"Pope Benedict XVI Recognizes Miracle: Cardinal Newman to be Beatified"

AmP has been tracking Newman beatification rumors since at least October of 2007, but as of this weekend, it appears certain:

Pope Benedict XVI today recognised the healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan in 2001 as a miracle resulting from the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God John Henry Newman.

The miraculous healing from serious debility of the spine occurred in Boston in the United States of America following prayers for Cardinal Newman’s intercession.

Newman, a major theologian and convert to Catholicism, died in 1890. The Pope’s decision means that his Beatification is now certain. (Catholic Online)

The Cardinal Newman Society is very happy. I wonder if they'll change their name to "Saint Cardinal Newman Society", when the time arrives?

Also, cheers to the English press across the herring pond.

"Cardinal John Newman poised for beatification after ruling"

Deo Gratias!

A panel of theological consultors agreed unanimously that the inexplicable healing of an American man who was "bent double" by a severe spinal disorder came as a result of praying to Newman for a miracle, according to sources. Their decision was the final hurdle before Pope Benedict XVI can declare him "Blessed".

The Pope, who is known to be keen to make Newman a saint and who asks about the progress of his cause on a regular basis, was informed of the panel's decision straight away. (UK Telegraph)

As always, take UK reporting on Vatican news with a grain of salt. They've jumped the gun several times before - on this very story, in fact. And while it does appear that a siginificant step has been taken, wait for the confirmation to come in the Vatican news bulleting.

Rumor: John Paul II to be beatified on April 2, 2010?

CNA (website seems to be having problems today):

Pope John Paul II could be beatified on April 2, 2010, according to a report in the Polish newspaper Dziennik, which claims the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints has already made the decision.

At the beginning of this month, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz of Krakow said the beatification process of Pope John Paul II was about to be concluded and that Benedict XVI himself wanted to close the process “as soon as possible” because that “is what the world is asking for.”

The beatification process of John Paul II began on June 28, 2005, two months after the death of the Pontiff thanks to a dispensation granted by Pope Benedict. The dispensation waived the normal five-year waiting period after a person dies that the Church requires before a cause for canonization can be opened.

April 2nd, of course, would be the fifth anniversary of the late Holy Father's passing.

Tom McFeely reports on the rumors in the Italian press, which are corroborative.

Here is the website for the Cause of John Paul II, Servant of God.

Mark the calednar and buy your plane tickets!

Vatican responds to claims that Cardinal Newman was a homosexual

Basically-accurately reported by the UK Mail:

The Vatican has hit back at claims that the man likely to become Britain’ s next saint was a closet homosexual.

The Holy See is furious at allegations made by gay activists in the UK that Cardinal John Henry Newman was a celibate gay man.

The claims were made after the Government granted a licence for the cardinal to be exhumed from a grave he shares with fellow priest Father Ambrose St John in a small cemetery in Rednal, Worcestershire.

... [Pope Benedict] personally commissioned the Rev Dr Ian Ker, a theologian at Oxford University and the world’s leading Newman scholar, to refute the allegations in an article for the Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

Father Ker, the author of the definitive biography of Newman, said there was no evidence to suggest that the cardinal was gay other than the deep grief at the death of his closest friend and the request to be buried in the same grave as him.

More from CNA.

Vatican: "Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux to be beatified in France"

Exciting news:

Today Pope Benedict XVI approved the rite of beatification for the parents of St. Theresa of Lisieux, Louis Martin and Marie Zelie Guerin. They will be beatified on October 19 in Lisieux, France.

According to the Office of Liturgical Celebrations, the beatification ceremony of the parents of St. Therese, Doctor of the Church and Patron of Missions, will take place in the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux (CNA)

Flash: John Henry Cardinal Newman to be beatified this year!

Deo Gratias!

The Vatican has approved the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman [wikipedia page], the English convert and theologian who has had immense influence upon English-speaking Catholicism, the Birmingham Mail reports.

The Catholic Church has accepted as miraculous the cure of an American deacon’s crippling spinal disorder. The deacon, Jack Sullivan of Marshfield, Massachusetts, prayed for John Henry Newman’s intercession.

At his beatification ceremony later this year, John Henry Newman will receive the title “Blessed.” He will need one more recognized miracle to be canonized.

The case of a 17-year-old New Hampshire boy who survived serious head injuries from a car crash is being investigated as a possible second miracle. (CNA)

Intentional Disciples anticipated this story, and has some helpful resources.

Plenty of folks are going to be tickled pink about this news. Me, for one.

Ph/t: Gashwin Gomes.