The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-08-28

Charles: the nIst home OF III. Sacred
Heart in the Western Hemisphere. Three
years later The body was placed In an
oratory built close to tie convent and a
SAP III the floor marks the spot where
I she lies in her last sleep.
RcIiccting upoI the holy life this nun
mad LED. the trials Ehc had Undergone for
the spread OF the faith, and the good
resulting from the establishment of the
|, order IN this country. II vas decided 10
present her case 1T Rome for canoniza-
tion.
In April. 1879. the superioress az =.
Charles. two religious and Mrs. Burkes
OF 81 Louis Were to Rome TO
give testimony. Three years later some
OF me religious were again sent for. The
testimony 81 thes" witnesses az 10 the
sanity character 81 this illustriOus re-
nFi"us Il r:"w undergoing the con-idera-
No. OF tho authorities AT Rome, and the
hosts Of Aladarne Duchesae's admirers
~prayeEfu!ly hope for favorable decision.
PROCESS Is LONG.
Tn" process OF csnpnization in the Cath
Ole Church ia a long and thorough IN
de!taklng- resembling that Of q civil court
IA character. The cause OF some. person.
whose Extraordinary and exemplary piety
hns Been SUCH as TO signal him ont as
one worthy 10 be enrolled among the
saints IL presented before an ecclesiastical
court. after tie death of the candidate -,
FOR such marked ploEs honors.
Witnesses wko may have known or
mad dealings directly Or Indirectly. or OBJ
famed some miraculous favor through the
iIlteEces.ion Of the candidate, are sum
moned 10 Rome. There they are subject
ed TO a searching inquiry as TO what they
kEow of the accredited holy one. and as
70 the genuineneHs of the miracles alleged
m support of the candidacy.
Though there are as many as thirteen
or fourteen stages during this trial. there
when tho candidate has passed the Initial
step a. to a sanity character. and is
given the title of venerable. The next
examination Is more severe, and evidence
Of two miracles. obtained by invoking the
mediation OF the prospective saint, must
be adduced. These are thoroughly in
vestleated. oaths TO speak the truth being
ezacted from the witnesses. just as the
"s~earing-in" process Is carried out in
our civil courts.
II the evidence. given IN support Of the
miracles In question Is found satisfactory.
the candidate ts 'beat.fed,' or called
blessed" and for the first time given
pubic religious honors. This is an
Images Of the blessed one are exposed
and veneretec.
Again Two other miracles. due to the in
must be brought forward. II possible, the
investigation ls now more rigid than be-
fore, d secret conSistOry OF three Cardinals
being named for this purpose. The pre-
concluded d second meeting Is held at
which their reports are examined.
Lastly. a public meeting takes place be-
fore q tribunal of Cardinals. ust as in our
courts. there are counseis for both sides.
so in this court of the Cardinals there are
counseis Tor and against the person whose
case is on trial. The counsel for the de
Tense is here called "Adyocatus Del fad-
vocate of Cod. whose duty and preroga-
tive IL IS to produce convincing proofs of
sanctlty, and undeniable reasons that the
beaiiisd Is worthy Of canonization.
On the other hand, the Advocatus Dia-
boil advocate of the deyiD brings forth
objections calculated to raise doubts IN
the case or miracles. ~supposng them to be
due to natural causes. or an exc!table
Imagination. etc. He attacks the reputa-
ton of the beautified one. and any lack of
Formally in the course of the canoniza-
tian process Is disclosed and censured BY
him.
ARGUED EXHAUsTIvELY.
Tho case is thus argued until all matters
relating to 1t are exhausted. A vote Is
then taken by the Cardinals-1use as in
a trial by jury. The result being favora-
bic. the Pope names a day on which the
new saint is to be formaIly given that
title. a mass is said at 81. Peters in honor |
of the newly canonized one, and the peo-
pie join IN public devotional ceremonies. |
This appointing of Il feast day for a saint
is called placing him or her on the Church
Calendar. |
Not until fifty years after the death Of a |
for the church's honors can she
or he DO called blessed. and not until one
hundred years after is the canon.zat;on
Within a few days will be cele- |
the one hundred and thirty-ffth an
niversary OF Mother Duchesne's birth. n
In n few months. the ifty-second anniver-
sary of her death. II Is not too nue. 10
hope that when again fifty wears will have
gone by she will be revered Upon Catholic
affairs. and be given due honor by all who
ave received the heritage OF her work, |
GENEvIEvE FUsz.