Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-04-23
MAKING Of A SAINT.
First Methods Adopted In loan
Of Arcs Qualification.
MOST IMPOSING CEREMONY.
Immense Amount of information Must
Be Colected-Ten Years Spent Prov
ing Maid of Orleans Performed
Miracles

'NHNH PNbf4t " III oooH SdNutE Ut Sl.
Peters, in Rome. to witness a ceremony
which is Of interest to both nations.
April is Low Sunday, is the date fix
ed for the beatification Of Joan Of Arc,
who nearly 900 years ago fought for
her 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. I'VE have
burned a saint"
Now, after a lapse Of all these years,
the Roman Catholic church is about to
take the first step toward making her
a saint After the ceremony April IS
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 a saint Is an
interesting one and may be called a
series Of trials, at which all known
details of the life of the person are
discussed. AS a rule, it is the bishop
of the town in which the person was
born who makes the first move. He
obtains the support Of number Of
other bishops, who sign petition to
the pope 2sAAlg permission for the
trial. If the pope gives his sanction
the moving bishop calls n meeting of
influential diguitaries. 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 is 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 Il very worthy and very
holy one. bun it requires nuch more
than that 1t must beF proved to
its satisfaction that miracles have
been performed. The congregation Of
rites requires evidence of not fewer
than three miracles. In the case of
miraculous cures" it must be shown
that doctors have pronounced the case
hopeless OF 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.
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 have OBJ
tanned relief from their diseases by her
interceSsion. One of these nuns had
suffered for years from cancer and
was on the point of death when, it
was claimed. she was instantly cured
by prayer of Joan of Arc.
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-
ops are present, and a lawyer of the
papal court reads out the decision.
After this the ceremony of beatitica-
tion generally takes place within
few months. 1t is held at st. Peters
in the presence of the congregation Of
rites and numerous other dignitaries.
The ceremony is performed before the
altar of the chair of st. Peter, and as
rule it attracts many people.
The actual decree of beatitication is
read out by the notary" 1t contains
a brief account of the trial and also
short history of the life and an
nounces that the holy father declares
that this person is worthy Of the wor-
ship lin correct technical sense) of the
church and that henceforth the word
"beata'' Cblessed) will be placed before
the name.
When the ceremony of beatifying
Joan of Arc takes place big picture
Of 1.-The Maid of Orleans" will be
placed in front of the altar. This will
be surrounded by flowers and electric
lights and will be covered with cur
tains until the decree has been read.
1t will then be unveiled, and the elec-
trio lamps will throw glare Of light
upon it while the "Te Deum" Is sung
and high mass celebrated. In the aft
ernoon of the same day the pope will
90 to pray before the picture and will
assist at the benediction of the blessed
sacrament.
The process described seems elab-
crate, yet it is only the second step in
making a saint. Perhaps ten or fif-
teen years hence Joan Of Arc may be
canonized, but before this can be done
all the old routine must be passed
again. More evidence of holiness will
be required, three more miracles Of the
first order making six in alb must be
proved, and more elaborate reports
must be prepared.
At the final ceremony Of canoniza-
ton the pope will be present, and the
entire service will probably last for
four or five hours Then and not until
then will Joan of Arc be saint and
be publicly venerated as such by Ro-
man Catholics.