Canonization Commission Update
Fr. Llorente Canonization Commission News
While only God makes Saints, there are three basic requirements that are left for the faithful to prepare and present to the competent bishop, Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski in the case and cause, now under exploration, in favor of our dear Fr. Llorente: 1) a biography, 2) a compendium of all his writings/homilies and 3) a list of witnesses that speak to his heroic virtues and fame of sanctity. Yet, the clamor of the people is the “midwife” of this effort, as it were, if the proposed cause is to be considered for without it the cause would be “stillborn." Needless to say, such clamor must begin with those of us who were closest to Fr. Llorente. We know there are various religious and other groups praying for his cause and others praying for his intercession; we have had annual memorial masses for the past decade presided by ACU’s directors; a first pilgrimage to Fr. Llorente’s birthplace was held in 2018 and will recur next year, thanks to the efforts of Ignacio Abella; Fr. Christian started an additional annual memorial service at his resting place on the day of Fr. Llorente’s passing to the Agrupacion Triumphant. Each and everyone of us needs to pray to the Holy Spirit to gift us with our own and special way to express our fervor. I would propose that a most crucial way to do so is to communicate our interest in Fr. Llorente’s beatification to Archbishop Wenski in writing, and in conversation when the opportunity presents itself. And this practice should be perennial, though most appropriately on the anniversaries of Fr. Llorente’s birth (August 24) and passing (April 28). I did this a couple of weeks ago and plan on doing it yearly from now on. I enclose, with all humility, a copy of my letter to the Archbishop, as model with respect to length, though not content which must be personal. We ask those who don’t live in the Miami Archdiocese to copy your own bishop, as well as acusaints@estovir.org. Emails are fine, but should only complement a handwritten (or typed and printed), signed and posted letter. A.M.D.G.
