According to LiCAS News, “A group of Vatican theologians has unanimously approved the ‘heroic virtues‘ of the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot this week.”
The Archdiocese of Cebu explained that, “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.”
Once they complete their own study of Camomot’s virtues, the cause will be forwarded on to Pope Francis for approval. At that point, the pope would then declare Camomot as “venerable.”
Servant of the poor
Born in 1914 in Barangay Cogon, Carcar, Camomot always had a special love of the poor. At first he desired to be a simple farmer, but later felt God’s call to the priesthood.
Camomot was ordained in 1941 and then elevated to the episcopate in 1955. He continued to serve the poor as a bishop and lived himself in simple poverty. One story from his life illustrates his care for the poor.
His simplicity was attested by so many people, even fellow prelates. There were many stories about the Archbishop’s Franciscan-like poverty. Cardinal Vidal has once told that on one occasion he noticed that Archbishop Camomot was not wearing his pectoral cross, the cross that a bishop wears on his breast. Curious, he asked Monsignor Camomot about it. He made some excuse. Later a priest told the Cardinal that the Archbishop had pawned his cross to give some money to the poor. The Cardinal later gave him a new cross and told him not to give it away.
He died in a car accident on September 27, 1988, and was highly regarded for his sanctity. The cause for his canonization was opened in 2010, and he has received the title “Servant of God.” According to the website of his cause, “his body remained incorrupt twenty years after his death.”
And today we celebrate...