Thursday, February 26, 2009

The Jesuit And The New Saint

The announcement that Pope Benedict XVI will canonize Blessed Jeanne Jugan, the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, on Oct. 11 has created excitement among members of the congregation worldwide.

"We knew it was only a matter of time, but everyone was just thrilled when the official announcement was made," said Sister Constance Veit, publications coordinator in the Little Sisters of the Poor's Baltimore province. "We've anticipated this for so long."

Pope John Paul II beatified Jeanne Jugan in 1982, and Pope Benedict XVI signed a document Dec. 6, 2008, recognizing the miracle advancing her sainthood cause.

Pope Benedict Feb. 21 presided over a consistory that gave final approval for the canonization of 10 people, including Blessed Jeanne, who began her ministry on the streets of France taking the elderly and poor into her home in the early decades of the 1800s.

To support her ministry, Blessed Jeanne begged for money, a tradition the Little Sisters of the Poor consider a fundamental part of their mission today.

The canonization will take place during the Synod of Bishops for Africa, and is expected to be celebrated in St. Peter's Square, along with four others who will be declared saints.

The miracle linked to Blessed Jeanne concerns Dr. Edward Gatz, a retired Omaha, Neb., anesthesiologist diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1989, Sister Constance told Catholic News Service Feb. 23.

The doctor was advised by a Jesuit (Any one know this priests name?) priest at Creighton University in Omaha to pray to Blessed Jeanne and a few months later a follow-up biopsy found Gatz -- who is still alive at the age of 71 -- to be cancer-free, she said.

Link (here)

3 comments:

Brantigny said...

Joseph!
This is great news! My parents have always been devoted followers of blessed Jeanne and volunteered at their covalescent home near De Paul University in Chicago.

http://lefleurdelystoo.blogspot.com/search?q=jeanne+jugan

Richard

Brantigny said...

Joseph, I have been contacted by the signatory of this letter Sr Constance who wrote... "The Jesuit who was instrumental in the cure of Edward Gatz was Fr Richard McGloin, who taught for many years at Creighton University in Omaha. At some point he had been the chaplain of our home in Milwaukee, Wi, a home which we no longer administer."

Thank you,
Sr Constance Veit, lsp

Although I posted a re-direct to you in the article it was evidentely not clear. I will change that. She also posted to me a media kit for the cannonization. I will sent that to you via regular Email.

Richard

Joseph Fromm said...

Richard,

Thank you I could not find the name of the Jesuit.

JMJ

Joe