Fr. Vítor Coelho de Almeida, known as the “Apostle of the Virgin of Aparecida” is venerated by the Pope for his effort to spread devotion to the Patron Saint of Brazil.
The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints promulgated the decree that recognizes the heroic virtues of the Servant of God Vítor Coelho de Almeida, with which he becomes recognized as venerable and advances in his way to the altars on 5 August.
Venerable Fr. Vítor Coelho was a Brazilian priest of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. He was admired for his service to the sick, and for promoting priestly vocations. Above all, he took the initiation to spread the devotion to Our Lady of Aparecida through the radio, the patron saint of Brazil.
Our Lady of Aparecida was canonically crowned in 1904 and declared Patron Saint of Brazil by Pope Pius XII in 1930. It is one of the most famous Marian devotions in the country that brings together crowds of faithful on its patron saint feast, celebrated on October 12.
The Archbishop of Diamantina (Brazil), Msgr. Darci José Nicioli, celebrated the news and announced that they hope a miracle will be approved soon that would have been granted in the country thanks to his intercession.
“Father Vítor Coelho de Almeida, Redemptorist missionary, a health worker from Brazil, the Apostle of Radio, the catechist of our country, is already Venerable. And we can only say: thank God,” he said.
“The cause [of beatification] continues and we are already waiting for the approval of his first miracle, which occurred in Ribeirão Preto. Therefore, the process will still be considered in regards to the miracle, but it is already a great achievement,” he added.
For his part, the Archbishop of Aparecida, Msgr. Orlando Brandes, said that “this news is a great grace for us Brazilians.”
“It is a joy, but much more, it is thanksgiving, because his holiness is being confirmed. And we, with this joy, also seek more holiness in ourselves”, he concluded.