Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-24
An AMERICAN SAINT.
Proposed Concentration of the Late
Bi.hop NcI7ilamn. <,S Philadelphia.

n. StsHAaGSlDhfa,
MIRACLES SAID TO HAVE BEEN WROUGHT THROUGH
HIS NTERCESsI0N-BLISD. DEAF AND DUMB
HEALED By FATTH-THE GIFT oF FRoPHEsY-
GATHERING TESTIMONY To BIZ CONSIDERED AT
ROME.
Cano1ical diocesan examinations have been
Instituted in PHILADELPHIA the Times of that city
says, looking to the colonization OF the Right
Rev John NepomaceIe NeCmann, C. :. ). r.,
who was for eight wears bishop of tie diocese Of
Philadelphia. and died in the dignity CT his high
Office January ). 1869. Competent members of
the Catholic clergy of Philadelphia and else
where. among whom are ci"rgymen high in the
Society OF RedeInptorists the ecclesiastical order
with which the late bishop was himself identi-
fed. are engaged In gathering ana preserving
evidences Of the prelates Cody life and sitting
testimony regarding the wonders and miracles
believed TO have been wrought through Bishop
NeGmaEn's interceSsiOn since his death.
The result of their laDOr5 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 canOnzation.
The Work or these COmpilers is one of unusual
interest and significance from the fact that no
American bishop or prelatc has yet been deemed
worthy by the paDal authority OF having his
name enrolled among the saints and Catholic
Clergy universally agree that the claims of Bishop
Neumann to the honor of can01iZatiOn are more
conspicuous than those o. any other distinct
lively American preiate who ever lived. In the
catalogue o. the saints may be found the names
OF few cleTgymen who aid missionary work in
America in the early days of the c0untry's his
tory. Bishop NeGmann however. though tor
eigner. was an american in all but birth. Com
ing to this country when a young man. it is
with the growth OF the Catholic church in
America that his great life work will always be
associated pre-eTinenrly.
NIpA
Standing beneath the tall spire OF ST Peters
Catholic church and almost above the sacred
spot where the bones of the loved bishop are In
TERED Father Werner. a prominent member of
the order of Redemptorists. told of the heroic
devotion and sanity plety of Americas cand.-
date for eanonzation.
by the law of the church. said he mo man
can be enrolled in the catalogue of the saints
until fifty years after his death. The work OF
collecting evidence for submission to the Holy
See must necessarily be an arduOus and pro-
longed task. The most careful censorship must
be exercised. both by the local examiners and
afterwards BY those az Rome
twenty-five years must elapse before a de-
cree of canonizatiOn would be possible While
IL Is not too early to begin the collection ofcare-
fully sifted testimony it would be premature
and out of place for Inc to enter into any eX-
tended discussion of the merits of the evidence
even If l were competent to do So may saw
however. that in my opinion no American ever
lived whose claims were SO likely to win the re-
cognitou of Rome"
Of the miracles and wonders the facts of
which have been gathered from reliable sources
and the narration OF which will form All import
ant chapter in the compiled evidence destined
TO go to Rome many are closely associated with
the Bishops tomb beneath the sanctuary of St
Peters, at 9Th street AID GiraTd avenue Thirty
days after the prelate's death the tomb was
opened His body was found TO be perfectly in
rrlnf a1r1tt
tnat 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 iltercessiOn remarkable
cures both of mental and bodily ailments
CURING THE DEAF. DUMB AND BLIND.
Sister Anselma was teacher in the bows
school in the basenest of ST. Peters. close be-
side the tomb of the holy bishop. She was az
nicted with deafness that promised to end her
usefulness as teacher. She invoked the inter-
cession Of the prelate and for five years knelt
daily in deyout intercession at his tomb. Her
hearing was SO restored that during the entire
nye years she was enabled, within the period
OF school hours. to hear her little pupils dis
tinctly and instruct them TO the satisfaction and
edilcation of all
On the 18th of August, 1888. Elizabeth ODris-
coll lost her voice in consequence of a nervous
shock Prominent physicians of this city and
OF mobile. Ala. her former home treated her i'm
vain. On February l. 1869 she received Holv
communion in St. Peters. and while kneeIing
at the grave OF the dead bishop she articulated
MS name distinctly, and from that time her
power or speech was wholly regained
Mary Hunneker, little girl thirteen wears
Old. after six months of medical treatment
under the best Oculists. became almost recon-
clled to the belief that she must soon become
blind.
The nerves Of both eyes were seriously affect
u. vision oil Tho
began novena or nine cays' devotion at the
tomb OF the holy bishop. where she prayed in
childlike faith, ''0h. holy bishop. do help me-
that may soon be able to go TO school again.
As she left the sanctuary after the ninth day
her aunt glanced at the great clock face away
up in the spire OF ST. Peters
Look up there. Mary" said she land tell
me II you can see the clock face dear
Inc child o0eyed. and, to the establishment of
nefse1 and her guardian, she told the time of
day readily. In less than week she was back
AZ ner duties, her sight clear and strong These
and many similar narratives. the accuracy of
which is vOuched for are told of the won
ders wrought through the intercession of the
holy man.
THE GIFT OF PRoPHEsY
To him has also been ascribed the Gift of pro-
phesy, which Is regarded as distinctive mark
OF the Divine favor. Although the Bishops
father lived to be so years old and his mother
died at the age Of %, he himself persisted in the
belief that he would not live to reach So Three
years before his death, while vet in the enov-
ment OF perfect health. he avowed this belief
explicitly and confidently to his nephew and
other intimate associates. AT the time of his
death he was not quite 40 years old
On one occasion poor woman one of his
parish1oners, brought to the Bishop her baby
boy, who was suffering from dropsy of the head
They tell me he must die within few DAYS
soboed the grief-str;cken mother DRY your
Tears, my good woman, said the Bishop LAYING
his hands upon the child's head The nov viii
not die. He will grow to manhood, to be your
consolation and your Joy" The prediction was
verified TO the letter. and the boy lived to sun-
port MS mother and cheer her last days with
tender iiial devotion.