Sunday June 14th. 2009
The following article appeared in the
Sydney Catholic Herald
“Blessed Mary soon to be canonised?”
LESSED Mary MacKillop is one step closer to canonisation, with
the Vatican medical board finding there is no scientific explanation
behind the cure of a woman suffering lung cancer, the case expected to
be confirmed as Mary's second miracle.
Sr. Maria Casey, postulator for the cause of canonisation of Blessed
Mary MacKillop, said that although they cannot yet refer to the most
recent case as a miracle, doctors concluded that science cannot explain
the woman's recovery.
The process is ongoing, however, with evidence of intercession
through prayer to be presented to theologians for their
confirmation that a miracle took place. The case will then be
presented to the bishops and cardinals, and finally Pope Benedict
XVI for approval.
Although encouraged by this recent development, Sr Anne Derwin, Congregational leader for the Sisters of St Joseph, said there is still "a way to go before we can get too excited about a final outcome, and we cannot pre-empt any decision of the Church".
As the Sisters of St Joseph mark the centenary of the death of
Mary MacKillop, known as Mary of the Cross, there has been
speculation that the canonisation may take place next year, 2010,
possibly in August, the month of her death.
Sr Judith Sippell, chair of the Towards Canonisation project for
the Sisters of St Joseph, has confirmed that the canonisation will
be held in Rome but there will also be "a major celebration in
Sydney because Sydney is the sponsoring archdiocese for the
canonisation".
The campaign for the canonisation of Mary MacKillop began in
1925 at the instigation of Archbishop Michael Kelly, and was
validated in 1995 with her beatification by John Paul 11
Canonisation requires two miracles, the first of which must be
approved prior to beatification.
"That was the case of a woman who was sick unto death with
leukaemia," said Sr Judith.
"The case went to Rome in 1961 and it was
finally approved as a miracle in 1971.
The requirement for canonisation is that we have a second
miracle from the time of the beatification until now."
Impact on the Church in Australia
Sr Judith said the canonisation, which is predicted to take place
next year, will have a great impact on the Church in Australia.
"It will be a significant event in the life of the Australian Church,
but also for the Australian nation," she said.
"But it's not just for the Australian people; it's for the peoples of
New Zealand, Ireland and Scotland, Peru, Brazil, Timor, Vietnam
and Cambodia. They are simply the nations where Mary
MacKillop is very well known, and very much loved."
(I am grateful to Ann McKeon, formerly Ann MacNeil from Fort
William, for sending me the above cutting from the Sydney
Catholic Herald. Deirdre MacDonald, and her friend Fiona, were
welcomed by Ann and her family last July. They stayed with them
for several weeks at their home in Rockdale, Sydney, and
represented the diocese at the World Youth Rally led by Pope
Benedict XV1).
