The Diocese of Pasig released a short documentary about the life of Laureana Franco, known as "Ka Luring," for the cause of her sainthood. Screenshot from the Diocese of Pasig's official Facebook page 

MANILA - The Vatican has cleared the way for an inquiry into the cause for sainthood of a Filipina lay catechist.

Pasig Bishop Mylo Hubert Vergara announced on Wednesday that the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints granted the "nihil obstat" — which means "nothing stands in the way" — for the cause of beatification and canonization of Laureana Franco, known as "Ka Luring."

The dicastery's decision was handed to Vergara by Archbishop Charles John Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines.

Ka Luring left her job at the Philippine Air Force to become a catechist. She served in various public schools.

A native of Hagonoy in Taguig, she was the first female lay minister in the Archdiocese of Manila. Taguig was a part of the archdiocese before it was included in the Diocese of Pasig, which was erected in 2003.

A short documentary from the Diocese of Pasig revealed that Ka Luring attempted to become a nun but did not continue due to being sickly.

In 1990, she was awarded with Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, the highest papal recognition given to a lay person.

She died in 2011 after battling cancer.

"May I ask for your unceasing prayers as we do the next steps required by the dicastery," Vergara said.

The entire process before a person is recognized as a saint takes years.

After the diocesan phase, the documents are then submitted to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints for rigorous examinations, which will include theologians, bishops, and cardinals. If the cause is deemed valid, the dicastery will present it to the pope, who may grant his approval for the release of a decree declaring the individual as "venerable."

For the beatification process, the phase before a person is declared a saint, a miracle attributed to the individual is required. If the person was martyred or died because of the Catholic faith, a miracle is no longer required.

This was the case for Filipino Saint Pedro Calungsod, a young missionary catechist who was persecuted and killed in the middle of missionary work.

For canonization, the final step for an individual to be recognized as a saint, another miracle is required.

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