Sr. Rani Maria, from the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, was stabbed to death, at the age of 41, by her murderer Samandar Singh asst Nachanbor hill in Indore. This was on 25th February,1995. In 2002, Sr. Selmy Paul, sister of Sr. Rani Maria, showed the most solemn expression of love when she forgave Samandar Singh for his inhuman crime. Thus, began the journey of beatification of Sr. Rani Maria.
In 2003, her journey of beatification started and in 2007 she was conferred by the title of Servant of God. The Diocese began to collect evidence also known as Positio to prove the beatification of Sr. Rani. This process went on between 29 June 2005 to 28 June 2007 and received validation from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints(CCS), who were looking upon the canonization process, in Rome, on 27 November 2009. Next, the Positio was sent to theologians, who studied the case and have their approval on 11th February, 2016. Hearing their approval, the CCS lifted the case to the Pope. Pope Francis gave his approval on 23rd March, 2017 and declared that Sr. Rani Maria would be beatified on 4th November, 2017.
The process of beatification is claiming a person’s entry into heaven and now the person could intercede for us. So, the Catholic Church would then be able to venerate Sr. Rani and she will be addressed as Blessed Sr. Rani Maria. It is the second last step of the canonization process before she is declared a “ Saint”.
