SHILLONG: The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) released a statement on Friday informing the beatification of Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, a member of the Franciscan Clarist Congregation.
CBCI said in the statement that the Catholic Church in India rejoices on the occasion of the beatification of Sr Maria in Indore on Saturday.
Cardinal Angelo Amato, the Prefect of the congregation for the Causes of Saints, is coming down from the Vatican to preside over the ceremony. All four Indian Cardinals, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, nearly 50 Bishops and hundreds of priests and sisters will participate in the solemn ceremony.
CBCI informed that Sr Maria was slain on February 25, 1995. According to the police she was stabbed 54 times in front of more than 50 bus passengers in a forested area near Udainagar (Madhya Pradesh) allegedly at the behest of moneylenders affected by the nun’s social work among village women, who were organising self-help groups.“The beatification is a declaration by the Pope as head of the Church that the deceased Sister had died a martyr’s death and is now dwelling in heaven,” the statement said.
