The Portland daily press., 1898-09-02
A NEW AMERICAN SAINT.
Steps Taken for CanOnizing Bishop
Neumann.

If Successful He Will Be the First Saint
of the Roman Catholic Church in the
United States-Documents just sen' &c
Kome-Procedure Re quired for Canon
ization.
The Very Rev. Joseph Vessel, y. %.
r., is on his way to Rome Win ooou-
ments intended to be used in the canopl-
zation of the first saint of the Roman
Catholic Church in the Unltea o5ates.
He sailed on the Kaiser Wilhelm IL,
which left New York for Naples Aug. 20.
The documents of which he is the bear
ar contain evidence collected during an
Investigation into the life OF John Nepo-
mucene Neumann, G. SIS. R., Bishop of
Philadelphia, who died Jan. 8, 1860.
This investigation was begun in January
of last year with the approval of the
Pope. The members of the Redemptorist
order have long desired to have Bishop
Neurnann's name placed on thu calendar
of saints, and for several years have been
process of canonization Is slow, and it
was not until two years ago that the
Church sanctioned an inquiry into the
life of the Bishop. Father Vessel was
appointed then Postulant of the Cause,
with power to examine witnesses and col
lect evidence as to Bishop Neumann s
sanctity. He made his headquarters at
Philadelphia, where the court Of Inquiry
held It's sessions, and sought out witness
ses who could testify as to the works OF
the Bishop. The court was composed OF
priests known as Judges and Promoters
Of the Faith, and they cross-examined
the witnesses and sifted the evidence.
At the last session, which was held a
few days before Father Vessels depart
ure for Rome, Archbishop Ryan OF Phil
adelphia presided. The court was made
up as follows: Promoters of the Faith,
the Rev. +. J. Daley. the Rev. g. v.
Mckinney, C. M, the Rev. A. A. Gal
lagher, the Rev. John J. Ward, the Rev.
e. o. Hilterman and the Rev. J. p:
Turner; witnesses, the Rev. Ferdinand
J. Bott, C. SIS. r.. and the Rev. John
P. Hespelein, G. So. r.; Secretary, the
Rev. John p. McQuade. During the ses-
sion the Judges and Promoters Of the
Faith represented the Holy See and were
addressed as Most Illustrious and Most
Reverend. An election for messenger
to carry the testimony collected to Rome
was held, and Father Vessel was chosen.
A copy of the testimony was signed by
Archbishop Ryan and the members Of
the court for transmission to the Vati-
can. The original written testimony
was also signed by the Archbishop and
BY the Judges and the Promoters OF the
Faith, and will be preserved in the archi-
episcopal archives. On the envelope con-
fof tho tcGt Car piod y FathpT
Vessel the Arch bishop placed three seals,
and in another envelope carried by the
messenger were three letters. One was
from the Archbishop testifying as to the
correctness Of the Investigation. The 9th.
er two were from che Secretary and from
the Promoters of the Faith, bearing tes-
timony to the official closing and seal
ing of the documents.
All this evidence which is only the
preliminary work in bringing about the
cal,onization, will be laid before the
court in Rome, which has the power to
permit names to be added to the calendar
OF saints. This court is very strict In its
scrutiny of all testimony, and its proceed-
ings are SO deliberate that several years
may pass before decision Is iven.
IL will be necessary to prove that at
east two miracles were performed by
Bishop Neumann efore his name can be
cannonigsd. Should the testimony be
Judged sufficient, the Bishop will first be
decTeed blessed" Mass may then be
Said in his honor in the dioceses where
he was born and where he died and in
the religious order to which he belonged.
When in addition to the proof that he
possessed virtues to heroic degree it is
also shown that he worked miracles, he
will be elevated to sainthood.
Bishop Neumann was born in Praoh-
atitz, Bohemia, on March 80, 1911, and
came in 1885 TO New York where he Ewas
ordained priest by Bishop Dubois Of
that diocese. He did mission work
among the Indians and the settlers in the
western part of the State for four years
and then Joined the Redemptionist Fa tn.
ers. In 1874 he was elected Superior OF
the Pennsylvania district, and in 1862
was made Bishop Of Philadelphia. He
devoted much of his time to children, and
it was said OF him that he was so untir-
ing in hts religious labor that he fire.
quently refused to go to bed, but slept in
his chair.
The only American saint ON the cnlen-
dar up to the present time is ST. Rose OF
Lima. She died in 1917 in Lima, Peru.
You want to be In 1t on September 9TH
10 I,af~