In the Church if a person or group of people are convinced of the holiness of an individual, they are free to try and work towards the opening of a Cause. They need the support of the local bishop who will examine the evidence to see if a Cause is possible. So Rossi is doing the right thing in compiling his evidence.
In the article above I note a little misunderstanding. It was noted that "the chances of the Church canonizing a layperson are not great". That is unwarranted and misleading. Being a layperson does not exclude anyone from glorification in the Church. Causes for laypeople can be more difficult because they may not have a religious order behind them, but the the chances of the Church canonising a layperson are as good as any other member of the Church.
Indeed sometimes it can be harder to get a Cause open for a priest or religious because even if people are convinced of the holiness of a person and the person's life confirms that belief, and even if miracles are being worked, if the bishop or superiors of the priest's/religious's diocese or congregation refuse to consider a Cause, there is little that can be done until the obstruction is removed. But then that might need to become another miracle for the candidate to work.
The Servant of God, Sr Maria Margaretha of the Angels, OCD
I have not blogged on new Causes being opened for a while, and I think I must today since it gives us all a lift to see the processes of holy people being opened. The announcement of new Causes usually takes place at the end of the month, and looking at the list for March, I see there are a couple of very well known people.
Focolaire have opened the Cause of their foundress, Chiara Lubich, it being five years since her death. I could not believe it when I saw her name on the list - is it five years since we lost that beautiful woman? Time flies when you get old! Chiara Lubich is probably one of the most important Catholic women of the 20th century, not only in founding a major Catholic lay movement, but for her example of a modern woman who reveals through her life and teaching, that faith and the life of holiness are as important now as ever. She was a Saint-maker herself: encouraging others to strive for sainthood and forming Saints through her wisdom and example. Blessed Chiara Badano, Focolaire's first Blessed, was very much her spiritual daughter and the fruit of the charism Chiara Lubich was given by God. We look forward to a successful conclusion to her Cause.
The Servants of God, Chiara Lubich and Andrew Bertie
Another great layperson of the 20th century is also on the list: Fra Andrew Bertie, the former Grand Master of the Knights of Malta. He too died in 2008. He was the first Englishman to hold the office since the 13th century. He never married and, in the style of the Knights of old, offered his life in the service of the Church and the mission of the Knights of Malta, taking perpetual vows. In the secular world he served in the British army, and then became a teacher. Interestingly he was a distant cousin of Elizabeth II of England. Reflecting on the purpose of the Knights of Malta, Fra Andrew used to say that they existed to serve the poor and sick - that was their primary purpose on their foundation, and it is their purpose and mission today.
We Discalced Carmelites also rejoice as yet another of our sisters begins the path to sainthood (we hope): Sr Maria Margaretha of the Angels. Born in Antwerp in 1605, the daughter of Philip van Valkenisse, an official in the city, she entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Antwerp in 1624. She embraced religious life with great enthusiasm and a desire for holiness, practicing mortification, gaining a reputation for sanctity. She had a particular devotion to the Eucharist. In 1644 she founded a new monastery in Oirschot and was elected prioress, governing her community with great wisdom and offering her sisters a dynamic example of the contemplative life. She manifested a number of charismatic gifts, chief among them the stigmata which she received in 1654. Witnesses have also claimed she had the gift of bilocation. She died on the 6th February 1658. After her death miraculous oil oozed from her body - what is referred to as the "manna of the saints"; it was collected and reports claim it was instrumental in many healings. Her body was buried, then exhumed, stolen and eventually laid to rest in St John's Cathedral in 's-Hertogenbosch. What is extraordinary is the length of time it has taken for Maria Margaretha's Cause to be opened.
The Servants of God Cardinal Franjo Kuharic and Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery
Finally, I see the Causes of Cardinal Kuharic and Cardinal Dery have been opened. Cardinal Franjo Kuharic, who died in 2002, was Archbishop of Zagreb in Croatia, and Cardinal Peter Poreku Dery, who died in 2008, was Archbishop of Tamale in Ghana. Interestingly Cardinal Kuharic, as head of the Croatian Episcopal Conference's investigation into Medjugorje, designated the place a shrine.
A post after another long day. A few good pieces to look at on the net. A marvellous article by Cardinal-designate Dolan on Obama's attack on the freedom of conscience, published in the Wall Street Journal. He makes a very good point about the selective nature of the present administration in the US when it comes to religious liberty:
"The Catholic Church defends religious liberty, including freedom of conscience, for everyone. The Amish do not carry health insurance. The government respects their principles. Christian Scientists want to heal by prayer alone, and the new health-care reform law respects that. Quakers and others object to killing even in wartime, and the government respects that principle for conscientious objectors. By its decision, the Obama administration has failed to show the same respect for the consciences of Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease."
As someone once said to me: "They will respect every other religion except the Catholics, to be anti-Catholic is still part of being respectable in the US". As Philip Jenkins once called it: anti-Catholicism is the last acceptable prejudice. Too true. I see that the White House is in denial: typical.
Talking with some people here, I asked if Obama would lose the election: they think not. People here, they say, care little for his foreign policy and the issues such as abortion and freedom of religion and conscience are just too conceptual for many: the economy and people's personal situations tend to decide whether a candidate is elected or not. The economy is improving little by little, if it gets better before November Obama will get the credit.
The lack of a good opponent will also ensure Obama's re-election, they say. None of the Republicans seem promising, and many Americans do not trust them when it comes to economics and jobs. The elderly are fearful that the Republicans will tamper with their healthcare - Obama's plan insures they will have cover - so they will vote for him to protect themselves. While no Republican has come out and said they will not touch the elderly's cover, none of them have reassured the elderly either.
What about the Catholic votes? I asked. The Church has been too close to the Democratic Party for too long, many will vote Obama because of that connection. Many Catholics cherish the unions, Obama and the Democrats have supported the unions, the GOP has a tense relationship with them. Many Catholics have no problem with Obama's HHS bill - they contracept, they abort, they sterilise: their consciences are fine with that - the bishops will be unable to rally them in a fight for religious freedom.
What about the Afro-American community. Despite their support for Obama, they are worse off now than they were before he was elected. Many of them are torn, I'm told: some will vote for him because he is black, but those who have lost faith in him will not turn out to vote at all.
Many Americans will not vote for Obama, but they will not vote for a Republican either. I asked these people to predict: they couldn't: it's too close to call - just don't presume Obama will lose.
Other news. According to newspaper reports, the new Nuncio has arrived in Ireland. God bless him in his mission to the Church in Ireland. I got some texts today which tell me that a Papal visit to Ireland may again be on the cards.
And some good news; the Causes of five Catholics have been opened and are being filed with the Congregation of the Causes of Saints. The new Servants of God are:
Fr Pedro Arrupe (1909-1991) former Superior General of the Jesuits [biography].
Benigna Cardoso da Silva (1928-1941) a Brazilian child who was murdered as she tried to defend her chastity - she is being proposed as a martyr.
Sr Mary Rosina Gladman (1922-1964), a professed sister of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart - she was beheaded while working as a teaching sister in Papua New Guinea, perhaps a martyr also [article].
Maria Elizabeth de Oliveira (1951-1965), a Brazilian child renowned for her holiness.
And Maria Rachele Ventre (1939-1995), a lay woman from Bologna in Italy. She was a musician and singer, renowned for her work among young people [biography, her foundation].
Back to work - more prep for tomorrow's shoot. We are also on Fr Mitch Pacwa's live show tomorrow night (Wednesday) - say a prayer that all will go well. Thanks.
Here is a question for you. Today we celebrate the feast of unlikely martyrs, the Holy Innocents, but I wonder was Mary, Queen of Scots, a martyr? Part of the reason why Elizabeth I put the Queen to death was because she was a Catholic, a Catholic who threatened her own position as Queen - similar to King Herod's fears with regard to Christ.
The opening of the Vatican Archives exhibition in Rome has left me wondering again about this question - a letter the imprisoned Queen wrote to Pope Sixtus V is included in the exhibition.
I remember speaking with a dear friend of mine about this - the late Canon Francis J. Ripley. He was an authority on the Reformation martyrs of Great Britain, and he concluded that religion and politics are so intertwined in Mary's life, it would be difficult to unravel them, so a Cause would present many problems. But I think that doesn't rule out an attempt?
I think the Church in Scotland should have a look and see if they can open the Cause for Mary. There is no better man to meet a challenge than Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who has proven himself to be a marvellous defender of faith and life in Scotland, and indeed in the world. If anyone could meet the challenge it is Cardinal O'Brien.
Mary saw herself as a martyr, going to her death with great serenity dressed in red. Despite a wild youth, became a holy woman during her years of imprisonment in England. As Queen of Scots, she was tolerant of other religions, she even tolerated John Knox who was forever attacking her for her "Papist" faith. To be honest, if she was more like her cousin Elizabeth she would have had Knox's head off: but she didn't, she tried to reach out to him. However, it was his fanatic extremism which prevented any reconciliation.
Something to think about. What do our friends in Scotland think?
A few months ago word leaked out that there was a possible miracle for the Venerable Pope Pius XII - many of us rejoiced because we saw that at last his Cause was proceeding. Pope Benedict finally declared him Venerable in 2009 after holding off signing the Decree of Heroic Virtue for two years to allow an internal investigation into the controversy over the late Pope's record during World War II. Thanks to the work of numerous scholars, not least among them the ever faithful Sr Margherita Marchione, and Gary Krupp and the Pave The Way Foundation, there was enough evidence to convince the Holy Father that he could safely proceed with the Decree of Heroic Virtue.
Now details of the alleged miracle are emerging, USA Today has an article with details. If the article is to be believed, it seems a lady, identified as Maria Esposita was suffering from an aggressive form of cancer. Praying to Pope Pius XII, the cancer disappeared after one course of chemotherapy leaving no secondaries and no traces. This is remarkable and may indeed be the result of divine intervention. However, according to the article, some doctors are not convinced, and though the cancer was aggressive and her doctor, a non believer, recommended prayer for the treatment to be successful, it seems the professional opinion being offered maintains that this cancer could have be treated successfully with one course of chemo. Her bishop, having listened to this opinion, has decided it might not be safe to proceed with this case.
While I love Pope Pius and I look forward to the day of his beatification, I believe the bishop's decision is correct. With Pius I think we need an iron tight miracle, one that will gobsmack atheists and critics alike. We cannot allow any doubts to linger over the favour which will be used to raise the Pontiff to the altars.
We hear too often of the "questionable" miracles surrounding certain saints. A friend of mine often teases me about the miracle accepted for Blessed Mother Teresa, and of course I always rise to the bait, fool that I am. But the critics say that the immediate disappearance of an incurable malignant tumour the size of an orange in the stomach of the lady healed could have been due to a pill. If that is the case we all want that pill because it can do the impossible. Yet many still question it. So too with the miracle for the beatification of Blessed John Paul. The critics in all these cases will never be convinced: never; they have too much to lose in accepting the veracity of the favour.
Given that Pius has so many critics, among them people who are not interested in the truth, and even those whose organisations and countries did not lift a finger to help the Jewish people during the Holocaust, indeed some even discouraged Pius from speaking out, we should not be giving them any more ammunition. We should proceed with the Cause and pray fervently for a miracle and when it comes process it without any delay, but there must be prudence. Those who say "why can't we just wait?" (reminiscent of another recent campaign!) are just trying to buy time in the hope this Pope drops and the glorious liberal revolution begins under a "progressive" pope. The last thing the Church should do is give them any excuse to preen what's left of their aging feathers.
I do not think the Congregation for the Causes of Saints will accept the favour, I will be surprised if they do. From what I know, despite the insidious complaints, the CCS is very particular and if there is any doubt they will throw out a miracle - better to be safe than sorry. I know of a Cause where an almost water-tight favour was submitted, but almost was not enough - there might be a question - it was a slight "might", but it was enough for the favour to be sent back "Return to Sender". And we should expect nothing less. Yes it is disappointing after all the prayer and the work, but a miracle will come - one which will be enough and the good people in CCS will recognise it when they see it.
So keep praying, good people, and commend the sick to all those Servants of God so the Lord may, through their intercession, pour out his healing grace upon them and give us, the Church on earth, the joy of new Blesseds and Saints.
Today a new Blessed was enrolled in the Church's official list - the Spanish bishop and defender of human rights, Juan de Palafox y Mendoza.
Blessed Juan was born in Navarre, Spain, on the 26th June 1600, the illegitimate son of Jaime de Palafox. His father was not too keen to accept the child as his own, so he was taken in and raised by a miller and his family who gave him the name, Juan. When he was ten his father finally accepted him as his son, and took responsibility for his education sending first to Alcala, and then to the University of Salamanca. He was a gifted young man, and so he became a deputy in the Cortes and later a prosecutor.
However, Juan's heart lay elsewhere, and so he decided to become a priest. When ordained he was appointed chaplain to the sister of the King of Spain, and as such accompanied her on various journeys around Europe.
Partially because of his ability, and perhaps mostly because of his connections, he was nominated as bishop of Puebla de los Angeles in the New World, now Mexico. He was formally appointed by the pope and consecrated bishop on the 27th December 1639. He arrived at his See the following June, not only as Ordinary, but also as visitator which the brief to investigate the administration of two previous viceroys of what was a Spanish colony. During his time in Mexico he also served as Archbishop of Mexico for a year while remaining bishop of Puebla, he also served as viceroy himself.
Once in the New World, Blessed Juan quickly saw how the native peoples were being treated, and he understood this as an offence to Christian teaching. At every opportunity he sought to protect the natives, forbade forced conversion and publicly opposed those who mistreated them. In other matters he was as diligent: he completed his diocese's cathedral and was a patron of the arts and education.
His strong defence of the natives and his ban on forced conversion led to issues which brought him into conflict with the Jesuits. Relations got so bad he was forced to impose an interdict against them in 1647. In retaliation the Jesuits excommunicated him twice, as if they had the power to do so, but also began to send formal complaints against him to Rome. Their campaign against him was successful, and the Pope, believing their accusations to be true, refused to confirm the interdict, though he did command the Jesuits to respect Blessed Juan's jurisdiction. The Jesuit final victory came in 1655 when, after Blessed Juan had signed an accord with them presuming this would lead to better relations with them, they used their influence to have him removed from his See and transferred back to Spain where he was appointed Bishop of Osma.
Despite these difficulties, Blessed Juan sought to follow God's will and overcome the trails he was forced to endure. He was a friend of a community of Discalced Carmelite sisters, and was highly influenced by St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, so much so that his writings, of which there are many, are very much in the Carmelite tradition and the school of Spanish mysticism.
Worn out from his labours, but with a reputation for holiness both through his life and writings, Blessed Juan died on the 1st October 1659. The investigative process for his Cause was opened in his diocese, Osma, in 1666, and in Puebla de los Angeles in 1688. In 1694 the Cause found support in King Charles II of Spain when he petitioned Rome for the bishop's canonisation. The process was formally introduced in 1726, and, with the work completed, it seems he was proclaimed Venerable. A miracle had been identified - the cure of a Spanish priest from TB which was incurable then. The miracle was examined and approved, and so on the 28th February 1777 the way was cleared for this beatification. However, a new generation of Jesuits were as determined as a previous one to defeat Palafox, and they persuaded Pope Pius VI to suspend the Cause. Palafox, they thought, had finally been finished off for good.
However, they had not thought of a figure like Blessed John Paul II, who reopened the Cause in 2003, giving it to Palafox's spiritual family, the Discalced Carmelites, to process. In 2009 Pope Benedict approved his writings and declared him Venerable. The original miracle was reexamined, and approved (again), and today, at long last, 234 years after it should have happened, Juan de Palafox was beatified.
Phew! Revenge is a terrible thing, even the Saints fall prey to it. Blessed Juan's holiness was born of his sufferings. Like his spiritual parents, St Teresa of Avila and St John of the Cross, he recognised the purifying power of suffering, and its part in the journey which we know as the way of perfection.
Congratulations to Fr Ildefonso, our postulator in Rome: he has done Trojan work on the Cause and has a fondness of Blessed Juan - I believe he keeps a picture of the bishop on his desk. Here is RomeReports video on the announcement of the decree of the miracle:
Anyone who has read the history of the Reformation in England would be mightily impressed by Katherine of Aragon, the wife cast off by Henry VIII. In the midst of all her troubles and sufferings, she maintained a serenity and resourcefulness which most obviously emerged from her Catholic faith. Sometimes depicted as a religious fanatic, even a quick survey of the reality of her life and personality reveals such depictions to be biased and lacking foundation. The question which emerges is: was Katherine of Aragon a Saint?
With an interest in the English Reformation, I have discussed that with many people down the years, and just last Saturday a friend and I were talking about it on the way to Belfast. Most agree that there is a good chance that she was, and it seems one man, Gregory Nassif St John, is determined to do something about it ( Read this article for more information).
As I read this, while I see some Church figures are open, I sense hesitation: there must be devotion to her, they say. Yes, that is true, and there is some evidence. But should there be overwhelming, universal devotion to a figure before a Cause can be started? No. First of all there must be the fama - a reputation for holiness: that is vital. With that you can start. The advice Mr Nassif St John was given is sound: start making her known: bring her to people's attention and then see if devotion begins.
I hope a Cause begins for Katherine - many people in the Church and the world today would benefit from the example she offers us. In particular I think of those who, though they devoted themselves to their marriages, were abandoned by a spouse who sought pastures new. Katherine's holiness, I believe, came as the fruit of her fidelity to her marriage vows and her heroic prayer for the conversion of her husband. If Henry VIII made it to Purgatory it was because of Katherine's prayers.
In the Anglo-Irish world we seem very cautious of Saints and Causes, indeed, without being negative, I sometimes think there is an aversion. I certainly know that in the minds of some bishops and priests saint-making is an unnecessary distraction from real pastoral concerns. Whenever I have spoken to bishops/priests about opening the Cause for a particular person I have been told that the "Irish Church"(sic) has more important things to be doing. I find that interesting since the glorification of holy people from a particular local church is always the best sign of how healthy that local church happens to be. No candidates for beatification/canonisation, or at the least if there are a few but not making any progress, may reveal a local church in spiritual stagnation or crisis.
I am always heartened by the Italians, the Poles, the Spanish, French and now the Americans and their attitude to saint-making (I note Mr Nassif St John is an American) - they see the value of it - both spiritually and pastorally. Saints bring life to a local church, and a progressing Cause can bring people along with it, touch the lukewarm and help people rediscover faith. A local Beatus or Saint, or someone on the way to being one, reminds people that holiness can be found in the here and the now, even in the midst of ordinary life. Isn't that what we as priests and bishops ought to be teaching the faithful (and trying to live ourselves)?
One problem we have in Ireland, one of our national vices, is our begrudgery. One of Ireland's great virtues is informality and hospitality - we treat everyone the same, and all receive the same warmth and kindness - we saw this with the royal visit last week. But the downside of that is that sometimes we do not like to see other people exalted. We have no honours system in Ireland - there have been attempts to introduce one, but all have failed. When those proposing it reminded us that other Republics have honours systems, that argument got nowhere. I think it is the same with saint-making - we cannot single out a certain person and seek to raise them above everyone else - that might offend people and, God help us, if there is one rigid pastoral law in Ireland it is "Do not offend anyone".
But if we are Catholic we have to participate in the full life of the Catholic Church, including the saint-making process. We have many holy men and women in Ireland and in the UK - we just need to start taking them seriously and making advances. In Ireland we await the beatification of 42 martyrs, including the first Irish Carmelite (well born in England, but lived and died in Ireland), but no move - we need only a declaration of martyrdom - the work is already done: but not a dickie bird. If every time an Irish bishop went to Rome, or a representative, they popped into the CSS HQ with the same annoying question: "Well Head, how are the martyrs getting on?" you would find some frustrated official would eventually send the messenger boy up to the Pope: "Get Benedict to sign that Decree, the Irish are driving me crazy". That's how it works. If all is in order you have to torment them to get a move on. You see, with so many Causes to deal with, if there is no pressure being applied, individual cases slip further and further down the line. Now if there is a miracle its another story, but then again if it is perceived there is no interest, CSS has enough to be getting on with...
This group of Irish martyrs, our second, should be beatified by now, indeed, all our martyrs should well be on the way to canonisation. And we have others: Matt Talbot, Edel Quinn, and Fr John Sullivan - amazing people - all in a state of stasis. We should be pushing, knocking doors and dropping prayer cards all over the world in the hunt for miracles. I think it is time to get the finger out. Anyway, rant over.
The Irish Christian Brothers and Presentation Brothers are intensifying their work on the Cause of their founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice. According to their superiors, they are going to begin a campaign of prayer to beg a miracle from God to clear the way for Blessed Edmund's canonisation.
Great news. Ireland, once the land of Saints and scholars, has very few modern Saints. The last Irish canonisation was that of a Dutch Passionist who devoted his life to serving the poor and sick of Dublin, St Charles of Mount Argus. Unfortunately there was little interest in Ireland at the time of his canonisation which was more than disappointing. Poor responses are not unique, I'm afraid. I remember the beatification of our martyrs a number of years ago - again there was very little about it, and at the time some clergy felt like apologising to the Protestants for the Pope's decision to beatify them. I hope that as we go in the direction of renewal, we will begin to take the process of beatification and canonisation more seriously - too many dismiss it. Yet a Cause is a sign not only of God's providence and grace in a local Church, it is also a sign that that local Church is healthy. So I hope the Brothers have much success, I will keep their efforts in my prayers.
After Blessed Edmund, the Venerable Matt Talbot - rumour has it there is already a miracle for him but so far nothing seems to be happening with it. Then the Venerable Edel Quinn, Frank Duff, Fr John Sullivan. Personally I would love to see a Cause opened for Ellen Organ (Little Nellie of Holy God), the canonisation of a child could bring great healing to the Church in Ireland. She was only four when she died, but there is enough evidence to show she reached the age of reason and, it seems to me and many others, she lived a life of heroic virtue. She was particularly devoted to the Eucharist - a great candidate for patron of First Communion children - badly needed given the poor state of catechesis in many places. Some one once said to me the day Little Nellie's Cause is opened is the day we know the Church in Ireland is on the way to renewal. I would agree.
So now, Little Nellie, pray for Ireland, for renewal, that our land may once again become a land of Saints and scholars.
Ellen Organ ("Little Nellie")
Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
Heavenly Father, through the inspiration of your Holy Spirit and because of your love for your family, you chose Blessed Edmund Rice to be a husband, father, and religious brother; to work with the poor, to comfort the sick, and to establish new families of Religious Brothers in your Church. Look favorably on his life, we ask you, and if it be for your glory, hear our prayers that he may soon be declared a Saint. This we ask, as we ask all our prayers, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for a special favour
Lord God, who through the Holy Spirit inspired Blessed Edmund Rice to glorify you by the true Christian example of his life, grant through his intercession the petition I now make ( _____ ) and so hasten the day when his name shall be honoured among those of your Saints. I ask this through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
