Metro Detroit: Memorial Tonight for Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, at St. Joan of Arc

Each year on December 30th, there is a memorial Mass in metro Detroit for Fr. John Hardon, SJ, who spent his final years in an office on the grounds of Assumption Grotto.  He was a spiritual director to many. 

Fr. Lee Acervo will celebrate the Mass which will be held at 7:30 PM at St. Joan of Arc at 22412 Overlake Street in St. Clair Shores, Michigan.  The Churh parking lot is actually on Greater Mack.  Fr. Acervo is now an associate priest at St. Joan of Arc.

The Mass used to be held at Assumption Grotto, but since there is a cause for Fr. Hardon, others must have an opportunity to learn about this saintly priest.

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Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ Podcasts!

There are several interesting things I would like to pass on about Fr. John Hardon, SJ. 

FR. HARDON PODCASTS NOW AVAILABLE

From hardonsj.org - the website for the cause of Fr. John Hardon (emphasis mine in bold):

Be sure to check out our podcasts under the "Archive and Guild" tab. We have discovered many beautiful articles by Father Hardon here at the Archive and Guild, and so we decided to read them and convert the recordings into podcasts, which are also available on iTunes.

The dates for the few available podcasts are from May and June 2011, so this endeavor is just starting.  You can listen online there, or hit a link in that page to go over to iTunes where you can subscribe as I just did!

UPCOMING MASSES THIS WEEKEND IN MICHIGAN AND ILLINOIS

Please mark your calendars for two Masses that will be held to commemorate Father John A. Hardon S.J.'s 64th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood as well as his 97th birthday. One Mass will be celebrated at noon on June 18th at the National Shrine of Saint Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown in Libertyville, Illinois. The other Mass will be at the Jesuit Conference and Retreat Center at Colombiere, in Clarkston, Michigan. This Mass will be celebrated at 9:30am.


Father Robert T. McDermott, Postulator to the Cause of Father Hardon, will be the main celebrant for the Mass at Marytown. Father Brian Van Hove, S.J., will be the main celebrant at the Mass at Colombiere, and Father Francis Budovic S.J., will be the homilist.

AUDIO: KRESTA INTERVIEWS POSTULATOR FOR FR. HARDON'S CAUSE
Fr. Robert McDermott, the postulator for Fr. Hardon's cause, is interviewed by Kresta about sainthood causes in general, what is involved, and how cases like Fr. Hardon's or Bishop Sheen's differs from that of others like Fr. Michael McGivney. 

You can listen to the audio online, or go here to subscribe to Kresta's podcast.  It is the third segment of the first hour on June 15, 2011 (click here to listen online, but note that the audio may start running as soon as you get there, so if you are not at home.... you know... LOL)

Third Topic -Memorial Mass for Fr. John Hardon on his Birthday / Anniversary of Ordination

Servant of God, Fr. John Hardon, was a Jesuit priest, writer, and theologian. Father Hardon wrote dozens of books on religion and theology including: The Catholic Catechism, a defining volume of Catholic orthodoxy; and the Modern Catholic Dictionary, the first major Catholic reference dictionary published after the Second Vatican Council. The talk to Fr. Robert McDermott, Postulator of the Cause of Fr. Hardon.

FURTHER INFO:

• Saint John Hardon?
•  Video: Archbishop Burke interviewed by Fr. Mitch Pacwa; discusses Fr. Hardon's cause
• Photopost: December 30, 2009 Memorial Mass for Servant of God, Rev. John A. Hardon SJ 
• News about Fr. John A. Hardon - The archive, the guild, and a blessing... 
•  Fr. John Hardon Years at Grotto comes to a close as his library moves to Missouri
• About Fr. John Hardon (EWTN)
• Fr. John Hardon Archives (at The Real Presence Website)
• Eternal Life Catechetical Materials

Fr. Hardon was a prolific writer, one of the reasons his cause will take longer than others who did not have many writings. He was a master catechist, one who guided faithful and confused Catholics alike during the turbulent post-Vatican II years when teachings were being distorted. Here are just a few of his books.  I highly recommend, especially, the Treasury of Catholic Wisdom.

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Beatification of Pope John Paul II moves forward

Just over an hour ago, it was announced that the beatification of Pope John Paul II is moving forward.  I am giving you this google translate version of the first paragraph of the notification, which was only available in Italian when I just visited (toggle the radio button in the upper right hand corner if you know Italian and follow the link).

The day January 14, 2011, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, during the audience granted EM. Mo Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, has authorized the Congregation to promulgate the Decree on the miracle attributed to the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla). This act ends the process that precedes the rite of beatification, the date will be decided by the Holy Father.

EDIT: Here is an interview with Cardinal Amato - the Prefect for the Congregation/Saints at Vatican Radio

Watch for Catholic news sources reporting on this with more complete coverage, probably within hours of this post. 

• Catholic Culture
• Catholic News Agency
• Zenit

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The miracle of Bl Mary MacKillop which lead to upcoming canonization

Edit: The article did not seem clear enough and I misunderstood something.  The miracle about the young man was a runner-up case.  The miracle which paved the way to MacKillop's canonization is here.  Read more about the other case below, which is very interesting.

This comes from the official website for soon to be Saint Mary MacKillop from down under:

Canonisation
In April 2008, the documents pertaining to a remarkable cure of a woman with inoperable cancer were delivered under seal to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. These were officially opened and then examined to establish if they were validly prepared according to the juridical requirements of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The process is slow and painstaking so that there is no room for mistakes.


When validity of the process was confirmed an official summary was prepared. Then a chronological history of the illness and cure was also prepared. Both the summary and chronology were translated into Italian and formatted in a book for easy reference to the cogent points of interest.


In September 2008, this book was given to two doctors, chosen by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. These doctors scrutinised the documents and had access to all X-rays, scans and medical reports from the cured person as well as other references to the illness from medical literature. They were asked to give an opinion on the question, “Can the cure be explained by scientific or medical means?” When the doctors concluded that the cure could not be explained by medical or scientific means, all the material was further studied and discussed by a Medical Board, whose members were also chosen by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.


It took several months for the close scrutiny of this case to be examined by the Medical Board and theologians and eventually the cardinals and bishops recommended to Pope Benedict XVI that this cure was truly a miracle.


On December 19 2009, Pope Benedict XVI approved this miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Mary MacKillop. This was the final step to fulfil the requirements for canonisation. On February 19, 2010 Pope Benedict XVI announced that Mary MacKillop will become Australia's first saint and her canonisation will take place in Rome on Sunday 17 October, 2010 (see Journey to Canonisation for up-to-date news).

This is an incredible story about another miracle, known by the Vatican, but held in reserve.  She will be canonized on October 17th, along with Blessed Andre Bessette, and others.  Here is a story in the Sydney Morning Herald (veil-tip to a friend of Grotto, Andrew Rabel!)

Miracle in our midst, says Vatican
Barney Zwartz


October 6, 2010


JACK Simpson should have died at least five years ago. Instead, he is about to leave for Rome to honour the woman whose intervention he credits with his cure, which the Vatican accepts as a miracle.


Jack, 19, was the ''runner-up'', the one held in reserve, for the second miracle Mary MacKillop needed to be canonised Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop in Rome on Sunday week.


Disaster struck in April 1999. ''He went from a normal boy going to school to another boy we didn't know coming home that night. He lost all his competencies and became like a new baby,'' his mother, Sharon Simpson, says.


Jack was eventually diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, cancer, epilepsy and loss of neurological functions.


Andrew Kornberg, director of the neurology department at the Royal Children's Hospital, called Jack's recovery miraculous, and the Vatican agreed - not for the MS or cancer but for the unprecedented recovery of his intellectual capacity.


The story of the Woodend identical twin has not been told until now because, while the cases were being investigated by the Vatican, the family was asked to keep it secret.


It was presented to Pope Benedict last year, along with Kathleen Evans's cure from inoperable brain and lung cancer - the case chosen as the second miracle.


The Simpson family's ordeal began in 1999 when Jack, then eight, collapsed at school. ''At first we thought he'd hit his head. His eyes were rolling, he couldn't stand and had no comprehension. It was unbelievably horrible,'' Mrs Simpson said yesterday.


For the first year there was no diagnosis, as his central nervous system went into meltdown, leaving him paralysed. Soon after the problem was revealed as juvenile MS - with a maximum life expectancy of five years - the family noticed lumps the size of bars of soap in his neck and groin.


''When he went to the nuclear medicine department and they put the tracer in, he was lit up like a Christmas tree. It was quite advanced, stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma.''


A friend organised novenas (nine-day prayer cycles) to Mary MacKillop at St Ambrose's Catholic Church at Woodend in 1999 and 2000, but nothing changed at first.


For Mrs Simpson the turning point came one night in 2000.


''That night I thought Jack was going to die. He seemed to be in the last stage, with the breath rattling. I thought, 'You can't keep fighting forever, you have to surrender,' and I said, 'If you want him, God, you can have him.' ''


But in the morning he was still alive. She thought he might be cured, so she stood him up, but he was still paralysed.


''That's when Mary MacKillop appeared. She helped me lift him up and get him back into bed. From then on, I knew I was never alone and her strength became mine.''

Jack started improving. One day in 2004, at a routine cognitive assessment at the Children's, Mrs Simpson was greeted by a doctor telling her something wonderful had happened. ''The MS was gone, the cancer was gone, the epilepsy controlled - he now suffers about one episode a year - and his cognitive faculties were returning.''


Mrs Simpson wrote her account that year, and it was given to Sister Maria Casey, who was in charge of presenting the case in Rome for Mary MacKillop to be made a saint.


''She rang me, and the Vatican doctors came out from London to interview Dr Kornberg. The miracle she presented was the return of his intellectual competency, because that has never been documented in human history.''


In April 2005, Professor Kornberg wrote a letter on the family's behalf, saying: ''Jack's recovery has been miraculous … On a personal level I wonder whether there was something special happening here … I will always look back at Jack's case and remember that one should never lose hope.''


Yesterday he confirmed his view that Jack had recovered miraculously. ''Sometimes you just can't explain it,'' he said.


Jack, who finished year 12 last year and now works part-time at Coles, does not remember much of his illness, but said yesterday: ''It just felt like I was on fire.''


Now he feels fine, and says he is really excited about going to Rome.


Mrs Simpson says: ''It's a beautiful story, the kind of story that gives hope to people. It could so easily not have had a happy ending.''

To learn more about soon-to-be "Saint Mary MacKillop" go to her official website.

Photo: Angela Wylie


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It's now "Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman"

John Henry Newman painted by Sir John Everett Millais, 1st Bt. (died 1896)

It has been such a pleasure to watch some of the coverage of the Pope's visit to England and Scotland.  It has been a real joy to see Catholics in the UK get such a shot in the arm.  I know by experience from when Pope John Paul II visited the US here in Detroit, and when Pope Benedict XVI came to the US what it did.  The UK will see an increase in vocations, as well as people in the pews, and still others more willing to cross the Tiber.  It seems to happen wherever the Holy Father visits despite the protests, the errant viewpoints coming from the media, and the attempts at downplaying how many will attend events, the faith strengthens and grows.

During his homily at Mass this morning, Pope Benedict XVI quoted Cardinal Newman using some words very relevant for us today.  The faith is something we must spread by informing ourselves well, and by good example.  This is Newman's way of telling Catholics not to be a clanging cymbal or a noisy gong (1 Cor 13).

 "I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it" (The Present Position of Catholics in England, ix, 390).

Here is the entire homily. 

The Holy Father now heads to the Birmingam Oratory for a private visit. 

More:

• EWTN's background page on Cardinal John Henry Newman
• Newman Legacy Project to Preserve Original Manuscripts in England
• Vatican's webpage collecting all addresses and homilies from the UK

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Photopost: December 30, 2009 Memorial Mass for Servant of God, Rev. John A. Hardon SJ

I regret the delay in finalizing these photos I took on December 30th - the date of the Memorial Mass for Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, whose cause for sainthood is being pursued. 

As you know, Fr. Hardon spent his final working years in an office on the grounds of Assumption Grotto in Detroit.  His library was moved one weekend - 500 boxes in all - by Msgr. Eugene Morris in November of 2007 from Assumption Grotto back to St. Louis where his cause is being studied.

Each year, a memorial Mass is celebrated for Fr. Hardon on the anniversary of his death.  This year, it was held at nearby Ss Cyril & Methodius with Episcopal Delegate for the Cause, Fr. Robert T. McDermott. 

As I have done most years, I photographed the Mass.  Here is a slideshow (a direct link to the gallery with individual photos is below):

• Link to Gallery for the 2009 Memorial Mass for Fr. John Hardon

You can find photos of the 2007 Fr. Hardon Memorial Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, in this photo (scroll down and click on the other photoposts from other parts of the Mass)




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Fr. Hardon Memorial Mass - December 30th at Ss Cyril & Methodius

The 9th Anniversary Memorial Mass for the Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J. will take place on Wednesday, December 30, at Ss. Cyril & Methodius at 7:00PM. Light refreshments will follow the Mass in the Fr. Mikus Hall. See closeup of poster

Fr. Robert McDermott - the postulator of the Father Hardon cause for sainthood, will be the celebrant.



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Venerable Pope John Paul II and Pope Pius XII

This morning, Pope Benedict XVI approved, by decree, the heroic virtue of Pope John Paul II, and Pope Pius XII.  There are a host of other decrees by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.  From Catholic World Report at Catholic Culture:

In a series of decrees issued on December 19, the Vatican has approved miracles allowing for the canonization of five people and the beatification of five others. The Vatican also recognized the 1984 murder of Father Jerzy Popieluszko by Communist intelligence officers as a martyrdom, preparing the way for his beatification.

The decrees, approved by Pope Benedict XVI during a private audience with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, also proclaimed that ten other candidates for sainthood had lived lives of heroic virtue. Those decrees make the candidates eligible for beatification if a miracle is attributed to their intercession.

The two decrees commanding the greatest public attention were those recognizing the heroic virtue of Pope Pius XII, who reigned from 1939 to 1958, and Pope John Paul II, who reigned from 1978 to 2005.

Five of the December 19 decrees testified to the authenticity of miracles attributed to candidates who have already been beatified, and are now qualified for canonization. They are:

•Bl. Stanislaus Soltys (Kazimierczyk) (1433-89), whose liturgical cult was formally recognized by Pope John Paul in 1993
•Bl. André Bessette (1845-1937), a Canadian renowned for his devotion to St. Joseph who developed a reputation as a miracle worker in his lifetime
•Bl. Mary MacKillop (1842-1909), who founded the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart and will become Australia’s first canonized saint
•Bl. Giulia Salzano (1846-1929), foundress of the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart
•Bl. Camilla Battista da Varano (1458-1524), a Poor Clare nun

The Congregation also approved miracles for five other candidates who, like Father Popieluszko, will now be scheduled for beatification:

•Father José Tous y Soler (1811-71), a Capuchin Franciscan
•Brother Leopoldo de Alpandeire (1866-1956), a Capuchin Franciscan
•Manuel Lozano Garrido (1920-71), a Spanish layman
•Teresa Manganiello (1849-76), a Third Order Franciscan
•Chiara Badano (1971-90), a laywoman of the Focolare Movement

In addition, the Congregation declared the heroic virtue of Bl. Giacomo Illirico da Bitetto, a Franciscan.

The Congregation also proclaimed the heroic virtue of nine others, who now qualify for the title "Venerable" and may be beatified with the approval of a miracle:

•Pope Pius XII (Eugenio Pacelli) (1876-1958)

•Pope John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) (1920-2005)

•Father Louis Brisson (1817-1908), founder of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales

•Father Giuseppe Quadrio (1921-63), a Salesian

•Sister Mary Ward (1545-1615), an Englishwoman who founded the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Loreto Sisters)

•Sister Antonia Maria Verna (1773-1838), foundress of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception of Ivrea

•Sister Francesca Farolfi (Maria Chiara Serafina of Jesus) (1853-1917), foundress of the Missionary Franciscan Clarists of the Blessed Sacrament

•Sister Enrichetta Alfieri (1891-1951)

•Giunio Tinarelli (1912-56), a layman and member of the Silent Workers of the Cross

Further reading (list may be updated):

• PROMULGAZIONE DI DECRETI DELLA CONGREGAZIONE DELLE CAUSE DEI SANTI , 19.12.2009 (Holy See - Italian)
• VENERABLE John Paul II and… by the way…. PIUS XII!! (Fr. Z)
• Is the Holy See “copyrighting” Ven. Pope John Paul’s name? (Fr. Z)
• Signed, Sealed.....Sainted (Whispers)
• NY Daily News article on Pius XII (POLL ALERT) (Fr Z)
  
  

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Relic of St. Damian at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral today and tomorrow

I regret not knowing about this sooner or I would have advertised it.  St. Damian was just canonized and already the Archbishop has managed to get a relic at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral tonight and tomorrow.  From the AOD website:

Tuesday, Oct. 13

7 p.m. Reception of Saint Damien's relic into the Cathedral

7:30 p.m. Vespers service in presence of the relic

7:50–9 p.m. Relic will be on display for silent veneration

9 p.m. Cathedral doors close

Wednesday, Oct. 14

The Cathedral doors will be open from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. for silent veneration of the relic. Please note that veneration will be suspended during the following services.

7:15 a.m. Mass with His Excellency, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

1 p.m. Scripture service for priests and religious (open to the public), celebrated by Bishop Moses Anderson, SSE

3 p.m. Mass with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, to be celebrated by Bishop Francis Reiss

7 p.m. Mass for the faithful of the Archdiocese, to be celebrated by Bishop Daniel Flores

The Cathedral is located at 9844 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, one mile north of West Grand Boulevard and one mile south of the Davison Freeway. For more information about Saint Damien, and the latest information on the relic visit, please visit the Archdiocese of Detroit Web site at www.aodonline.org/stdamien. If you would like to schedule a group visit to the Cathedral for the relic visit, please call (313) 883-2080.

To read much more, go to the Archdiocese of Detroit webpage for St. Damian

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Pope Canonizes St. Damian, and another four...

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday canonized 5 new saints, among them - Damian the Leper.  I don't have time to do a full blogpost on it, but here are some good reads:

• 
  
  Homily of Pope Benedict XVI (zenit)
  
  
  
• 
  
  The Honors of the Altar (whispers)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Hawaii Coverage - St. Damien (Catholic Mom in Hawaii)
  
• Apostle of Lepers (Catholic World Report)
  
  
  

[photo: Getty Images]

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News about Fr. John A. Hardon - The archive, the guild, and a blessing...

In my email inbox...

Rite of Blessing with Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

James Maldonado Berry

On Monday, September 21st, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, presided over the Rite of Blessing of the offices of The Fr. John A. Hardon S.J., Archive and Guild, located in the former convent of the Cathedral-Basilica of Saint Louis. Approximately one-hundred people turned out for the event, during which Archbishop Burke praised Fr. Hardon as a priest who courageously preached the faith “in and out of season.” Immediately following the blessing there was an open house at the office and a reception in the Jubilee Garden of the Cathedral-Basilica Rectory. The blessing was a highlight for the archbishop emeritus of Saint Louis, who has been overseeing the cause of Fr. John A. Hardon S.J for several years now, and also for the small team of officers working on the Cause. Fr. Robert T. McDermott, a priest from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, serves as the Postulator of the Cause and James Maldonado Berry is the Executive Director of the Archive and Guild. Msgr. C. Eugene Morris, pastor of Saint Mary Magdalen Parish in Brentwood, serves as the Episcopal Delegate; Fr. Kristian Teater, a professor at Kenrick Glennon Seminary, is the Promoter of Justice and Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, working from Milwaukee, is the theological consultant.

The work of The Fr. John A. Hardon S.J., Archive and Guild has been underway quietly for a couple of years now. This news may come as a surprise to many faithful who didn’t even know that such a project was underway in the backyard of their own Archdiocese. Upon Fr. Hardon’s death on December 30, 2000, he willed his extensive library and correspondence to Archbishop Raymond L. Burke. “For some time, we have been occupied primarily with the nuts and bolts of “setting up shop” but now, with the long distance encouragement of Archbishop Burke from Rome, and the enthusiastic blessing of Archbishop Carlson, we’re expecting to move forward in the upcoming year with a higher public profile,” said Fr. McDermott. The office itself serves as a repository and a museum of sorts, dedicated to preserving the memory of Fr. John A. Hardon, and spreading devotion to him and his spirituality as well. The archives contain numerous files, such as personal correspondence, academic papers, and manuscripts, all pertaining to Fr. Hardon. The basement serves as a library, housing Fr. Hardon’s voluminous personal collection of books, numbering well into the thousands. “It was really the only place in the entire house that could comfortably store so many books,” remarked Fr. McDermott. The most poignant feature of the office is the Fr. John A. Hardon S.J. Room. Set in the living room of the former convent, this room serves as a museum dedicated to the life of Fr. Hardon. Several glass display cases contain various personal effects of Fr. Hardon’s, like his rosary, scapular, passport and even his Jesuit cassock, which, throughout his life, he would devoutly kiss every day before putting it on. In this room, the officers of the Archive and Guild meet to discuss the multi-layered dimensions of the cause and its future path.

In the upcoming months, the officers working on the cause will begin collecting official testimonies from individuals across the country and in other parts of the world who knew Fr. Hardon. Fr. Hardon assisted Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in establishing the contemplative branch of the Missionaries of Charity. Given the scope of Fr. Hardon’s academic and spiritual writings, which consists of over forty books and other unpublished manuscripts. This investigative process is expected to take several years. Those interested in learning more about Fr. Hardon’s life, writings and spirituality are encouraged to check out the website of The Fr. John A. Hardon S.J. Archive and Guild at: http://www.hardonsj.org/.

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New Website for the Cause of Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ

Check out this new website dedicated to the cause of Fr. John A. Hardon, SJ, who spent his final working years at an office on the grounds of Assumption Grotto in Detroit. Click the pic to visit the site....



Related posts:

• The "Fr. John Hardon Years at Grotto" comes to a close as his library moves to Missouri.

• St. John Hardon?

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Solemn High Mass at Grotto Tonight; Relic of St. Augustin V. Schoeffler

Photo edited in after post.  Mass was on St. Jospeh the Worker (Extraordinary Form)
The relic of St. Augustin Schoeffler can be seen to the right in front of his image.

This is one of the items I have been unable to communicate until now....and it is happening tonight with a solemn high Mass and the relic of a saint with some connections to Assumption Grotto.

Fr. Perrone writes in this week's Grotto News:

April 26


Assumption Grotto Parish, I am told, is known far and wide–happily or regretfully. At least part of the reason for this reputation is the fact that we are an historic parish, one with a long and consistent record of faith stretching back to the earliest days of Detroit. Almost any Catholic from this area will have heard the name of our parish and may perhaps even have some connection, however remote, to its history. It would not be entirely surprising, therefore, to learn that we have an affiliation with a canonized saint of recent years. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988 was the missionary priest, Augustin V. Schoeffler, a member of the Parisian Foreign Mission Society, who voyaged to Vietnam in 1874 to evangelize its people. Perhaps you have already heard of the Vietnamese Saint Andrew Dung Lac, whose feast day is November 24, and who was joined in death by several companion martyrs. There were in fact thousands of Catholic priests, religious and laity in Vietnam who were killed between 1625 and 1886 for their faith, 117 of whose names are known and who are venerated in the Church as canonized saints. These were suffocated, strangled, beheaded, burnt or mutilated. On May 1, 1851, one of these heroic giants, the aforementioned Father Augustin Schoeffler, made the noble testament of his faith by the shedding of his blood. His relationship to our parish history is through the Greiner family, a name known to us from monuments in our cemetery and from the street which intersects Gratiot Avenue near the church.

John and Catherine Greiner left France for Detroit and in the 1830s settled on “Fort Gratiot Turnpike” just across from St. Mary’s in the Woods, the log cabin chapel that was the forerunner to our first parish church, the land for which having been donated by the Greiners. Catherine’s cousin was the missionary priest, Fr. Schoeffler. He had left his native France for the northern part of Vietnam after having joined the French foreign missionary society and having mastered the difficult Vietnamese dialect by which he could preach, hear confessions and catechize. The pagan religious leaders of Vietnam, in observance of the edict of the emperor, were determined to curtail these missionary efforts. They succeeded at length in capturing Fr. Schoeffler through an informant and betrayer. Following his arrest, he was invited to renounce his Christian faith and to trample upon the Lord’s cross. When he refused these, he was sentenced to death by beheading. Thus it was that on May 1, 1851, the chief mandarin set out with his escort to the arena of execution. The convicted priest knelt down, removed the upper part of his garments, and made the supreme offering of the sacrifice of his life after three times kissing a crucifix with great emotion. The sentence of death, written on a board and planted into the ground before him, read: “In spite of the prohibitions of the religion of Jesus, Augustin, a European priest, has dared to come by stealth into the kingdom to preach that religion and to deceive the people. He is condemned to be beheaded and his head to be thrown into the water.”

There is a painting of the execution which has been reprinted, showing the executioner wielding his sword behind the kneeling figure of Fr. Augustin, with the crowd of witnesses encircled about him. As it happened, a single thwack was not sufficient to sever his head. After the success of the third stroke of the sword, the bystanders came forward to take a few precious relics from his bloodstained clothing. His head was then tossed into a river and on the following day his remains were disinterred by pious Christians from his temporary grave and buried in another place with due reverence.

Veneration of relic after Mass

In our Jubilee Year celebration of 2006, I requested that a relic of the Saint be sent to our parish. It was a long and complex process necessitating the intervention of Cardinal Maida that brought the relic to our parish. We are going to install it in the church on his feast day, this coming Friday, May 1, at the 7:00 p.m. evening Mass. At this time we will also have an opportunity to venerate his relic (the people would lineup at the Communion rail, as for Communion, and kiss the relic which the priest will hold out for them). Following the Mass, there will be a little social in the lounge. I am told that some descendants of the Greiner family will be in attendance for the event. Those attending this Mass will be given a commemorative booklet that commemorates the Saint and which will feature excerpts from his writings that give testimony to his courage and his fidelity.

May 1st is also the feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, the patron of all those who provide for their families. I suggest that all of you make the effort to come to this special evening Mass on Friday to celebrate this day, for the security of your employment and for the good of your parish which now proudly claims a relic of Saint Augustin Schoeffler.

EDIT: Here are photos from the Mass, which was on St. Joseph the Worker (Extraordinary Form)

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Vatican investigates alleged miracle attributed to Pope John Paul II

A man who sustained a "non-survivable" gunshot to the head during a mugging, may have been the beneficiary of a special grace through the intercession of Pope John Paul II. It was four years ago that Pope John Paul II died. April 2, 2005 was Divine Mercy Saturday on that year.

Jory Aebly Given Rosary Blessed by Pope John Paul, Recovery Could Help With Sainthood

By DAN HARRIS, JEN PEREIRA and LEE FERRAN
April 2, 2009

When Jory Aebly was shot in the head, execution-style during a mugging five weeks ago in Cleveland, Ohio, that should have been the end of it. Doctors at the Metro Health Medical Center told his family it was a "non-survivable" injury, according to the hospital's Web site.

But Tuesday, a very-much-alive Aebly was wheeled to a press conference before he went home in what some believe is a true "miracle," possibly good enough to help earn deceased Pope John Paul II sainthood.

"It's one in a million," Dr. Robert Geertman, a neurosurgeon involved in Aebly's treatment, said in a press conference just days after the shooting. "My jaw was on the floor after a day or two of seeing he is hanging on. ... I'd say it's pretty miraculous."

Continue reading: "Miracle" at ABC News

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St. Therese of Lisieux's Parents to be Beatified on Mission Sunday

Here is interesting news out of Zenit. I had seen something on it some time ago. After having seen the movie about Therese and how her sisters had all entered convents, I pondered the sanctity of her parents. Now, their cause is advancing. From Zenit...

Couple to Be Beatified on Mission Sunday

ALENCON, France, JULY 13, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Louis and Marie-Zélie Martin, parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, will be beatified on Mission Sunday at the Cathedral of Lisieux.

Cardinal Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes, made the announcement Saturday when he presided at a Mass at Notre-Dame Church at Alencon to mark the couple's 150th wedding anniversary.

Mission Sunday is celebrated this year on Oct. 19.

The news comes days after Benedict XVI recognized a miracle attributable to the intercession of Louis and Marie-Zélie Martin. It involved the healing of Pietro Schiliro of Monza, Italy.

Pietro was born in 2002 with a fatal lung malformation. Italian Carmelite Father Antonio Sangalli suggested that the child's parents pray a novena to Thérèse's parents to receive the strength to endure their suffering.

However, Pietro's mother decided to do the novena to ask for her son's cure. When Pietro regained his health, he and his parents went on pilgrimage to Lisieux to thank the Martins.

Cardinal Martins will preside at a Family Day today in Lisieux, during which he will bless a statue of St. Thérèse.

Use the arrows to rotate the "carousel" and bring a product into center focus, then click learn more. I highly recommend the movie, "Therese" which gets into some of her life before she went to the convent. It's spiritually deep. Catholic actor, Leonardo DeFilippis stars as her father in the movie. And, if you don't want to purchase anything, then just go ahead and hold down the right or left arrow - go ahead, play with it because....it's cool.

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Blessed Damien and a Catholic Mom in Hawaii

It seems that sainthood causes (scroll) are in the news much these days. Yet another piece of news that a miracle has been attributed to Blessed Damien of Molokai, the "leper priest". I was captivated by his story when I was quite young and had a book on him which I still have. I will put it on my nighttime reading list again.




I'm going to send you to the best possible blog for news on Blessed Damien - A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, who has a post up entitled: Blessed Damien heads closer to sainthood. You'll see a beautiful prayer Esther keeps in her sidebar if you scroll down from her homepage.

Edit May 5, 2008: Rocco at Whispers in the Loggia has a post up on Damien of Molokai, as well.

It's a great blog overall. Along her sidebar are tributes to other great priests like Fr. Hardon, and Fr. Peyton and Archbishop Sheen. Catholic moms will like A Catholic Mom in Hawaii, as will homeschooling families. While it has many homeschooling links, posts and resources, don't avoid it if you are not a homeschooling family. It's just a fine Catholic blog. Some recent posts I enjoyed:

PARENTS, 54 UNIQUE BENEFITS OF HOMESCHOOLING

You might be hardcore Catholic if...

Virtuous Blogging (Esther comments on my new blog dedicated to virtuous blogging, while at the same time offering some thoughts herself which I found inspiring).

Book Recommendation - The Road to Hope by Cardinal Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

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More on Cardinal Newman's cause...

CWNews is reporting that the Vatican has confirmed a miracle associated with Ven. John Henry Newman.

Birmingham, Apr. 25, 2008 (CWNews.com) - An official spokesman for the cause of beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman has confirmed that the Vatican has given preliminary approval to the authenticity of a miracle attributed to Cardinal Newman’s intercession.

Final approval of the miracle would clear the way for the beatification of the Cardinal Newman, a towering figure in English Catholicism in the 19th century.

Continue reading details on Newman at CWNews...

Related post: John Henry Newman to be Beatified

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John Henry Newman to be Beatified

Venerable John Henry Newman is to be beatified. From CNA:

Vatican City, Apr 23, 2008 / 03:12 am (CNA).- The Vatican has approved the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman, the English convert and theologian who has had immense influence upon English-speaking Catholicism, the Birmingham Mail reports. [read full article at CNA...]

He was born on February 21st and first ordained an Anglican priest in 1825, was received into the Catholic Church in 1845. In 1879 Pope Leo XIII made him a Cardinal. His last Mass was said on Christmas Day in 1889 and he died on August 11th of 1890. He was declared venerable by Pope John Paul II on January 22, 1991.

Sites related to John Henry Newman

• Newman Reader (an extensive collection of writings online!!!)
• Books by John Henry Newman
• Newman Homepage at the University of Dallas
• Biography and Hymns of John Henry Newman

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The Saints of Pope Benedict: St. Simon of Lipnica

Photo Source

In his three year pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI has canonized 14 saints, including St. Simon of Lipnica pictured above as he ministered to those dying during a plague.

I found this to be one of the most impressive paintings. I mean, click on it to enlarge it slightly and just stare into it for a while. You could meditate on the many things seen in that painting. I woud love to know more about it, who painted it, and when, but I can't read Polish (even though I am of Polish heritage). If anyone stumbling on this post can give me that info from the website or elsewhere, please drop it into the comment box for all interested. I know I have readers from Poland - at least, my stat counter shows I do.

St. Simon of Lipnica (1435 or 1440-1482) is the only one canonized by Pope Benedict XVI who lived prior to the rise of Protestantism.

Catholic World Report - a magazine published monthly by Ignatius Press, featured the same picture in their story: Pope Benedict's Saints. Here is an excerpt from the Vatican webpage dedicated to him:

The love of Simon for his brothers and sisters was manifested in an extraordinary way during the last year of his life, when an epidemic of plague broke out in Krakow. The city was under the scourge of the disease from July 1482 to the 6th January 1483. The Franciscans of the convent of St. Bernardine tirelessly did all they could to care for the sick as true consoling angels.

Br. Simone, held it to be a “propitious time” to exercise charity and to fulfil the offering of his own life. He went everywhere comforting, giving succour, administering the sacraments and announcing the consoling Word of God to the dying. He was soon infected. He suffered the pain of the disease with extraordinary patience and, near the end, expressed his desire to be buried under the threshold of the church so that all could trample on him. On the sixth day of the disease, the 18th July 1482, without fear of death and with his eyes fixed on the Crucifix, he gave his soul back to God.

The magazine article, and the Vatican website talks about his sermons. I would sure love to see some of those. I wonder if any were preserved and if they are available in English.

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Pope approves 'heroic virtues' of Knights of Columbus founder

Just in, but scarcely reported as of this morning. Here, the Canadian Press gives the story....

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict on Saturday set the founder of the Knights of Columbus, one of the world's largest lay Catholic groups, on the path to possible beatification and sainthood, the Vatican said.

The Pope recognized the "heroic virtues" of reverend Michael McGivney, who in 1882 created a fraternal society for Catholic men who suffered discrimination because of their religion and immigrant origins.

A miracle performed through McGivney's intercession must be certified by the Vatican before beatification, which is the last formal step before the sainthood process can begin.

McGivney was a 29-year-old assistant pastor at St. Mary's Church in New Haven, Conn., when he founded the group, which now has 1.7 million members and in 2006 collected nearly $144 million in contributions for charity.

The organization's 1.7 million members are in countries including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Poland and the Philippines.

Its charitable work includes substantial support for the Vatican. The group funded the restoration of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica during the 1980s, and annually underwrites the cost of satellite TV broadcasts of liturgical celebrations from Vatican City, including the Christmas midnight Mass.

McGivney was born in 1852 to Irish immigrants in Waterbury, north of New Haven. He died of pneumonia at age 38.

The effort to canonize him was opened in 1997. That process received important support last year, when the Vatican's No. 2 official, Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone, celebrated mass at the Knights of Columbus annual meeting in Tennessee and said he would work to have the priest declared a saint.

You can read the life of Fr. McGivney in this book, which also makes a great gift for the Knight in your family!

More info on Fr. McGivney and the Knights of Columbus

Life and Legacy of Fr. Michael McGivney

Homepage for the Knights of Columbus

Fr. Z reports that it was in l'Osservatore Romano

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