A UNITED STATES SAINT

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 10, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 15.

A UNITED STATES SAINT.

The following from the Monthly World tells of the process which must be gone thru before Elizabeth Seton can be canonized as the first United States saint:—

“Before Mother Elizabeth Seton can be canonized as the first saint who lived in the United States, as a result of the inquiry begun by the Very Rev. P. S. McHale, President of Niagara University, a long and tedious process of formal inquiry must be concluded.

“It must first be proved by competent witnesses that Mother Seton was in her life a person of eminent virtues, and that by her direct intercession miracles were performed.

“The process of canonization extends over years and sometimes over centuries. The candidate must have possessed the three theological virtues—Faith, Hope, and Charity—and the four cardinal virtues—Prudence, Justice, Courage, and Temperance.

“The process is held before the Congregation of Rites in Rome. If the first trial issues satisfactorily, the candidate is called ‘Venerable’ by a Papal commission, which is issued ten years after the transmission of the facts to the Congregation.

“A second commission is then called, the Pope makes known his judgment, and when all is finished the ceremony of beatification takes place in St. Peter’s, Rome.

“Mrs. Seton was the daughter of a distinguished New York doctor. After the early death of her husband, she devoted her life to teaching and to the building up of the Order of the Sisters of Charity, now a vast and powerful sisterhood.”

It is a blessed thought to the child of faith to know that God’s methods are much simpler. In speaking to the Corinthians the apostle uses this language: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified [made saints, holy ones], but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

And the characteristics of God’s saints, the character they must possess, are here set forth by inspiration: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. And the life of each of them bears witness to the regenerative, recreative miracle of God’s grace.