Hey there,
For those of us going about our busy lives, trying our best to live according to the teachings of the Catholic Church, and trying to get to heaven, perhaps nothing is more encouraging than seeing new saints canonized by the church.
It’s a reminder that (1) it is possible to get to heaven and (2) miracles are still being performed, even in the 21st century! Of course, we know that souls are admitted to heaven every day that we don’t know about. But how great it is for the Vatican to provide tangible evidence of sainthood.
A year ago Pope Francis canonized 7 saints and Genuflect looked at what it takes to live a life worthy of heaven.
This Sunday, Pope Francis will canonize 5 more Saints, perhaps the most well known being Blessed John Henry Newman, the British Cardinal who was a Catholic convert, a theologian, and a poet. You may recognize Cardinal Newman’s name because in the US many Catholic Centers at public universities were named after him.
If you follow Catholic news, you may think that Cardinal Newman is the only person being canonized because that’s all everyone’s been talking about. It probably doesn’t help that Prince Charles will be on hand to see his countryman declared a Saint.
But what the news has yet to talk much about are the four Blessed women who will also be canonized on Sunday:
- Sister Mariam Thresia of India is the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family.
- Italian Sister Giuseppina Vannini is the founder of the Daughters of Saint Camillus.
- Brazilian Sister Dulce Lopes Pontes of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God, whose known as the “Mother Teresa of Brazil.”
- Marguerite Bays of Switzerland, of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Assisi.
The path to sainthood for each of these individuals is inspiring, but I find Marguerite Bays particularly interesting because she was a lay person. When you have a little time, watch this great video by EWTN that covers the incredible lives of all five and the miracles attributed to them.
This week’s Genuflect looks at Blessed John Henry Newman — his life and his pointers for getting to heaven, the process for canonization, the differences between the three types of Saint day celebrations, how patron Saints are chosen, and why we pray for the intercession of Saints.
If you want to watch the Mass of Canonization live from St. Peter’s square on Sunday, set your alarm to get up early because it starts at 2:30am ET on EWTN … or sleep in and catch the replay at 7:00pm ET.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
P. S. On Monday we celebrated the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. You may want to revisit last year’s Ten Resources For Receiving The Promises of The Holy Rosary which remains one of our most popular issues.
genuflect: sponsor
The Rosary Boutique
A Rosary is always a special gift for any occasion, or maybe you just want to expand your collection. Choose from imported rosaries in several colors that are hand made by craftsmen in the Holy Land and imported by The Rosary Boutique. These beautiful rosaries are made with stones indigenous to the Bethlehem area and come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Find your perfect Rosary.
genuflect: resources
Blessed John Henry Newman
On October 13, 2019 Pope Francis will canonize Blessed John Henry Newman. Newman will be the first English saint since St. John Ogilvie was canonized by Pope Saint Paul VI in 1976. Here’s a brief overview of the inspiring life of our newest saint-to-be who many consider to be very relevant for Catholics everywhere today.
John Henry Newman: ‘A Mind Alive’ | Vatican News
The Simple Path to Heaven According to Cardinal Newman
Advice on how to get to heaven is plentiful … Catechism, books, blog posts. It can be a little overwhelming. But if you want advice from someone who actually made it to heaven, check out these pointers from Blessed John Henry Newman who Pope Francis will canonize this Sunday.
Cardinal Newman’s Simple Rule of Life | The Catholic Gentleman
The Process to Become a Saint
The Catholic Church has recognized Saints from the very early days of the church. However, the process to sainthood has varied greatly and evolved over time. In 1917, a universal Code of Canon Law was published containing 145 canons on causes of canonization. These were updated in 1983 to the canon law followed today. Here’s the process Saints like John Henry Newman go through.
How to Become a Saint in The Catholic Church | For Dummies
Bonus: Saints Backgrounder | US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Relatable Saints
We look to the lives of the Saints as our role models for how we can get to heaven. But we’re not all called to live a secluded life of prayer, or across the world as a missionary, or to die for our religion. These 4 “modern” Saints may be a little more relatable for lay people.
4 Saints Who Weren’t Consecrated Religious | Aleteia
Not All Saints Were Canonized
Most of the Saints recognized by the Catholic church went through the canonization process. But there are some who did not. Here’s what we call these Saints and how they came to be declared Saints.
The Types of Saint: The Acclaimed And Canonized Saints | Catholic Say
How Many Saints Are There?
On Sunday Pope Francis will designate another Saint in Cardinal John Newman. One might wonder how many Saints there are in the Catholic church. It depends on what your definition of Saints is, but here’s an attempt to answer the question.
How Many Catholic Saints Are There? | Aleteia
What’s The Difference Between a Feast, a Solemnity, and a Memorial?
Just about every day we celebrate at least one Saint, whether it’s a memorial, a feast, or a solemnity. But is there a difference between the three? The answer is a resounding yes, but it can get confusing. So here’s what you need to know.
Solemnity, Feast, or Memorial? How to Tell The Difference | Epic Pew
How Patron Saints Are Selected
Since the earliest of days, Saints have been designated as patrons of churches, people, diseases, careers, geographic regions, and much more. Here’s a brief overview of how this popular tradition began and evolved.
Patron Saints And How They’re Chosen | The Gleaner
Defending Intercessory Prayer
Have you ever been questioned about your prayers to Saints? Occasionally I am challenged on social media for my mentions of prayers to Mary … and accused of idolatry. I tend to respectfully explain that I pray for the Blessed Virgin’s intercession on my behalf, but even that sometimes is not enough. Check out these 6 points in defense of intercessory prayer so you’ll be prepared to respond to questions.
How to Defend The Intercession of The Saints | Catholic Answers
Do Non-Catholics go to Heaven?
The Catholic Church only recognizes those in union with the Catholic church as Saints, the question arises as to whether non-Catholics can go to heaven. The Catechism is clear on this … and the answer may surprise you.
Are There Any Non-Catholics That The Church Recognizes as Saints? | Busted Halo
genuflect: bonus
Saintly Inspiration on your Desktop and Phone
Click below to download this week’s free saintly inspirational wallpaper for your desktop and your phone. Or download one of the previous wallpapers
Download for Desktop Download for Phone
genuflect: sharing
Please use these buttons to share this issue of Genuflect with your friends, family, and followers who may be interested. Thank you!
Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash
