Nun's work among leprosy patients recalled in beatification ceremony

Published: 2005-05-16

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Mother Marianne Cope of Molokai was beatified at a Vatican liturgy that recalled her missionary spirit and her self-giving work among leprosy patients in Hawaii. Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, presided over the beatification Mass May 14 in St. Peter's Basilica. Also beatified was a Spanish nun who founded a missionary religious order. After brief summaries of their lives were read aloud, Cardinal Saraiva Martins read the decree proclaiming the two "blessed." As giant banners with portraits of the newly beatified were unveiled, a wave of applause swept through the basilica. In attendance were more than 100 Catholics from Hawaii and more than 300 from Syracuse, N.Y., where members of Blessed Mother Marianne's order, the Sisters of St. Francis, have their motherhouse. The Spanish nun beatified was Blessed Florentina Nicol Goni, also known as Mother Ascension del Corazon de Jesus, founder of the Dominican Missionaries of the Rosary.

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