THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS

Dioceses of Yanzhou and of Bolzano and Bressanone

CANONIZATION of Blessed JOSEPH FREINADEMETZ
Professed Priest of the Society of the Divine Word (1852 - 1908)
__________

DECREE ON THE MIRACLE

Blessed Joseph Freinademetz was born on 15 April 1852 in the village of Oies in Val Badia, in the province of Bolzano. Ordained a priest of the diocese of Bressanone, he carried out his priestly ministry at San Martino di Badia for two years, then he obtained permission from his bishop to pursue a missionary vocation. In 1878 he entered the Society of the Divine Word, founded shortly before by Blessed Arnold Janssen. From 1879 until his death he carried out an intense apostolic activity in China, serving the population there with great love, a spirit of sacrifice and Christian fortitude in difficulties and dangers. He concluded his earthly life at Taikiachwang on 28 January 1908.
His Holiness Pope Paul VI beatified him on 19 October during the 1975 Holy Year.
In consideration of his canonization the postulator of his cause has recently submitted for the judgment of this Congregation for the Causes of Saints the presumed healing of the young Japanese Jun Yamada who, on 16 February 1987, at the age of 24, following various disturbances, was admitted to a hospital in Nagoya (Japan), where he was diagnosed with acute leukemia a spinal tumor (type M2). Chemotherapy was given in an attempt to induce the remission of the disease; but the first cycle of treatment produced no positive results. Therefore another type of therapy was applied to cure the acute lymphoblastic leukemia. On March 9th of that year laboratory tests revealed a drop in white corpuscles and other blood cells, with a consequent immunodeficiency, despite the blood transfusions given. The patient then contracted severe pneumonia with pulmonary hemorrhaging, respiratory difficulties, and heightened hypoxia leading to cardiac arrest. Therefore he was intubated and placed on artificial respiration in intensive care, where he remained unconscious.
Meanwhile on March 13th, when the condition of the young man was desperate and plans were being made for his funeral, a priest of the Society of the Divine Word, a teacher of the sick man, began a novena of prayer to Blessed Joseph Freinademetz to obtain from God the healing of his student.
Another priest of the same religious institute repeatedly celebrated Mass for the same intention, begging the intercession of Blessed Joseph.

The young man began to improve on March 17th, on the 19th he regained full consciousness, and on April 10th laboratory tests verified the complete remission of the leukemia. However, there followed mycotic and tubercular infections on account of his immunodeficiency. In the month of July 1987 a gradual recovery began, and on September 30th of the same year the patient was released fully recovered.
A diocesan inquiry into the case, which was considered miraculous, was begun at the Nagoya chancery office; its juridical validity was recognized by a decree of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on 14 April 2000. On December 10th of last year the Medical Consultation recognized that the healing was rapid, complete, enduring, and not scientifically explainable. On 18 October 2002 a special meeting of the Theological Commission was held. On 3 December 2002 an Ordinary Session of Cardinals and Bishops took place; present was the Advocate of the Cause, His Excellency Joseph Zlatnansky, titular bishop of Montefiascone. At both meetings, that of the Theological Commission as well as that of the cardinals and bishops, an affirmative response was given to the question of whether one could speak of a true and proper miracle.
A complete report of everything that happened was presented by the undersigned Cardinal Prefect to His Holiness Pope John Paul II. His Holiness received and ratified the votes of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and ordered that the decree of the above-mentioned miraculous healing be published.
That having been done, he summoned to himself the undersigned Cardinal Prefect, the Advocate of the Cause, me, the Bishop Secretary of the Congregation, and all those who usually attend, and he spoke thus to them: It is evident that we are dealing with a true miracle obtained from God through the intercession of Blessed Joseph Freinademetz, professed priest of the Society of the Divine Word, that is to say the rapid, complete, and enduring healing of the young man Jun Yamada from “acute hybrid leukemia, phenotypically established, with severe pulmonary complications, hypoxia from respiratory insufficiency and cardiac arrest, with micotic and tubercular infection through immunodeficiency.”
His Holiness wanted this decree to be published and transcribed in the acts of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Rome, 20 December 2002

Giuseppe Card. Saraiva Martins
Prefect

L + S.

+ Edoardo Nowak
Titular Archbishop of Luni
Secretary