CHRONOLOGICAL EVENTS
25 March 2014 : Rev. Sr. Linda Mary Vaughan D.S.A. the Auctor(Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi) sent a letter to His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo, Archbishop of Ranchi Archdiocese, requesting him to initiate the process of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta, the Founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi, Jharkhand , India.
18 July 2014 :His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo, D.D., Archbishop of Ranchi Archdiocese answered the letter of the Auctor soliciting the prayers of the whole Congregation for him that God may inspire him to take the proper decision as early as possible.
24 July 2015 : JHAAN (Jharkhand & Andaman Nichobar) Regional Bishops Council approved the initiation of the process of beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta, the Founder of the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi. The Local Church asked for no objection from the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Rome for the process of beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette.
July 26, 2015 on the feast day of St. Anne and St. Joachim His Eminence Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo D.D. informed about the approval of JHAN Bishops for processing the beatification of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta during the Eucharistic celebration, at the chapel of St. Anne’s Mother House Ranchi.
05 November 2015: The SupplexLibellus, the Memoirs written by Mother Mary Bernadette and her brief biography was submitted in the office of Archbishop’s House Ranchi by the Postulator.
16 June 2016 :NIHIL OBSTAT
The letter of Nihil Obstatwas granted on June 16, 2016 from His Eminence Cardinal Angelo Amato S.D.B., Prefect, Congregation forCauses of Saints, Rome. With this Nihil Obstatthe initiation of the process of the Servant of God, Maria Bernadette Prasad Kispotta (KhristAnandit Ruth) Foundress of the Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi was open.
07 August 2016 : Mother Mary Bernadette was declared “Servant of God”
It was the day of celebration and thanksgiving to the Lord for his wonderful work, Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta was declared “Servant of God” in St. Mary’s Cathedral Ranchi during the Solemn thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration.
FOUR STEPS TO SAINTHOOD:
The Catholic Church teaches that there are four steps the becoming a Saint. Many teachers of this matter omit the first step. Before a person can be considered for sainthood, he/she must have been dead for at least 5 years. There can be an exception as Pope John Paul II waived this requirement in Mother Teresa’s case.
First Step: When the subject arises that a person should be considered for Sainthood, a Bishop is placed in charge of the initial investigation of the person’s life. If it is determined that the candidate is deemed worthy of further consideration, the Vatican grants a “Nihil Obstat.” This is a Latin phrase that means “nothing hinders.” Henceforth, the candidate is called a “Servant of God.”
Second Step: The Church Official, a Postulator, who coordinates the process and serves as an advocate, must prove that the candidate lived heroic virtues. This is achieved through the collection of documents and testimonies that are collected and presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. When a candidate is approved, he/she earns the title of “Venerable.”
Third Step: To be beatified and recognized as a “Blessed,” one miracle acquired through the candidate’s intercession is required in addition to recognition of heroic virtue or martyrdom in the case of a martyr.
Fourth Step: Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification, though a Pope may waive these requirements. A miracle is not required prior to a martyr’s beatification, but one is required before his/her canonization. Once this second miracle has been received the candidate is canonized and is called a “Saint”.