Saints

How many saints the Roman Catholic Church has recognized not even the wisest hagiologist knows. There are at least 3,000.* Last week Pope Pius XII recognized the first two of his reign at a four-hour canonization ceremony in vast St. Peter's, Rome. Before him knelt two cardinal-advocates, pleaders for the two saints whose visages and miracles the congregation of 40,000 beheld on great oil paintings over the high altar--Marie Euphrasia Pelletier, French foundress of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (1796-1868), Gemma Galgani, Italian stigmatist and mystic (1878-1903). Thrice the cardinals begged the Pope to grant the canonization. Twice the Pope told all to pray for God's guidance. Third time he declared the petitions granted. Silver trumpets blew, the choir burst into a mighty Te Detim, and all the bells of Rome rang out.

Before a saint may be canonized, his intercession must officially be proved to have worked at least two miracles. Saint Gemma Galgani. "the Passion Flower of Lucca," every Friday for two years underwent the Stigmata--the five wounds in hands, feet and side which Christ suffered on the Cross. Present at her canonization last week were the two who had benefited by her miracles: Elisa Scarpelli, whose ulcers vanished instantly on May 14, 1938 after prayers to the saint, and Natale Scarpelli. The open leg ulcer he had from 1918 to 1935 healed overnight when a relic of the saint was placed inside the wound's dressing.

*Not counting a host of semi-legendary saints, such as St. Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins who were martyred most balefully by the Huns at Cologne.

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