Servants of God
Firmino della Natività
Biography
Firmino of the Nativity was born in Amiens (France) on August 31, 1759.
He entered the Order of Discalced Carmelites and was ordained a priest. He supported a bitter struggle for the defence of the Church during the French Revolution. Expelled from the convent at the beginning of this (1790), he continued his intense apostolate in his hometown (1790-93). Forced to leave in 1793, he carried out a very active ministry in the surroundings parishes, devoid of any religious assistance. Someone despicably informed on him and he was arrested in 1794 and sent to his death on April 14 of the same year.
The diocesan process on his martyrdom took place in Amiens in the years 1928-29. The vote on his writings is dated November 27, 1937. The decree of validity was granted on October 11th, 1991.
Procedure
1. The canonical norms concerning the procedure to be followed in the Causes of Saints are stated in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister promulgated by John Paul II on 25 January 1983 (AAS LXXV, 1983, 349-355).
2. To initiate a Cause it is necessary that at least five years pass after the death of the candidate. This is to allow for greater balance and objectivity in the evaluation of the case and to allow the emotions of the moment to decant. There must be a clear conviction among people about his/her sanctity (fama sanctitas) and about the efficacy of his/her intercession with the Lord (fama signorum).