The Catholic Archdiocese of Benin, yesterday, held a special mass for the late Vivian Ogu, the 14-year-old teenager, who died heroically for resisting sexual abuse.
 
The church has also issued the needed edict to enhance the cause for her beatification and canonisation.
 
The edict is to allow petitions for, or against her activities while alive, and would be further subjected to trial before a decision on whether or not she could become a saint would be decided by the leadership of the church.
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At a special mass to formally allow members of the public submit their petitions, the Archbishop of Benin, Most Rev. Dr Augustin Obiora Akubeze, said the Pope included the late Ogu among the 25 people in the world for canonisation due to her exemplary conduct.
 
He said: “Since her reputation for martyrdom and holiness has continued to increase even in death, and after been formally asked to open the  cause of  beatification and canonisation for the  servant of God, bringing it to the attention of the ecclesial community, we invite all faithful who can give valid testimony to come forth and contact the Archdiocesan Curia at the Chancery, No. 30, Airport Road,  Benin City, with information, whether favourable or contrary to the reputation of martyrdom and holiness of the aforementioned servant of God.”

He said members of the public should bring any “manuscripts, diaries, letters and private writing of the servant of God, while those who wish to keep the originals could present authenticated copies.”
 
Akubeze directed that the copy of the Edict be pasted on doors of selected catholic churches, and other places for at least two months.
  
On his part, Chancellor of the Benin Archdiocese, Dr..Michael Oyanoafoh, said: “It is a great challenge to us for the kind of moral life we live, especially at this time when morality is at its lowest ebb.  But if we can follow the life of this little girl, our lives, community, and state will change for the better.”
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