Posted on 02/25/2007 11:37:50 AM PST by NYer
Dublin will get a new saint in June when Pope Benedict XVI canonizes a Dutch priest who became a much-loved figure in the Irish capital, the city's archdiocese said Friday.
Blessed Charles of Mount Argus, who was born John Andrew Houben in Mustergleeen, the Netherlands, in 1821, joined the Passionist order aged 19.
He was the fourth of eleven children born to Peter and Johanna Houben.
Dublin's Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, who warmly welcomed the news, said Blessed Charles was a much loved figure in the city and around Ireland for his devotion to the sick and healing.
He joined the Passionists at Ere, near Tournai in Belgium. He was first transferred to England and then Mount Argus just as the Passionist monastery was being founded in the south Dublin suburb of Harold's Cross.
"He grew to love Dublin and its people and spent his time working with the ill and dying in the community," Martin said.
"Irish people travelled from all over the country to meet Blessed Charles when word of his tremendous healing power spread.
"His funeral in January 1893 drew thousands of people to Mount Argus, where he lay in state for five days," Martin said.
Blessed Charles's remains were moved to a shrine in the Mount Argus church in 1949. Nowadays, people still regularly visit his relics in Harold's Cross.
The adopted Dubliner will be canonized on June 3.
Blessed Charles was born John Andrew Houben on the 11th December 1821 in the village of Munstergeleen, Holland. He was the fourth of a family of eleven children born to Peter and Johanna Houben. The family background was simple and Catholic with prayers morning and evening and children taught the Rosary. They worked in a flour mill owned by their uncle.
John Andrew's childhood was nothing exceptional. He was shy, quiet, pious, friendly and "always bright and cheerful in the family circle", according to his brother. Even though he found study difficult, he walked the two miles into secondary school in Sittard for ten years. He wanted to be a priest and served Mass and visited the Church every day.
At nineteen, Andrew was enrolled for military service from 1840 to 1845 but only saw active service for three months. He was not an outstanding soldier. He spent too much time in Church! While in the army, he first heard of the Passionists and from that moment he decided to join them.
On returning home he worked in the mill by day and continued to study but this time with greater ease. Troubles came, first with the death of his uncle, who had taken a special interest in the family and then in 1844 his mother died at 52 years of age. With his military service completed in 1845 Andrew, despite the initial reluctance of his father, joined the Passionists at Ere, near Tournai, Belguim. As a student he was remembered as cheerful and good-humoured and was ordained on Saturday December 21st 1850 in Tournai. His father had died in August of that year and none of the family could make the journey for the celebrations.
Blessed Charles, pray for us, and especially for all young men who receive the call to the priesthood.
Amen.
St. Patrick received a vision that the light of the Faith would dim but never entirely go out in Ireland and would always be revived.
Pope to canonize Brazilian in May, four others in June
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI will canonize a Brazilian Franciscan during his May trip to Brazil and will declare four other new saints in June.
During a prayer service in the Apostolic Palace Feb. 23, the pope set May 11 as the date for the canonization of Blessed Antonio Galvao, an 18th-century Franciscan and founder of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Conception of Divine Providence.
The pope will be in Brazil May 9-13 to participate in the Latin American bishops' fifth general assembly; the papal schedule published by the Brazilian bishops in early February said the pope would celebrate a morning Mass May 11 at the Campo de Marte airfield in Sao Paolo.
Pope Benedict also announced the June 3 canonization at the Vatican of a Polish Franciscan, a Dutch Passionist, a French nun and a Maltese priest.
....
-- Blessed Charles Houben, a 19th-century Dutch Passionist priest, known particularly for his ministry as a confessor and for insisting in his preaching that God's love could not be understood unless people understood the passion and death of Jesus.
Amen!
Very interesting! I had not heard this before. Most prophetic.
Amen!
How about a new Dutch Saint!!
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