Evening star., 1898-08-19
PROPOSED CANONIZATlON
Efforts of the Friends of Late Right Rev. Dr.
Neumann.
Claim for High Honor Now Under In
vestigation-FirstS Saint Among
the American Clergy.

Mention was made In The Star several
months ago that an investigation was
being conducted by high Catholic digni-
taries OF the claims made by friends of a
late bishop of Philadelphia. Right Rev. DR..
NeUmann. that under the rules of the
church that eminent divine was entitled to
the honor Of canonization. Information
has been received by the head of the Order
of Redemptorists, in the archdiocese Of
Baltimore, of which Washington forms a
part, and uSder whose auspices the exam
tnation was conducted, to the effect that a
decree has been rendered on the question,
and it is said to be uncertain whether or
not the deceased bishop will eventually be
canonized.
The decree states it has been found that
homage or cult had not been paid to
this bishop and according to a decree of
Pope Urban VIII this lack CT homage is
one of the necessary conditions for canon
fzation. When the decree became known
many persons, unacquainted with the pro-
cess of canonization, believed that the
carse of the venerable Bishop Neumann
had suffered a backward step, and that it
would either be delayed or abandoned
One who can speak with authority on
the matter states that had the congrega-
ton Of rites in its investigation of the sub
ject discovered that the venerable bishop
had been given homage by any of the
faithful it would. no doubt, have ex-
pressed its displeasure at such a state of
aff:irs, and perhaps 1t might have operated
against his subsequent canonization.
Investigation In Progress.
A tribunal now sitting at Philadelphia is
engaged in making an investigation into
the miracles said to have been performed
with relics of the venerable bishop. The
work of this tribunal is especially tedious
and may continue for months The tri-
in Pol
tmore was for the purpose of examining
persons who had known the venerable
Bishop Neumann and could bear witness
to his life and works. The testimony given
is kept secret until after decision has
been rendered at Rome, when the oblga-
tion of secrecy is removed. When sworn
testimony has been taken a true copy will
be made, the original being retained and
the copy sent to the holy see by special
messenger.
Rev. Joseph Wissel of ST. Peters Church,
Philadelphia, and a member of the Re-
demptoriStS Order, the postulator or pro-
moter of the cause of the bishop, will go
to Rome next week in regard to the mat
ter. He was a member of the tribunal
which met in Baltimore. Bishop Neumann
was honored with the title of venerable
about twelve years ago, in accordance with
the testimony taken by the diocesan pro-
cess, in response to a request made to the
Congregation of Rights by the archbishop
of Philadelphia. The next step is that Of
beatificatton, after which the candidate will
be called blessed" CanoniZation is de-
layed much longer, and may not occur for
fifty more years.
The Congregation of the Most Holy Re-
deemer, or Redemptorists, as the priests Of
the congregation are known in general was
founded in 1872 by st. Alphonsus Ligouri.
1t now has a membership of 2, 900, scattered
over the world. Though the order has not
been in existence 200 years, two of Its
members have been beatifed. They are
Blessed Clement Marie Hofbauer," who
established the order in Poland, Austria
and Switzerland, and Blessed Jerard Ma
jella, an Italian, who was lay brother in
the order. There are numbers who have
been honored with the title of venerable.
Should Bishop Neumann be canonized he
will be the first saint on the North Ameri-
can continent. The first American saint was
st. Rose of Lima, South America.
Sketch of Bishops Career.
Bishop Neumann was born at Prachatitz
Bohemia March 2S, 1911. He studied theol-
ogy at Budwieis, in his native country.
From boyhood he had a desire to labor
among immigrants of his nationality in the
United States, and after many difficulties
succeeded in reaching this country in May
1886. He was met in New York by Bishop
Dubois, who ordained him to the priest
hood June % of that year. His first work
was as a missionary in western New York
Besides his work as a clergyman, he taught
school and studied medicine gathering
herbs and plants in the forest for his use
He Joined the Redemptorists at Pittsburg
in 1910. Two years later~h made his vows
being the first Redemptorist professed in
this country. - -~'>f.---- = --~s '-~--"
In 1Si3 the young priest went to Balti-
more and gave mission in the surrounding
country. He was a splendid hnguist
speaking twelve languages fiuently and
was considered a powerful pulpit orator A
year later he was made superior of the
Pittsburg house, and in 1876 was made
head of the order in the United States In
1S47 he was made rector of St. Alphonsus
Church, baltimore, and two years later
when he declined to serve longer as su-
perior of the order, returned to the church.
He remained at ST. Alphonsus Church until
1852, when he was made bishop of Phila-
delphia, an honor which he wished to de-
cline. He was cOnsecrated at ST. Alphonsus
Church March 20, 1852, and dropped dead
in Philadelphia January 3, 1890 He is re-
garded as founder of. the Order of School
Sisters of Notre Dame, as we'll as the Sis
ters of the Third Order of ST. Francis