More on the canonization progress announced earlier this week:

By Benedict XVI’s decision the Church will soon canonize four more saints and proclaim 78 new blessed.

On Saturday, in a private audience to Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes, the Pope authorized the promulgation of decrees of recognition of the candidates’ miracles or martyrdom.

The four blessed to be canonized saints are:

— Szymon of Lipnica, Polish, priest of the Order of Friars Minor (1439-1482).

— Antonio de Santa Ana (born Antonio Galvao de Franca), Brazilian, priest of the Order of Alcantarine or Discalced Friars Minor, and founder of the Convent of Conceptionist Sisters (1739-1822).

— Charles of St. Andrew (born Johannes Andreas Houben), Dutch, priest of the Congregation of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1821-1893).

— Marie Eugenie de Jesus (born Anne-Eugenie Milleret de Brou), French, founder of the Institute of Sisters of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (1817-1898).

The Holy Father also authorized the publication of decrees of recognition of miracles attributed to the intercession of four Servants of God, thus opening the doors of beatification to them.

They are:

— Carlo Liviero, Italian, bishop of Citta di Castello and founder of the Congregation of Little Handmaidens of the Sacred Heart (1866-1932).

— Stanislaus of Jesus Mary (born Jana Papczynski), Polish, priest and founder of the Congregation of Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary (1631-1701).

— Celina Chludzinska, Polish, widow and founder of the Congregation of Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1833-1913).

— Marie Celine of the Presentation (born Jeanne-Germaine Castang), French, nun of the Second Order of St. Francis (1878-1897).

In addition to the four blessed, the Pope has authorized the beatification of 74 Servants of God by recognizing their martyrdom through the publication of the necessary decree. In the case of martyrs, no miracle through their intercession is necessary for their beatification.