The English-Speaking Catholic Church of Paris

NEW PASSIONIST SAINT

I don’t often borrow material for the Bulletin article, but I think I can be forgiven this time. The following is a slightly edited (to get it to fit in!) version of a Press Release from our Provincial office in Dublin on Friday of this week.
“The Vatican announced today that the Passionist priest Blessed Charles of Mount Argus will be canonised by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on June 3 next.
Blessed Charles was born John Andrew Houben on 11th December 1821 in the village of Munstergeleen in Holland. He did military service from 1840-1845 and it was during this time he heard of the Passionists and resolved to join them at first opportunity. In 1845 he entered the novitiate at Ere, near Tournai, in Belgium, and was ordained in 1850. In 1852 he was sent to England and came into contact with the Irish who were emigrating in the wake of the famine. He transferred to Ireland in 1857 – 150 years ago this year. He arrived at Mount Argus, Dublin, which had been founded just the year before. He never quite mastered the English language, but it was in the Confessional and in comforting the sick that he excelled. He soon became extraordinarily popular not only in Dublin but all over Ireland.
As many as 300 people a day came to be blessed by him from all over Ireland and beyond. He was transferred back to England in 1866 and returned to Ireland in 1874, remaining at Mount Argus for the rest of his life. The daily pilgrimage of sick and distressed resumed immediately on his return. He went out all over Dublin and into the country blessing people. During the last few years of his life his own health was failing, having spent himself so much. He said his last Mass on 8th December 1892. Word of his illness spread through the city and crowds gathered to ask after him. On the morning of 5th January 1893 he passed peacefully away. His body lay in state for 5 days. Many thousands filed past his coffin with the police keeping order. His remains were laid to rest in the cemetery beside Mount Argus Church and soon his grave became a place of pilgrimage. When in 1949 his remains were moved inside the Church the Shrine became the place of prayer. Father Charles was Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988 after the cure of a Dutch lady was approved as a miracle attributed to his intercession. Many people come daily to be blessed with the relic of Blessed Charles. The approval of a second miracle has now paved the way for the Canonization of Father Charles. This will be a wonderful and an historic occasion, not just for the Passionists and the people of Mount Argus, but for the whole Church in Ireland.
A new portrait of the saint will feature on a postage stamp to mark the occasion. Plans are underway for a pilgrimage to Rome for the Canonization and this will be paralleled by a series of events in Mount Argus itself. The Passionists invite everyone associated with us to rejoice with us at this wonderful news. We have a new saint - a saint for the poor, a saint for the sick, a saint for immigrants and emigrants, a saint for everyone. Thanks be to God!”
We hope as a Parish to be able to participate in this Pilgrimage to Rome for the canonisation. We will let you know as soon as possible.

Readings: (Pg 73 Parish Mass Book) Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Romans 10:8-13; Luke 4:1-13