BLESSED 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 progress 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 can not pre-empt any decision of the Church."
As the Sisters of Saint 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 in August, the month of her death.
But according to Sister Maria, it would “not be realistic to expect it this August, given what needs to be done in the next few months.
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 institution of Archbishop Michael Kelly, and was validated in 1995 with her beatification by John Paul II
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 leukemia" 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."
Sister Judith said the canonization, 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"
Sydney Catholic Weekly
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 progress 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 can not pre-empt any decision of the Church."
As the Sisters of Saint 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 in August, the month of her death.
But according to Sister Maria, it would “not be realistic to expect it this August, given what needs to be done in the next few months.
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 institution of Archbishop Michael Kelly, and was validated in 1995 with her beatification by John Paul II
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 leukemia" 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."
Sister Judith said the canonization, 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"
Sydney Catholic Weekly