CANONISATION LIKELY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21386, 31 January 1935, Page 11

CANONISATION LIKELY

CLAIMS OF ENGLISHMEN EXAMINED (Received January 30, 8.30 p.m.) VATICAN CITY, January 30. The Pope presided at a secret Congregation of the Sacred Rites to consider the canonisation of Sir Thomas More and John Fisher. The meeting lasted for three hours, and it is understood that all agreed that the miracles attributed to More and Fisher were authentic, and that they deserved canonisation. The Pope will announce his decision in a few days. It is anticipated that the canonisations will take place in St. Peter's, early in May. Blessed Thomas More and Blessed John Fisher were executed during the reign of Henry VIII. for refusing to acknowledges that sovereign as head of the Church in England. Sir Thomas ' T ore had had a distinguished career, and was at one time Lord Chancellor of England and the close friend of the king. He was looked on as one of the great humanists of his time, and was the author of "Utopia." Blessed John Fisher was the Lord Bishop oi Rochester. Blessed John Fisher was put to death under the orders of Henry VIII. at Tower Hill on June 22, 1535, and Blessed Thomas More at the same place on July 6 of the same year. Thus the four hundredth anniversary of their martyrdom will be celebrated next year. Both were beatified at the same time, along with a number of other English martyrs, by Pope Leo XIII. on December 29, 138 G. At least two miracles, considered as beyond doubt to be authentic, are required by the Roman Catholic Church before any of its members are beatified, and proof of authenticity of two further miracles is required before canonisation can be effected. It would be these proofs which would be considered by the Secret Congregation of Sacred Rites m the cablegram.