"SOLEMN BEATIFICATION AND CANONISATION, RAISING TO THE GLORY OF THE ALTARS CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST, AND SOLEMN DECLARATION OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA WITH THE TITLE, "GREAT DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH"."

We, Supreme Pontiff, Vicar of Christ, Successor of Saint Peter, Servant of the Servants of God, Patriarch of Palmar de Troya.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, moved by the Spirit of God, comprehending the sense of the Church, after historical examination, solemnly declare and proclaim:

With great joy, we raise today to the glory of the altars, through solemn Beatification and Canonization, the following exalted members of the Mystical Body of Christ:

 1.  The Servant of God, Dolores Rodriguez Sopena, Spain.

 2.  Josephina Vilaseca Alsina, Spain.

 3.  The Venerable Mary of Jesus, Spain.

 4.  The Servant of God, Mother Pilar Vega Iglesias, Spain.

 5.  Mother Amable Vega Iglesias, Spain.

 6.  Antonio Molle Lazo, Spain.

 7.  The Servant of God, Father Pedro Poveda Castroverde, Spain.

 8.  Pilar Cimadevilla, Spain.

 9.  The Servant of God, Fra Jaime Carretero Rojas, Spain.

10.  Father Jose Maria Mateos Carbollido, Spain.

11.  The Servant of God, Fra Joaquin Romero Olmos, Spain.

12.  Father Carmelo Moyano Linares, Spain.

13.  Father Bonaventure Garcia de Paredes, Spain.

14.  Father Tito Brandsma, Holland.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, fulfilling Our exalted mission as Vicar of Christ on earth and as guide of souls, give assurance and guarantee of the sanctity and heroic virtue of those whom today we raise to the altars.  We ardently desire that the faithful, with veneration, look upon these precious models,- in order to attain sanctity, to which we are called, all of us.

We desire to put before your eyes those lively examples of holiness, which adorn with virtue and beautify the Holy Church of God.  Most beloved children, in the tragic years in which we are living, we must run to those who can guide us; and these are the saints, members of the Church, whom God has raised up in all the centuries, in all nations, especially in times of great persecution.  We wish to point out for all the faithful, the urgent need of the Church for an abundance of martyrs to come forth; since the martyrs are the grandiose pillars and ramparts that help to fortify us all in order to confess Christ, to keep true to the Catholic Faith, and to fight with holy zeal against the enemies of Christ and His Church.

Very beloved children, we wish to point out for you all, that the elevation to the glory of the altars of certain members of the Mystical Body of Christ, serves to show the world the glory of God. The saints, the martyrs, the virtuous, and so forth, are composed of body and soul, as we are.  They experienced terrible temptation, such as God permits to try us, in order that we fight and vanquish Satan.  Very beloved children, we understand that many of you are oppressed, enduring a thousand temptations of Satan.  Some of you at times feel the desperation of the many temptations you suffer.  We exhort you, meditate on the lives of the saints.  They were tried,- they suffered temptation, much bitterness, and yet today we can contemplate them on the altars.  Do not doubt it, you too, if you desire it, can vanquish temptations and attain sanctity,- naturally by calling upon the sure and certain help of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Queen of all the Angels and Saints.  Very beloved children, when you are burdened with the weight of bitterness and spiritual battle, think on the Crucified and think of the Co-redemptress.  As we all know, Christ became like unto us in all things except sin.  In order to redeem us, Christ made himself sin, that is, he became the sum of all our sins.  In his heavy cross are found our sins; We know that Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the bitter way of sorrow leading to Golgotha, fell several times to the ground.  We desire to say with precision and clarity, the reason for the falls of Jesus to the ground: Our Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true Man, had the body of the most perfect man, a man strong and sound, capable naturally and humanly speaking of carrying that cross.  Our sins were the true cause that made the cross too heavy to bear.  Those falls of Jesus to the ground, show the tremendous weight of our sins. We know also that Jesus fell to the ground, not so much for the weight of the cross, as it was for the gaze of His soul on our salvation,- since in spite of the infinite sacrifice, many souls would still be lost, and would fall into eternal fire.  Those who reject the saving work of Redemption, cast themselves into the everlasting fire of Hell.  Very beloved children, when you are overburdened by the constant fight against temptation, think of the most meek lamb carrying the tremendous wood of our sins, and think too of the sorrows and tears of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, our Co-redemptress.

We desire to teach all the faithful, that innumerable members of the Mystical Body of Christ attained sanctity because they contemplated and meditated on the Sacred Passion of Christ, the Sorrows of Mary, the blood of the Martyrs and the love of all the Saints.

We exhort you to have a holy joy in the Lord when you are suffering terrible temptation,- since, in this way, you will have the opportunity of attaining great merit in our holy war against Satan, and a holy victory over him.

We repeat to you:  Be on your guard against false doctors, false pastors, false prophets, and so forth.  The Church is living today in the midst of great darkness, since there are many apostates who claim the right to pasture the flock.

We recommend paternally:  have great veneration for the Saints, obtain their biographies, and there you will find marvelous ways that will lead you to Christ, the Saint of Saints.

We acquaint you with some passages from the lives of sanctity and heroic virtue of those we today have raised to the altars, namely: 

1.  Saint Dolores Rodriguez Sopena.

She was born in Velez-Rubio, province of Almeria, 30 December, 1848.  When she was 4 years old, she was on a certain occasion nauseated on hearing a worldly conversation; and so she consecrated herself to God.  In her youth, she admitted only those friends with whom she could feel spiritual harmony.  Through the death of her brother, she perceived the corruption of the things of earth, and she made the firm resolution to enter religion.  She gave herself up to the full to apostolic works under the spiritual direction of Saint Francisco de Paula Tarin.  Her love for God and souls was so intense that it made her exclaim:  "I would travel Spain from end to end, I would cross the seas seeking souls, to extend Your Heavenly Kingdom".  Feeling in her heart the desire to found the Institute of Lady Catechists, she consulted her holy director, who advised her to make the Holy Spiritual Exercises, in company with her friends; and he would himself conduct these. After these Exercises, the holy foundress saw clearly the will of God to make the foundation.  Its object was to work untiringly for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, and unite in charity the upper class with the working class.  The Institute of the Lady Catechists was approved by Pope Saint Pius X 21st Nov., 1901.  The holy foundress died on the 10th of January, 1918, after her very great social work for the spiritual and social benefit of the working and humble classes.  Her houses are very numerous both in and out of Spain.

2.  Saint Josephine Vilaseca Alsina, martyr of purity.

She was born in Horta de Avinyo, Barcelona, 9th of March, 1940, of a humble family of farmworkers.  Saint Josephine was a happy and innocent little girl who loved the Catechism.  At the age of 9 she made her first Holy Communion, and begged the Lord "rather to die than sin".  She frequented Holy Communion, visited the Blessed Sacrament, recited daily the Holy Rosary, and loved the Virgin intensely.  The 4th of December 1952, the holy martyr was working in a farm called "Solabernada".  A youth was working there also, and he put his impure intentions to Saint Josephine.  The saint told him that it was a sin, and rejected the impudent young man.  He, in a fury, stabbed her mercilessly.  The young martyr was 12 years old, and as a result of the wounds, died on the 25th December, 1952, offering her life for the conversion of her murderer.

3.  Saint Mary of Jesus.

She was born 27th March 1616 in the village called Guijo de Coria (Caceres), daughter of Pedro Ruano and Ana Gutierrez.  Her childhood passed with the wise counsel of the family and the spiritual direction of her zealous pastor.   At the age of 13, she entered the Third Order of Saint Frances, putting aside her family name and taking the name of Jesus, calling herself from that time Mary of Jesus.  The same day she took the habit, she made a vow of chastity before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, through the hands of her spiritual director; and, according to the testimony of her spiritual director, she kept it with exquisite fidelity.  Later she made vows of poverty and obedience to her director, and distributed her possessions among the poor.  For 34 years, she suffered intense pains, in body and soul, with never a complaint.  She so loved the Passion of Christ, and was so disposed to imitate Him, that this became her one consolation in her illnesses and sufferings.  Besides other gifts, the Lord gave her the gift of the discernment of spirits.  She died 50 years of age in her native town in 1666.

4.  Saint Pilar Vega Iglesias.

In the world named Aurora, she was born 3rd January 1897, in the town of Guariz (Lugo).  At the age of 16, she entered the Cistercian Abbey of Salvador do Benavente (Zamora), where she died in the odour of sanctity, 15th September 1944.  After receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, she felt a lively desire to give herself completely to God. Two of her sisters were religious in the Abbey mentioned above.  The saint went to assist at the solemn vows of her sisters.  She was so impressed by the ceremony that, at that very occasion, she entered the monastery, without ever going back to her home.  Her religious life was one of intense suffering.  Infected with pulmonary tuberculosis, she was isolated in a cell, away from converse with her sisters. The message which the Lord gives to souls through her, is the very message of the Gospel:  without renunciation, without a life of grace, without embracing generously the cross which the Lord deigns to place on each and every soul,- there can be no salvation.

5.  Saint Amable Vega Iglesias.

She was sister of the previous Saint, was born in the same town, and was older than Saint Pilar.  In company with her father and her older sister Theresa, who was about to enter the Cistercian Convent of Benevente, without herself having previously had a desire to enter, suddenly felt strongly the call of God, and without returning to her home, entered with her sister Theresa.  This saint was an exemplary religious within the enclosed convent, persevering ever faithful to her vocation, until her holy death in 1940 within the life of religion.

6.  Saint Anthony Molle Lazo, martyr.

This glorious youth was born in Arcos de la Frontera (Cadiz), the 2nd April, 1915.  He was educated in the Schools of the Christian Brothers.  He belonged to the Confraternity of Mount Carmel, and always wore on his heart the Holy Scapular.  He was a "Requete del Tercio" (member of organisation in defence of Spanish traditions), of Our Lady of Ransom of Jerez de la Frontera, in which city he had lived with his parents since early childhood.  Arrested by the communist soldiers, he met a holy and glorious death in Penaflor (Seville), on the 10th of August, 1936, after suffering torture and mutilation.  In the face of blasphemy and outrage by his torturers, he shouted with saintly heroism: Viva Christ the King! Viva Espana!  His body reposes in the Carmelite Church of Jerez de la Frontera.

7.  Saint Pedro Poveda Castroverde, martyr.

He was born in Linares (Jaen), 3rd December, 1874. He was martyred in Madrid, 27th of July, 1936.

Since childhood he felt a lively desire to be a priest.  The 17th April 1897, he was ordained priest.  His austere life and his mortification, interior and exterior, was so great that he was made ill for the rest of his life.  In 1911 he founded the Theresian Institute, whose object was to provide for the young an education in all grades and of all kinds. This was approved by Pope Saint Pius XI in 1944, and in 1951 it became a Secular Institute.  Saint Pedro Poveda practised the Christian virtues so perfectly, that it could not be said which was his characteristic virtue.  Purity, austerity, humility, gentleness, meekness, charity, impressed on his features that spiritual seal of the true followers of Christ.  His mind was filled with thoughts of martyrdom.  He would speak of the first Christians, read their lives, and desired that his daughters the Theresians take those lives as examples.  Being in his private oratory making his thanksgiving after celebrating Holy Mass, he was taken in arrest by the communists, and murdered in Madrid.  His daughters the Theresians found his bloodstained body in the cemetery Del Este. On his heart, pierced by a bullet, was the Scapular of Mount Carmel.

8.  Saint Pilar Cimadevilla y Lopez-Doriga.

She died in the odour of sanctity in Madrid, 6th March, 1962, when she was only 10 years old.  The documents for her beatification were sent to Rome.  Before her illness, she was a good girl, but she was ordinary and common.  Her heroic virtue took its beginning from the moment she perceived that her sickness and sufferings,- which according to the doctors were intense, could gain merit before God for the redemption of souls and the conversion of infidels. She enrolled in the "Union of the Missionary Sick", and during these years no one heard her ever give a single word of complaint.  She was administered sedatives, not for any groaning of hers, but because the doctors were converted that she was suffering great pains.

 A fracture of the cervical vertebrae, which left her head hanging, was the cause of death.

9.  Saint James Carretero Rojas, martyr.

He was born in Villaviciosa, 27th April 1911, in the province of Cordoba.  At the age of 18, he joined the Carmelites in Jerez, and took solemn vows 16th July 1936.  Four days later, he was taken prisoner by the communists in the convent of Montoro, and was murdered by gunfire and with an axe, and had also received stabs in the right side of his face,- the 22nd July, 1936.

10.  Saint Joseph Mary Mateos Carballido, martyr.

He was Superior of the Convent of Montoro.  The 20th of July, 1936, a mob of communist soldiers surrounded the convent, and machine-gunned windows, doors, etc.  They invaded the' Convent, took the saint, and the three religious who lived with him, and imprisoned them.  The saint was the heart and the consolation of the prisoners, hearing their confessions, and comforting them in their moments of anguish.  When the communists went to murder a married couple who were there imprisoned, Saint Joseph Mary Mateos stepped forward, saying:  "Kill us; but not these who are mother and father of a family".  But since they took no notice of his words, he encouraged them to die well, and to offer their lives for God and for Spain.  The 22nd July, 1936, the saint was murdered along with several others, among whom, Saint James Carretero, mentioned above.

11.  Saint Joaquim Romero Olmos, martyr.

  Jerez.  Later he went to Brasil, where he took solemn vows, returning to Spain to the Convent of Hinojosa.  As a youth he had been a hermit in the mountains of Cordoba.  He was a great apostle of the Holy Rosary, and greatly loved the Most Holy Virgin.  The 27th July, 1936, he was taken prisoner by the communists to Pueblonuevo the Terrible, energetically refusing to give up his Rosary.  In prison he was the consolation of the prisoners.  In February 1937 he was burned alive.

12.  Saint Carmelo Moyano Linares, martyr.

He was born 10th June, 1891, in Villaralto (Cordoba).  He entered the Carmelites of Jerez at the age of 16 in 1914; he was ordained priest, and became Doctor of Theology and Provincial of Andalusia.  The 16th. July, 1936, he was taken prisoner by the communists, while in hiding in a private house, and was brought to a prison where there were other priests and youths of Catholic Action.  There he gave heart to all.  He heard confessions and led the Rosary.  He was also subjected to an attack on his chastity, being put into a cell along with a prostitute.  When they came to remove him, he said:  "Wretched men, how will you end?"  He was insulted and outraged in his very dignity as man.  In the early morning of 23rd September, 1936, he was murdered along with 24 others condemned to death.

13.  Saint Bonaventure Garcia do Paredes.

He was born in Castanedo de Valdes (Asturias), 19th April, 1866.  At the age of 17 he entered the Dominican Order, was ordained priest, attained a Doctorate in Philosophy, in Sacred Scripture, in Civil Law, and was Superior of the Convent of the Rosary in Madrid.  The 22nd May, 1926, he was elected Master General of the Order in the Chapter at Ocana.

Finding himself in very bad health, he resigned his office, withdrew to Ocana and devoted himself to prayer and to souls.  He found himself in Madrid when the National Movement broke out.  The communists were searching for him while he was hidden in a rooming house.  Informed of the search, he went outside and said to the reds: "I know you are looking for me, because I am a religious".  And giving himself up, they murdered him.  His body reposes in the crypt of the Church of the Rosary in Madrid. His great virtues are summed up in the words of the Master General P. Gillet:  His life can be described as a loving desire for perpetual supernatural union with God, acquired through an exquisite humility and meekness, to the degree that it all seemed part of his nature.

14.  Saint Peter Tito Brandsma, martyr.

In the world he was called Anno Sjverd Brandsma.  He was born in Oegeklooster, Friesland (Holland), 23rd of February, 1881, in the, heart of a family fully Christian.  At the ago of 17 he entered the Carmelite Order, where he was given the name Tito.  He attained a Doctorate in Philosophy, and was Professor of Philosophy and Mystical Theology in the University of Nijmegen, and President of the University.  He was also a distinguished pedagogue and scientist, but above all else he was a great apostle.  His love was a fire that devoured him.

When his country was invaded by the Nazis, and the liberty of the Church was threatened, the Saint did not hesitate one moment in defending the rights of the Church.  As spiritual advisor of Catholic journalists and professors, he directed the resistance of the press and the teaching profession against Nazi paganisation.  The 19th January, 1942, by order of the German office of occupation, he was taken prisoner and moved from prison to prison, and to concentration camps, until he arrived at Dachau, inferno of cruelty, where he died of the brutal treatment he received from the enemies of Christ, the 26th of July, 1942.

We, on this day, as Universal Doctor of the Church, solemnly declare and proclaim the title "Great Doctor of the Church" to be bestowed on Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

We wish to point out for all the faithful, that the holy Spanish Founder of the Society of Jesus, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, as Great Doctor of the Church, presents us with a most beautiful and splendid Doctrine for obtaining the conversion of sinners, and for confirming in the Catholic Faith those already converted.  The magnificent writings of Saint Ignatius of Loyola are innumerable. This Holy Founder of the Jesuits has left us impressive writings and letters.  We wish to select from among these magnificent writings of Saint Ignatius, that most famous book of meditations known by the title of "The Spiritual Exercises."  The Spiritual Exercises have produced abundant fruit in the Church, as well as innumerable conversions of sinners.

We desire to inform the faithful that the Spiritual Exercises were also very important, on many occasions, in taking Us away from a terrible life given to sins.  The number of times could not be counted when We with piety read the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.  Neither could be counted the times when we went to the parishes and to the Churches when the famous "turns" of the Spiritual Exercises were being practiced, and where We were witness to the conversion of innumerable sinners.

We, as Universal Doctor of the Church, declare and proclaim the following truth:  the famous Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, great Doctor of the Church, produce effects similar to those produced by the famous "Imitation of Christ" of Saint Thomas a Kempis, Great Doctor of the Church.

We, with the authority with which we are invested, declare that the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola is doctrine inspired by God, the reading of which serves the important object of putting the Holy Gospel into practice.  God, who with infinite Wisdom, writes such marvelous and exalted works as the "Imitation of Christ" and the "Spiritual Exercises", shows here again that when He writes, He respects the form of expression of his instrument.

We desire to make Clear for all the Church that the proclaiming of a Doctor of the Church is not a game We are playing with honorary titles, nor a dignity with which to feed the vainglory of this or that nation; We desire to teach that we raise certain saints to the dignity of Doctor of the Church:  in the first place to give sure and certain approbation to the doctrines that they put forward; and secondly, in order that the faithful with veneration and piety read these doctrines; and in the third place in order that the faithful find the path that leads to God.

We desire to express the following for the whole Church:  today, more than ever, there is an imperative need of presenting holy and wise Doctors, since, logically, we have the duty and the right to fight against the false doctors who today are leading the sheep astray.

We ardently desire that the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Great Doctor of the Church, form an indispensable part of your spiritual reading.  We desire for the good of souls that, after the Holy Gospel, you form the pious habit of reading the Imitation of Christ, and the Spiritual Exercises, since both these great works are on the same exalted plane.

We wish to express our great sorrow over the fact that today there are few conversions,- surely because the famous "turns" of the Spiritual Exercises are not practiced.

We wish to emphasize the great importance of the Spiritual Exercises, the sacred deposit that was entrusted to the Church by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who himself was a convert.  In general, the conversion of many sinners is obtained by preaching the life of other converts.

We promise solemnly to examine the written doctrines of other Saints, in order to adorn the Mystical Body of Christ with a holy army of Doctors of the Church.

In these moments, we feel a profound joy in proclaiming Saint Ignatius of Loyola "Great Doctor of the Church", since he is also one of the founders and patrons of the Order of Carmelites of the Holy Face, and since our Order is also the Society of Jesus.

We exhort the Carmelites of the Holy Face, in all their branches, to share to the full the happiness and joy that there is in this most worthy proclamation.

We declare Saint Ignatius of Loyola to be special protector of the Order of the Carmelites of the Holy Face.

We direct a paternal word to the Fathers, the Brothers, and to the Sisters of the Carmelites of the Holy Face:  very beloved and most dear children, in particular, all you who are enduring 'ups and downs' in your religious vocation:  read, meditate in a spirit of deep humility, the Spiritual Exercises of our holy protector, Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

We desire to point out for all:  Beloved sons and daughters, do not forget that our Holy Reformer Saint Theresa of Avila, has great spiritual predilection for the Jesuits.  Let us give thanks to God, that now in our Order of Carmelites of the Holy Face we have also the spirit of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.

We urge you to meditate on the importance of being a Carmelite of the Holy Face.  On the one hand, we have the Spirit of Mary as the Society of Mary; on the other hand we have the Spirit of the Jesuits as the Society of Jesus; and as if that were too little, we have Saint Joseph as Father General of the Order.  There is no doubt, the Order of the Carmelites of the Holy Face will alone, of all the Orders, survive and go to meet Christ when He returns to the earth.

We desire to tell you that the motto "De Gloria Olivae", is certainly not for Us alone; it is, without any doubt, for all the Order of the Carmelites of the Holy Face.  We, as Vicar of Christ, represent the olive tree; and you, who are united with Us, represent the beautiful and lovely olives, who with your prayer and penance, maintain the spiritual beauty of the olive tree.

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