Mother Maria Angélica da Eucaristia (Order of Discalced Carmelites), born Sophia Maria Esteves de Mello on 23 December 1931 in Grão Mogol, Minas Gerais, was a woman of deep spirituality, with an unconditional love for the Church and a total dedication to consecrated life. From a young age, she displayed a sensitivity to the spiritual dimension, characterised by a spirit of prayer, service and charity.  In 1950, she entered the Carmel of Our Lady of Aparecida in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and made her Solemn Profession in 1955. In 1977, she was sent to found the Carmel of Mary, Mother of the Church and Paul VI in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, where she lived a life of recollection, forming new vocations and providing spiritual support for priests, religious individuals, and the faithful. She died on 2 June 2018 in a tragic accident while carrying out an act of charity in the city of Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, on the Saturday dedicated to the Virgin Mary, thus crowning a life entirely given to God and neighbour.

Tuesday 6 May, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints will open the diocesan enquiry into an alleged miracle attributed to the Servant of God Maria Eletta di Gesù (born Caterina Tramazzoli, 1605-1663), a professed nun of the Discalced Carmelite Order.

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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).

Anne-Marie Martel was born in Le Puy-en-Velay on Thursday, 11 August 1644. She was baptised two days later and grew up with her brothers and sisters in a Christian family, receiving an excellent education. In 1666, the parish priest, Mr Tronson, a Sulpician, sent her on a mission to help the poor, including hospice residents, lace-makers, street children, beggars, pilgrims, and peasants. She shared this mission with her companions, working together to help everyone discover that they were 'loved by God'. As a laywoman who had taken a vow of chastity, she dedicated her life to God and the poor, as expressed in her prayer: 'Lord, may all my pleasure be in pleasing you'.

She died of exhaustion on 15 January 1673.

Without realising it, Anne-Marie had founded the 'Work of Instruction'.

On 21 May 1676, Monseigneur de Béthune, the Bishop of Le Puy, officially authorised this work, giving it canonical status and entrusting its direction to the Sulpicians.

For historical reasons, the 'Demoiselles de l'Instruction' became known as the 'Sœurs de l'Instruction de l'Enfant-Jésus'.

Following in the footsteps of Christ and guided by Anne-Marie Martel's vision, the Sisters of the Infant Jesus embody their charism: 'Love of the Father and of our brothers and sisters, at the service of awakening and deepening the faith'.

Today, the spiritual family of the Enfant-Jésus brings together sisters, associates, friends, the Anne-Marie Martel fraternity and school leaders in seven countries, all under the supervision of the Congregation.

Yesterday, 14 April, during the Audience granted to His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, the Supreme Pontiff authorised this same Dicastery to promulgate a number of Decrees, including the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God Eliswa of the Blessed Mary Virgin (born Eliswa Vakayil). Foundress of the Congregation of the Third Order of Discalced Carmelites, now the Teresian Carmelite Sisters, Eliswa Vakayil was born on 15 October 1831 in Ochanthuruth (India) and died in Varapuzha (India) on 18 July 1913.