Valentinus Paquay

Johannes Ludovicus Paquay (17 November 1828 – 1 January 1905), also known as Valentinus, was a Belgian Roman Catholic priest and a professed member from the Order of Friars Minor. He was a popular confessor and noted preacher while serving in various leadership positions in the house he was stationed in; he was also known for his popular devotion to the Eucharist and the Sacred Heart and promoted these devotions to the faithful and to his conferees alike.

Pope John Paul II beatified him in Saint Peter's Square on 9 November 2003.

Life Johannes Ludovicus Paquay was born in Belgium on 17 November 1828 as the fifth of eleven children to Hendrik Paquay and Anne Neven. An apostolic process was later held from 1925 until 1926. Both processes received the validation of the Congregation of Rites on 19 July 1939. An antepreparatory congregation approved the cause on 8 May 1956 as did a preparatory one on 4 July 1967 which led to a general congregation likewise approving it on 14 July 1967; a session of the newly established Congregation for the Causes of Saints approved the cause on 8 May 1969.

The late priest was named as Venerable on 4 May 1970 after Pope Paul VI approved that the Franciscan friar had led a model life of heroic virtue. The single miracle required for beatification was investigated from 1952 to 1953 and was validated on 20 October 2000 before receiving the approval of a medical board on 18 April 2002. Theologians also approved it on 12 November 2002 as did the C.C.S. on 10 December 2002 before Pope John Paul II granted final approval for it on 20 December 2002. This allowed for the pope to celebrate his beatification on 9 November 2003 in Saint Peter's Square.

The current postulator for this cause is Fra Giovangiuseppe Califano.

Publications Remaclus Moonen, O.F.M., "Het leven van p. Valentinus Paquay", 1912, 12th ed. Hasselt 1991.