Pope Benedict XVI will make waves this year by naming 10 new saints who will all be included in the official canon. He announced it during an ordinary public Consistory which took place in the Clementine Hall of the Vatican Apostolic Palace. The first five will be canonized this coming April 26 and the other five will be on October 11. The lists consists of four Italians, one Portuguese, one French, one Polish, two Spanish and one controversial Belgian beato. Among the ten said future saints, four are women and six are men. Two are from the medieval timeline, seven are from the 19th century and one from the twentieth century. Eight of them belonged to the religious orders, and two are diocesan clergy and brchbishop. Seven of them are founders of Religious orders and Congregations. One is a leper, the other is a Mystic and most of them were beatified by Pope John Paul II during his reign. Fantastic combination indeed. The names of these future saints are:

(Canonization: April 26, 2009)

1. Bl. Arcangelo Tadini (1846-1912), Italian, Diocesan Priest, Founder of the Congregation of the Worker Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth, Pastor
2. Bl. Sister Caterina Volpicelli (1839-1894), Italian, Founder of the Institute of Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart, Virgin.
3. Bl. Bernardo Tolomei (1272-1348), Italian, Religious Abbot, Theologian, Founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin of Monte Oliveto, Martyr. The decree recognizing the miracle was adopted on July 3, 2008.
4. Bl. Gertrude Caterina Comensoli, (1847-1903) Italian, Founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, Virgin. The decree recognizing the miracle was adopted on March 17, 2008.
5. Bl. Nuno de Santa Maria Alvares Pereira (1360-1431) Portuguese, Former Military General, Carmelite Friar, Penitent. The decree recognizing the miracle was adopted on July 3, 2008.

(Canonization: October 11, 2009)

1. Bl. Marie de la Croix (born Jeanne) Jugan (1792-1879), French, Founder of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor, Virgin.
2. Bl. Zygmunt Szczesny Felinski (1822-1895), Polish, Archbishop, Founder of the Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of the Family of Mary, Pastor
3. Bl. Francisco Coll y Guitart (1812-1875) Spanish, Dominican Friar, Founder of the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Pastor
4. Bl. Rafael Arnaiz Baron (1911-1938) Spanish, Cistercian Friar of the of the Strict Observance, Died at age 27 due to diabetic Coma. Religious. Considered as one of the greatest Mystics of the 20th Century
5. and Bl. Jozef Damian de Veuster (aka Damien of Molokai, Pater Damiaan, Damien the Leper, Apostle of the Lepers) (1840-1889) Belgian, Religious Missionary of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and of the Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, Pastor. The decree recognizing the miracle was approved July 3, 2008.

Saints in Heaven, Pray for Us…