Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-29
AN AMERICAN SAINT.

that city says, looking to the canonization OF
the Right Rev John Nepomacene Neu-
mann, &. s. 5. r., who was for eight years
bishop of the diocese of Philadelphia, and
died in the dignity of his high. Office, Janu-
ary ), 1860. Competent members of the
Catholic clergy of Philadelphia and else
where, among whom are clergymen high in
the Society Of Redemptorists, the ecclesias
ticul order with which the late bishop was
himself identified, are engaged in gathering
and preserving evidences of the prelate's
Cody life and sitting testimony regarding
the wonders and miracles believed to have
been wrought through Bishop Neumann's
in;crce=sion since his death.
The result Of their labors will in due time
be forwarded to Rome for the examination
and consideration Of the Holy See, from
which source alone can emanate the decree
Of canoniZati0u. The work OF these com
pliers is one Ci unusual interest and siSnlfi-
cance from the fact tnat no American biah-
op or pre!aie has yet been deemed worthy by
the papa authority Of having his name en-
rolled among the saints, and Catholic clergy
universally agree that the claims OF Bishop
Neumann 10 the honor OF canoniZatlon are
mere conspicuous than those OF any other
tiiStuctiyey American prelate who ever
lived. IN the catalogue OF the saints may
be found the names of II few cergymcn who
diG missionary work i'll America in the
early days OF the countrys history. Bishop
Neumann, however, though foreigner, was
an American in ali but birth. Coming to
this country when Il young man, it is with
the growth of the Catholic church in Amer
ica that his great life work will always be
associated pre-emlnently.
Standing beneath the tail spire of st.
Peters Catholic church and almost above
the sacred spot where the bones of the loved
bishop are inferred Father Werner, q prom
iacnt member Of the order Of Redemptorisis,
told or the heroic devotion aud sanity piety
O: Americas candidate for canonizatiou.
''By the Law Of the church, - said he, "no
man can be enrolled in the catalogue of the
saints until fifty years after his death. The
work ti collecting evidence for submission
to the Holy See must necessarily be an
arluous aud prolonged task. The most
careful censorship must be exercised, both
BY The local examiners and afterwards by
these al Rome.
"Twenty-five years must elapse before u
decree CT canoniZation would he possible.
While it is not too early to begin the col
lection Of carefully siited testimony it would
be premature and out of place for mo to
enter into any extended discussion Of the
merits of the evidence, even if were COM
peteut to DO 90. may say, however, that
IN my opinion no American ever lived
whose claims were so likely to win the re-
cogIit!on of Rome
orr miracles aud wonders, the facts of
which have been gathered from reliable
sources and the narration of which will
form an important chapter in the compiled
evidence destined 10 go to Rome, many are
closely associated with the Bishops tomb
beneath the sanctuary Of st. Peters, at 9th
street aGa Girard avenue. Thirty days
after the preate's death the tomb was open
cd. His body was found TO be perfectly in
coTrupt, and it was not until ten months
later that decomposition was found to have
begun. This tomb was for years the shrine
of thousands of devout Catholics, many of
whom ascribed to Bishop Neumann's inter-
ccssion remarkable cures both OF mental
and bodily aiInl@nt>.
Sister Aus"Ima was II teaHneT III the boys
school in the basement Of ST Peters, close
beside the ,omh of the holy Bishop. She
was afflicted with deafness that promised
10 end her usefulness rs II teacher. She in
voltd The iatercession Of the prelatc and
for five years knelt daily in devout inter
ressjon at his tomb Her hearing was SO
restored; tia, during the entire five years
she was enabled, within the period OF school
hours to hear her little pupils distinctly
and instruct them TO the satisfaction and
,dihcalIon or ali.
On the o5th OF August, 1865, Elizabeth
O'Drisroli lost her voice in consequence OF
a nervous shock Prominent physicians Of
this Cit, and Of Mobile, Ala, her former
home. treated her in vain. On February
u,I
s.. Peters, and while kneelng al the grave
OF the dead bishop she #rlicua:ed his name
distinctly, and from that time her power Ct
s.eec.l wa wholly regained
Mary Hunn.cker, a lutte girl thrice"
ycar; old. a;ter six months OF metilc@! ;ru :.
mepl unip, ,hc best ocu!:>,s, hrcame a!mcs'
reconcile ed - he h.li,f iaat he must soon
become blind.
The nerves Of bath eyes were seriously
affected, aud her vision was almost gonc,
when she began Il uovcna, or nine days de
yotion, at The tomb Of the holy bishop,
where she prayed in childike faith, "Oh,
hoiv bishop, do help me that may soon be
able to 60 to school again
AS she left the sanctuary after the ninth
dav her aunt glanced at the great clock face
| away UP in he spire Of st. Peters.
Look up there, Mary" said she, ''aud
tell ne ii ,ou Gao sre The clock lace, dear"
The child obcyod, and, TO the astonish-
ment OF herself and her guardian, she tod
the time o! day readily. In less than
week she was back at her duties, her sight
clear and strong. These and many similar
narratives, The accuracy Of which is vouch-
ed for, are told Of the wonders wrought
through the intercession of the holy man.
10 him has also been ascrihed the gift Of
prophesy, which is described rs distinct
| i've mark Of the Divine favor. Although
| the Bishops father lived TO be SO years old
| and his mother died at the age of I3, be
himself persisted in the belief that he would
not live 10 reach 90 Three years before his
death, while yet in the enjoyment of perfect
health, he apowed this belief explicitly and
confidently to his nephew and other init
mate associates. At the time Of his death
he was not quite so years old