``Usually, it would take at least five years after a person's death for the Vatican to start even the preliminaries. In Mother's case, the first steps have already been taken,'' Sister Nirmala, her successor and Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity (MC), told The Indian Express here today. At the instance of the Vatican, the MC has started collecting letters written by the Mother to individuals and organisations. The letters are being forwarded to the Papal office at the Vatican.

Also crucial is evidence of miracles, evidence for which is therefore collecting such evidence to be passed on to the Vatican.

``There are many kinds of miracles. But the miracles of grace won't do. For beatification, they need evidence of miracles of organic, physical cure. And such miracles have to be properlydocumented and certified by a physician,'' Sister Nirmala said.

Apparently, the Missionaries had earlier sent some evidence which the Vatican did not accept. ``They said those evidence related to a gradual, and not a miraculous, cure.'' Subsequently, at least one evidence of what Sister Nirmala called ``organic, physical cure through Mother's miracle'' was documented and sent to the Vatican. The MC is also providing the Vatican with many other proofs which together would establish the Mother's ``holiness''.