The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-12-13
WILL CALIFORNIA ADD A SAINT TO
" Tf1E CATHOLIC CALENDAR n/
By viii Scarlet

= $3.50 N-+AAAL al C6nLA Ol6fa te q
time stained 'orucinx. As work
OF art it takes no high rank and.
20 the casual observer, II would make
10 special appeal as an object of re-
hEious devotion. And yet that cruel
tx. as center OF historic truth and
@. beautiful Legends. is without a doubt
the most interesting symbol OF fits kind
IN California today.
Let the visitor to the venerable chap
e. take his stand in the nave facing
the ANTIQUE crucifx, and to his left he
VIII md the tomb Of the holy man
whose life. OF singular fascination TO
the mystic and the poet alike. derived
It's strength and its beauty from long
hours OF contemplation at the feet Of
the time stained cross. For there al
most within the shadow OF the right
arm OF the sculptured Christ, the NOR
IA remains OF Father Magin Catala
nave lain for almost so years.
me holy Man Of Santa Clara"-such
IS the title justly bestowed on the de-
Nout franciscan padre who assumed
cnarse or the California Indian mis-
5ion In 1884. For Sc years Father Ca
lala labored IN the interests of the
temporal and spiritual good of the
hayward children Of the forest and he
leIl behind him 10 endure for ages the
SWEEP perfume OF a blameless and holy
lIe- We have Of him no ef7gy in brass
OF marble, not even an authentic por-
TRAIT on SCARED and faded canvas: all
tnet remains 10 show what manner OF
man he was are his writings and the
story Of his good deeds-these and his
tomb In the old Santa Clara church and
the venerable crucifix before which he
SO often kneit in prayer.
A The rraSa1f tim.
IS manifest in the life story of the
jealous Franciscan. This is due to the
TACT that steps are being taken 10 Sc
cure the canOnizatiOn of Father Catala
that is, 10 have his name enrolled in
the sacred hail of fame and to give
Catholics the world over the privilege
Of calling the Holy Man OF Santa Clara
Saint Magin CataIa.
There are three steps in the process
Of canonizatfon. When. after mature
oeAberauon, based on authentic docu-
ments and other trustworthy evidence.
the pope gives permission 10 have the
cause Of certain servant Of God intro
ouceo for canOnization. the prospective
saint Is styled venerable This is
the 1rsr step. When, usually after
many years. all the accomplished EVIL
oence is again examined 10 ascertain
the reality Of the virtues OF the de-
ceased, ana when nothing objection
able IS found therein, and when GER
tain other requirements have been COM
piled with, the second step IS taken and
the servant of God is declared blessed"
The mai step, canonizatiOn itself after
which the servant Of God is given the
title OF saint" is not taken until still
more searching examination is made OF
his life and writings, and until an au-
thentc account OF at least two miracles
secured through his tntercession, is IA.
Norably passed upon by one OF the Ro-
man congregations Of cardinals
We Canfornians shall have an oppor-
tunity OF observing the process of can
-onization in the case OF Father Cataia
o. Santa Clara, that is to say, we shall
be able 10 see portion Of ii, for il is
not likely that most OF Us VIII be
walking the earth when the final de-
cree IS issued at Rome and Catholics
throughout the world viii be entitled
70 say, saint Magin Catala, pray for
US Meanwhile. let US briefly review
the steps that thus far have been taken
70 elevate the Holy Man OF Santa Clara
20 the affairs Of the church.
The first move was made IN 1888,
more than half e century after the
padres death, when the late Archbishop
Joseph Sadoc Alemany OF San Fran
cisco began the canonical invest ga ton.
Eixty-twO reputable witnesses were
summoned and examined. under the
customary oath, and q detailed record
of the examination was forwarded 70
the sacred congregation Of rites at
Rome. II was only few weeks ago
that the congregation OF rites re-
Eponceo, having meanwhile submitted
the report Of Archbishop Alemany's
commission 10 a careful scrutiny.
IN order that no abuses or irregu-
lariues may In any way affect the
cause Of Father Catala. the congrega-
tiOn Of rites now orders an investiga-
ton 20 discover whether or not any un-
due Veneration has been bestowed on
the deceased Franciscan. This inves-
LEGATION, as step IN the process Of
canOnizauOn, was introduced by Pope
Urban VIII, and was aimed at ultra
devout persons, who. giving unwise ere
dence TO legends and unsifted testi-
mony, inclined 10 venerate persons not
yet officially declared worthy of the
honors OF the church.
Acting on the suggestions of the
congregation Of rites. Archbishop Rior-
dan OF san Francisco has appointed a
commission composed of prominent
priests Of the archdiocese TO make a
thorough investigation and report the
results 10 the congregation of rites.
Father Richard A. Gleeson president
OF Santa Clara college, IS judge Of the
commission. Father Englebert Of the
Franciscan church at Fruitvale is Off
cial notary: Father Macmillan Neu-
mann, pastel Of St. Boniface's church
n Golden Gate avenue. San Francisco,
IS reviewing notary; Father Reginald
Newell, the well known Dominican
priest, IS defender Of the faith. and
The Office Of nuntiUs, or, as ii is techni-
cally called cursor deputatus," is
filed By Father Boneventure Oblasseo
OF the Franciscan order
This local commission is a miniature
OF the Roman convention OF cardinals,
who, II events prove favorable, VIII
later on try the cause OF Father Oatala-
Father Zephyrin Engelhardt of St
F1lizabeth's church. Fruitvale. is
the duly authorized vice postula-
tor OF the cause, in which