New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-12
1yAAERIcAN BISHOP TO BE CANoNJzED.
WAT THE PROCESS SIGNIFIES AND HOW 1T is
CARRIED OUT.

WAT THE PROCESS SIGNIFIES AND HOW 1T is
CARRIED OUT.
ooh no. the Church does not make saints II
onl. declares to be saints those who, during their
uvs. become saints by the grace OF God" TINS
ua, the remark uttered tho other day by ds-
diminished Roman Catholic eccesiastic apropos OF
.,e stems now being taken to canonize John Nepomu-
cerr Neumann, late Bishop OF Philadelphia. opVi-
ousv OF course all the saints OF the Church cannot
he canonzed but in certain sense their ciahis 10
sa.ntshp are recognized in the appointment OF
service for Ali Saints Day. The honor OF canon
,zation Is accorded only to those saints Who nave
done some signal work In the Church. ana whose
ren,orv is worthy OF being especially preserved
cancellation is now purely an oftcia act, and its
processes can be performed only by the authority Vi
.be pope But in the early Church. as might naturally
he expected the process was much less 1ormai' ana
u,s dependent largely upon popular choice. II was
,be custom in the worship OF the Primitive
church TO have tablets "diptychs," which
ere placed on the "ambones" reading desks,
.ven vet to be seen in ancient basilcas, at
the west end Of the choir, or presbytery ana rom
these diptychs read by the minister the names
~ the holy men and women who had recently died In
tho faith These diptychs soon assumed position OF
rat importance in the worship Of the Church. They
rere called "mystic tablets" anniversary books"
g matriculation registers" and "books Of life" And
b,,a on the one hand they the prototype OF
,he modern church register, almanac on the other
they doubtless suggested the procedure which in later
centuries became known as canonization
The first step in the canonizatOn Of Bishop Neumann
was taken the other Sunday. when letter from
Archbishop Ryan was read In all the Roman Catholic
churches OF the archdiocese requiring all who possess
any writings OF Bishop Neumann IN give them TO
,hoir pastors; and II thcy knew OF any others who
had such writings 10 report the fact under pain OF
communication. such writings will be forwarded
10 Rome for examination, condition precedent
TO the preliminary process OF canonzation which Is
known as Qualification. II has been asserted by
some Professionals that this custom Of gathering all
he writings Of the candidate for saintship originated
through the desire OF the Church TO prevent any
writing Of the saint which might be unworthy OF his
high profession from being made public by the enemies
Of the Church. But this view is not worthy OF
serious consideration. The obvious reason Is that
the writings of a man throw much light on his
character and motives
The Congregation of the Redeemer, OF which
BISHOP Neumann was a member, has been for years
collecting evidences Of his salntshp. Among the
requirements which must be met Is well attestd
evidence that the person to be canonized has per
formed three miracles, that three miracles nave
been performed through his intercession. Even 10
mention this requirement will cause many who call
themselves good Christians to smile with increduhty.
While theoretically believing the miracles OF the Bible
they agree with modern science that miracles do not
happen now. But without pronouncinS on inc
merits Of this question II they will take the trouble
To Investigate the matter they will find that body
OF apparently trustworthy evidence for miracles
performed through the interession OF BishoP
Seumann has been accumulated that may indeed
be dsbe,ieved, but cannot be dlsproved Ana
devout Roman Catholics maintain that these ana
All other miracles vOuched for by the Church must
be believed on the sort OF evidence gwen fjr
the Bible miracles.
The process Of canOnlzation is slow, and 1t IS not
possible for any 70 be declared saint unnl ne
Inod for
most careful censorship is exercised, both by me
local authorities and those at Rome: and. as matter
Of fact the comparatively few who are now
caaonlzed are entirely worthy Of the honor. Bishop
Neumann was a man OF especially holy life ana rs
a Redemptorist ne won renown FOR his zeal self
denial and self-abnegaton. When Archbishop
Kenrick informed him that he had been selected a.
Bishop Of Philadelphia, he fell on bis Knees ana
begged the archbishop to use his influence to avert
the honor from him. But II was In vain Tor ne
received a message from The Pope commandng nm I'm
b accept the Office. As Bishop OF Philadelphia ne
not or.y did much to promote the growth Of The
Church but he gained the respect and love OF pom
Pedestrians and Catholics alike. As already stated
number of notable miracles are reported 10 have
taken place In connection with his tomb: and ~
they are admitted to be genuine by the AUTHORITIES
at Rome the late Bishop OF Philadelphia VIII, In
due time, be enrolled as saint OF the church'