Theological Consultors
Move
Baraga Cause Ahead in Rome
4/1/2011
By John Fee
U.P. Catholic Newspaper
One more successful step in the cause for canonization of Bishop Frederic Baraga has been completed.
Theological consultors met in Rome on
March 12 to discuss the positio, which is the documentation of the life
and ministry of Bishop Baraga including a summary of his virtues. The
group voted unanimously that the life of the diocese’s first bishop
exhibited “heroic virtue.”
“I was extremely pleased,” said Bishop Alexander Sample. Now the process
can move forward without delay. “I really did not think (the
theological consultors) would give a negative vote – just look at the
life of Bishop Baraga – but I feared they might ask for more information
or clarification.”
With this important step completed, the cause can be forwarded to the
Ordinary Session of the Congregation for Causes of Saints. Bishop Sample
said a specific date hasn’t been set yet, but he will get the word out
to the diocese when he is notified.
When the Congregation takes up the Bishop Baraga cause, it will consider
the positio, including the previous discussion and vote of the
theological consultors, and then have its own discussion and vote on the
heroic virtue of Bishop Baraga. If the Congregation agrees with the
theological consultors’ March 12 decision, its recommendation will be
forwarded to the Holy Father. The pope will then decide whether to
declare that the Snowshoe Priest exhibited heroic virtue, which is “a
virtue that goes well above and beyond an ordinary person,” Bishop
Sample said.
“If the declaration of heroic virtue is made by the Holy Father,” Bishop
Sample said, “Bishop Baraga will be given the title ‘Venerable.’ This
means he is worthy of veneration by the faithful.”
With the title of Venerable, Bishop Baraga’s body would be moved from
the small crypt downstairs at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette to a more
prominent area, most likely within the cathedral. Bishop Sample said
potential places include the floor of the cathedral, which is a
traditional place for burial of saints, a niche alongside the nave where
the Chrism oils are currently kept, or possibly a small addition to the
current gathering space. This move would provide easier access to
Bishop Baraga’s burial place.
Causes for canonization follow two parallel tracks. One track requires
that the person exhibited heroic virtue as a witness to his faith. The
other track requires verifiable miracles attributed to the proposed
saint’s intercession.
Along with considering Bishop Baraga’s heroic virtue, the theological
consultors reviewed the diocesan investigation of an alleged miracle
attributed to Bishop Baraga’s intercession. Although they did not
comment on the validity of the miracle itself, the theological
consultors found the work accomplished by the diocesan tribunal to be
properly conducted and the documents reliable for medical consultors to
base their work on.
“The congregation validated the juridical acts of the process that we
conducted here in Marquette to investigate the alleged miracle
attributed to Bishop Baraga,” Bishop Sample said. “They have approved
the work – the documentation and procedures – that the investigation was
properly conducted according to the norms of law.”
The importance of miracles in sainthood causes is not to show the person
worked a miracle, only God works miracles.
Verifiable miracles
attributed to a person under consideration for being declared a saint
prove “the Servant of God is truly in heaven and able to intercede in
the presence of God,” Bishop Sample said.
Continued prayers for the Bishop Baraga cause are encouraged by Bishop
Sample. He believes prayer has been key to the current success of the
cause.
“I really attribute it (the findings of the theological consultors) to the prayers of the faithful,” Bishop Sample said.
He asked that “people continue to pray for two things. Now that the
positio is going to the Ordinary Session of the Congregation for Causes
of Saints, that it will have success. Also, continue to pray that the
alleged miracle will be upheld.”
