Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-05-18
MAKING OF A: SAINT,
First Methods Adopted In Joan
of Arcs Qualification.
MOST IMPOSING CEREMONY.

Immense Amount of information Must
Be Coilected-Ten Years Spent Prov
ing Maid Of Orleans Performed
Miracles.
Large numbers of English and
French people will soon gather at St.
Peters, in Rome, to witness a ceremony
which is of interest to both nations.
: April IS Now Sunday is the date fix
ed for the Qualification Of Joan Of Arc,
who nearly 500 years ago fought for
ler country against England and who,
Englishmen remember with regret,
was put to death at Rouen. When the
deed was done it is recorded that one
of the English soldiers said, 1--WE have
burned a saint"
Now, after lapse Of all these years,
the Roman Catholic church Is about to
take the first step toward making her
saint. After the ceremony April 1S
she will be called BLESSED Joan Of
Arc" and perhaps ten years hence, If
the church so DEGREES, may be again
promoted and become "St. JOAN"
The process Of making saint Is an
interesting one and may be called q
series Of trials, at which all known
details Of the life Of the person are
discussed. AS rule, it Is the bishop
of the town in which the person was
born who makes the first move. He
obtains the support of a number Of
other bishops, who sign petition to
the pope asking permission for the
trial. II the pope gives his sanction
the moving bishop calls meeting OF
influential dignitaries, priests and lay
men, who may have special knowl-
edge. At this first meeting methods
may be discussed for obtaining the
necessary evidence In the case of
Joan Of Arc ten years were spent in
gathering the facts. In all cases an
immense amount of information must
be collected.
In the course of time a report Is
prepared which IL sent to Rome and
is considered by the body called the
congregation Of rites" More delay
will come here. ., Possibly the report
may be referred back to the makers
for more information. But even II
this is not necessary the congregation
of rites may keep it under considera-
ton for four or five years. =. -~>'
1t may decide that the life of the
person was very worthy and very
holy one, but it requires much more
than that. It must be proved to
it's satisfaction that. Miracles have
been performed. The congregation Of
rites requires evidence Of not Fewer
than three miracles. In the case Of
miraculous cures" 1t must he shown
that doctors have pronounced the case
hopeless or that diseases have been
cured which doctors call incurable.
Usually the report contains particu-
lars Of a number Of miracles from
which the congregation Of rites may
make selection. T.: : !
The three. chosen among those at.
tributed to Joan Of Arc relate to- the,
curing of nuns belonging to different
communities, who are said to have1ob-j
tanned relief from their diseases by her
intercession. One Of these nuns had
suffered for years from cancer md
was on the point of death when, it.
was claimed, she was instantly cured
by a prayer Of Joan Of Arc. ,t:s4q ~
When the congregation Of rites has
been satisfied as to the authenticity Of
three miracles they prepare their re
port, which is submitted to the pope,
who considers it. There is then ! a.
gathering at the Vatican, to which the
public is admitted. Cardinals and bish-l
ops are present, and lawyer Of the
papal court reads out the decision.
After this the ceremony of beati1ica-
ton generally takes place within
few months. 1t is held, at st. Peters
at about 8 or 10 O'Clock in the morning
in the presence Of the congregationto Of
rites and numerous other dignitaries.
The ceremony Is performed before the
altar Of the chair Of st. Peter, and -
a rule it attracts many people.
The actual decree Of beatifcation II
read out by the notary" 1t contains
a brief account Of the "trial' and also
a short history of the life and an.
nounces that the holy father declares
that this person Is worthy Of the wor-s
ship I'm correct technical sense Of the
church and that henceforth the word
"beata" (blessed) will be placed before
the name.
When the ceremony Of beatifying
Joan Of Arc takes place a big picture
of '''the Maid OF Orleans will be