The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-08-28
| NEW AMERICAN SAINT.
STEPS TAKEN FOR CANONIzTNG
BISHOP NEUAfANN,

If Successful He Will BE the First saint Of
the Roman Catholic Church in the United
Embellishments Just Sent to Rome
Procedure Required for CanonizntiOn
The Very Rev. Joseph Vessel. G.. IS. r.. Is
on his way to Rome with documents intended
to be used in the canonlzatlon Of the first saint
Of the Roman Catholic Church in the United
States. He sailed on the Kaiser Wilhelm H..
which left this port for Naples Aug. 20.
The documents OF which he IL the bearer
contain evidence collected during an investl-
cation into the life Of John Nepomucene Neu-
mann. C.. rs. r.. Bishop of Philadelphia. who
died Jan 3. 1850. This investigation was be-
gun in January OF last year with the approval
OF the Pope. The members OF the Redemp-
torist order have long desired to have Bishop
| Neumann's named placed on the calendar Of
saints. and for several years have been work
ing with this object in view. The process of
| canonization is slow. and 1t was not until two
years ago that the Church sanctioned an in
Qniry into the life Of the Bishop. Father Wes-
sci was appointed then Postulant OF the Cause,
with power to examine witnesses and collect
evidence as to Bishop Neumann's %sanctity.
He made his headquarters ut Philadelphia.
where the court OF inquiry held its sessions.
and sought out witnesses who could testify az
to the works Of the Bishop. The court was
composed OF priests known as Judges and
Promoters Of the Faith. and they cross-exam-
ined the witnesses and sifted the evidence.
At the last session. which was held a few
days before FatherWesselis departure for Rome.
Archbishop Ryan Of Philadelphia presided.
The court was made UP as follows: Pro-
moters OF the Faith. the Rev. p. ]. Daley. the
Rev. @. v. Mckinney. @. ~. the Rev. A. A.
Gallagher, the Rev. John J. Ward. the Rev. Z
o. Hilterman and the Rev. J. r. Turner: wit
nesses, the REV. Ferdinand J. Bot. c.. SO. r..
and the Rev. John T. Hespelein, C. IS. r.. Sec
rotary. the Rev, John +; McQuade. During the
represented the Holy See and were addressed
US Most Illustrious and Most Reverend. An
election for Q, MESSENGER to carry the testi-
mony collected to Rome was held. and Father
A copy Of the testimony was signed by Arch
transmission tothe Vatican. The original writ
ten testimony was also signed by the Arch.
the Faith. and will be preserved In the archi-
episcopal archives. On the envelope. contain
ing the Testimony, carried by Father Vessel The
envelope carried by the MESSENGER were three
letters. One was from the Archbishop testi-
tion. The other two were, from the Secretary
and from the Promoters. Of the Faith, bearing
testimony as to the official closing and sealing
Ali this evidence, which is only the prelimi-
H %iIT b %Of laid in b sTiinsiP tEe s6 court the in e Ro%e witch
the calendar OF, saints. This court is very
strict in it's scrutiny Of all testimony, and It's
proceedings are 50 deliberate that several
rears may pass before a decision is given.
1t will be necessary to prove that at least
TWO miracles were performed by Bishop Neu-
mann before his name can be canonized.
should the testimony be Judged sufficient, the
Bishop will first be decreed Blessed. Mass
then be said in his honor In the dioceses
where he was born and where, he died and IN
he religious order to which he belonged.
When in addition to the proof that he pos
Jesse virtues to u heroic degree it ID also
'hown that he worked miracles. he will be ele-
'ated to sainthood.
Bishop Neumann was born In Prachatitz.
Bohemia. OF March %. 1871. and came in
,riest by Bishop Dubois of this diocese. He
i'd mission work among the Indians and the
ettlers In the western part of the State for
our years and then Joined the Redemptionist
fathers. In 1874 he WIS elected Superior OF !
he Pennsylvania district. and in 1852 was
Bishop. of Philadelphia. He devoted
luch of his time to children. and it was said ,
I him that he was so untiring in his religious ,
lbors that he Frequently refused to go 10 bed. I
ut slept in his chair. 6
The only American saint on the calendar {
p to the present time is st. Rose OF Lima.
he died in 1917 in Lima, Peru.