Sisters of Compassion

On Sunday evening, the 4th July, 2004, a Mass at Wellington’s Sacred Heart Cathedral marked the closure of the Archdiocesan Inquiry into the Cause for Suzanne Aubert.

As Archbishop Williams pointed out, it was an unique event in the 166 year history of the Catholic in New Zealand, because it was the first time we have ever made such a commitment to seeking the canonization of a person who worked for the Church in our country.

Cardinal Thomas Williams with Sister Rae Berry, the Leader of the Congregation of the Sisters of Compassion, with Sister Patricia Hannan, O.P. the Postulator for the Cause of Suzanne Aubert in New Zealand, Father Michael O’Dea the Episcopal Delegate at the Inquiry, and Father Anthony Malone OFM, the Promotor of Justice.

Before the closing Mass there was a meeting during which the boxes containing all the documents and relevant papers which had been scrutinized by the Inquiry were sealed with wax for security. Two of the boxes are now on the way to Rome, where they will be delivered to the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The third box is to be preserved in the Archdiocesan Archives, and a fourth box is to be kept in the Archives of the Sisters of Compassion at Island Bay. A Roman inquiry will have the task of recommending beatification to the Pope. Before Mother Aubert can be beatified or canonised, there must be miracles, one at least has to be recognised by Rome before beatification.

Many listening to the Cardinal’s talk that evening were surprised to learn that the Anglican Church had already included an entry in the front of their Prayer book, He Karakia Mihinare o Aoeteroa, published in 1989, declaring that Mother Marie Aubert was a holy person. In the liturgical calendar it is recorded that her feast-day is on the 1st October (the day of her death).

At the New Zealand Catholic Bishops’ Conference in 1997 the bishops all agreed to support the first part of the process – The Introduction of the Cause of Mother Aubert. New Zealand must be one of the few countries in the Western World that does not have at least someone declared Blessed. It is hoped that this point could be pressed by our bishops during their ad limina visits to Rome in September.

We must wait now, for the Holy Father’s decision to know if New Zealand has its first saint.

Canonisation

Mass marks the closure of the Archdiocesan Inquiry into the Cause for Suzanne Aubert