Beatified Railwayman

The first railway worker in history to be canonized as a saint was the subject of preliminary ceremonies towards beatification at Vatican City last week. Paolo Pio Perazzo, who died in 1910, was poisoned by the bite of a mad dog while attempting to aid a child whom the dog had attacked. He had led a life of piety and devotion, throwing all his energies into the task of assisting railwaymen to improve the con- ditions under which they lived and worked. In return the Italian Railwaymen's Association is now contributing funds for the expense of Perazzo's beatification.

Beatification is now the first step toward canonization, but at one time there was no marked difference between the two processes. Sts. Francis of Assisi and Anthony of Padua were canonized within a year or two of their deaths. It was Pope Urban VIII who settled (by decrees of 1625 and 1634) the modern practice of differentiation. The process is threefold: the reputation for sanctity must be established, the heroic quality of the virtues must be shown, the working of miracles must be proven. After beatification, in order to qualify for canonization, miracles must be performed. The procedure, therefore, is in reality a lawsuit pleaded before the tribunal of the Congregation of Rites. The postulator must furnish evidence of the claim to beatification, and it is the duty of the Promoter of the Faith--popularly known as the Devil's advocate--to challenge all evidence in the case.

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