CEBU, Philippines — The late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot has moved a step closer to sainthood after Vatican's Theological Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints affirmed that the native prelate of Cebu's Carcar City lived the Christian virtues.
The Archdiocese of Cebu, in a Facebook post Wednesday evening, announced that the commission gave a "unanimous affirmative vote (9 out of 9) to the heroic virtues of the Servant of God, Archbishop Teofilo Camomot."
The archdiocese said the Commission of Bishops and Cardinals will be the next one to look into Camomot's positio. The cause will then be submitted to Pope Francis for approval before Camomot could be declared "venerable."
Venerable, which is two steps away from sainthood, is given to a deceased person formally recognized by the Pope "as having lived a heroically virtuous life or offered their life."
"With this favorable outcome, the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of Bishop Camomot will be forwarded for further examination to the Commission of Bishops and Cardinals of the said Congregation. Upon completion of their study, the cause will be presented to the Holy Father for his approval. Then Bishop Camomot will be considered 'venerable'," the archdiocese Facebook post further read.
If at least one miracle is attributed to a “venerable,” then that person is declared “blessed” through a process known as beatification. If a second miracle is attributed to a “blessed,” the “blessed” becomes a saint through a canonization ritual led by the Pope.
The Daughters of St. Teresa (DST), the religious congregation founded by Camomot, in Barangay Valladolid, Carcar welcomed the development by offering a thanksgiving Mass Wednesday.
Mother Louella Grace Buscato, DST Mother House superior, said they also held Eucharistic celebrations and vigil at the Camomot Chapel during the final congress for Camomot's positio in Rome.
Buscato urged the faithful to continue praying for Camomot's sainthood.
She also urged those with stories of miracles attributed to Camomot to show up, share and testify about the latter's miracles.
Born in Carcar on March 3, 1914, Camomot was known for his simplicity and love for the poor.
Camomot was ordained a priest in 1941. He became bishop in 1955, and co-adjutor archbishop of Cagayan de Oro and parish priest of Sta. Rita, Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in 1959.
In 1970, Camomot went back to Cebu and became auxiliary of Julio Cardinal Rosales. He was named parish priest of Carcar in 1976.
The late archbishop died in a vehicular accident in 1988 in San Fernando, Cebu. —KQD (FREEMAN)