Beatification process of Maltese couple to kick off tonight

The beatification process of the late couple Henry and Inez Casolani will commence tonight – the first time a Maltese couple has been considered for beatification.

The process will start with a mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles Scicluna at the St. Dominic Church in Rabat at 6:30pm.

Canon Etienne Sciberras will act as postulator, formally requesting Scicluna to set up a beatification tribunal. He will also present him with a list of 180 people who will be able to give witness about the couple to the Tribunal, along with 60 declarations taken under oath by people who have since died.

Research into the couple started in 2000 under Stephanie Quintano, with the Vatican starting to look into the case in 2010.

Henry Casolani was born in Valletta in 1917 and married Inez nee Vassallo in 1944. They bore one child, Cecilia, who became a Sister of St. Joseph of the Apparation.

At the start of the Second World War, he was seconded with the Royal Army Medical Corps. Afterwards, he found employment as a senior draughtsman at the Malta Public Works Department – a position he maintained until his retirement in 1977.

At 38, he was diagnosed with diabetes which later caused him to go blind. His recovery from blindness in 1992 brought about by diabetes, stumped medical experts.

The Curia described him as “exceptionally virtuous, honest, unselfish and good-humoured”.

“Henry was considered by all those who knew him as an agent of peace, who was capable of building bridges among his colleagues at his work place. Henry regularly used to lead his friends into prayer and reminded them of their religious duties,” the Curis said. “He never held a grudge against anyone and neither did he ever speak ill of others.  It was with kindness and affection that he treated those who were unjust with him.  Whenever he went out, Henry always carried money specifically to donate to those who collected for charity or who asked for help.”

He died at the eve of the millennium, on 29 December 1999. The very last words he uttered in a most clear yet imploring tone were, ‘Mother of God, have mercy on me.’

Inez Casolani was born in Cospicua in 1915. She was a qualified teacher, but gave up her profession when she got married in order to dedicate herself totally to her family.  Yet she continued giving private lessons to the poor and the needy as she had often done before marriage.

The Curia described her as “a kind-hearted, generous and sincere woman, who loved and helped anyone who needed her.”

“Her concern was to give rather than to receive,” the Curia said. “A woman of faith she trusted God totally. In spite of difficulties, she never lost heart.  Her life was a continuous prayer. God was always in her heart and on her lips. She could not and would not offend God.

In her later years, Inez suffered from tinnitus, arthritis, shingles in the head and severe heart trouble. After being diagnosed with diabetes, Inez wrote: “I thank God for this new bouquet. These are the marvels of life. I am in His Hands, and I accept all He sends me joyfully

She died on 13 July 1992.