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MANILA (ChurchMilitant.com) - A Filipino Jesuit seminarian killed by a grenade while saving others is the first to have his cause for canonization opened based on the recently announced fourth path to sainthood.

Brother Richie Fernando's cause was opened July 30, after Fr. Antonio Moreno, provincial superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines, was given permission to do so based on the vitae oblatio ("offering of life") announced by Pope Francis July 11. This allows sainthood to be granted to people who make a free and voluntary offering of their life out of charity and with a heroic acceptance of an early death. They must also display at least ordinary exercise of virtue, a link between offering their life and premature death, and have a reputation for sanctity on or after death.

Brother Richie was 26 years old when he heroically prevented a distraught student from throwing a grenade at disabled students at a Jesuit mission school in Cambodia where he was serving.

Damage from grenade blast

Brother Richie began his service at the school in 1995. The school provides vocational training to people who have been disabled by polio, landmines or other accidents so they can have a productive life. Brother Richie learned the native language and earned the trust of the youth at the school by demonstrating a great love for them.

On October 17, 1996, one of his former students, Sarom, 16 years old and a minor, returned for a meeting about returning to the school for additional studies. Even with Sarom's reputation for disruption, Br. Richie spoke of him fondly and the two considered each other friends.

School officials did not allow Sarom to return, and he became angry, grabbing a grenade he had brought with him and advancing towards a room full of disabled students. Br. Richie approached Sarom from behind and clutched him to stop him from throwing it.

Sarom pleaded with Br. Richie to let him go, as he did not want to kill his teacher friend. The grenade fell and exploded, killing Br. Richie while he was holding Sarom, shielding him from the blast and saving the rest of the students.

Members of the Friends of Br. Richie R. Fernando S.J. Facebook group would agree with his reputation for sanctity. The group was started by Catholics inspired by his example as Br. Richie's reputation as a role model for Catholic youth is well known.

Father Moreno spoke of Br. Richie's virtues on July 31, saying he was one of many Jesuits "offering themselves in the self-sacrificing service of God and his people" and have thus imitated St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits.

In a diary written during a retreat, Br. Richie wrote, "I wish, when I die, people remember not how great, powerful or talented I was but that I served and spoke for the Truth, I gave witness to what is right, I was sincere in all my works and actions, in other words, I loved and followed Christ."

Displaying his acceptance of God's will, Br. Richie wrote in a letter to a friend shortly before his death:

I know where my heart is. It is with Jesus Christ, who gave all for the poor, the sick, the orphan ... I am confident that God never forgets his people — our disabled brothers and sisters. And I am glad that God has been using me to make sure that our brothers and sisters know this fact. I am convinced that this is my vocation.

Two potentially miraculous intercessions have been attributed to Br. Richie. The first incident involved an 18-year-old student who was hit by a speeding motorcycle and thrown against a wall. She was in a coma but when a prayer card for Br. Richie was placed on her pillow, she opened her eyes and eventually completely recovered.

A second incident involved a seven-year-old girl who was cured of a heart problem through his intercession.

Father Moreno will be compiling the case for Br. Richie's life of virtue as the next step in the cause for canonization. Moreno says, "I ask the prayers of all in the Province to beg the Lord's gracious assistance in this process that, if He so wills, it may prosper for the benefit of His people."

The Philippines has two other canonized saints, St. Lorenzo Ruiz and St. Pedro Calungsod, both martyrs who died in the 17th century.



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