Pope brings African-American foundress one step closer to sainthood

[Blue_Tires]

Friday, April 2, 2010

Pope brings African-American foundress one step closer to sainthood

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By Carol Glatz

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Pope Benedict XVI advanced the sainthood cause of Mother Henriette Delille, a freeborn woman of African descent in 19th-century New Orleans, declaring that she had lived a life of "heroic virtues."

By signing the decree March 27, the pope confirmed the recommendations of Vatican authorities who have studied the cause for several years.

She can be beatified once a miracle is attributed to her intercession. If her cause advances, she could become the first African-American saint.

Pope Benedict also approved the decrees of three martyrs: a Romanian bishop, a German priest and a Slovenian lay member of Catholic Action who were killed for their faith in the last century.

In 1842 Mother Henriette founded the Sisters of the Holy Family, a congregation of black sisters that cared for the poor and disadvantaged and taught slaves and free blacks. This was during a time under Louisiana law when doing anything to "disturb" black people --- in other words, educate them --- could be punished by death or life imprisonment.

Today, the congregation's more than 200 members operate schools for the poor and homes for the elderly in Louisiana and several other states. They also have a mission in Belize.

Mother Henriette's sainthood cause was opened in 1988 and the New Orleans archdiocesan investigation was completed in 2005. Her cause was endorsed unanimously by the U.S. bishops in 1997.

In New Orleans, Sister Eva Regina Martin, congregational leader of the sisters, called the pope's decree "great and joyous news."

"We are dancing for joy," she told the Clarion Herald, newspaper of the New Orleans Archdiocese.


http://www.the-tidings.com/2010/040210/delille.htm

[NOLALady]

1. Great news for the Sisters of the Holy Family.

Sister Eva has been working long and hard for Mother DeLille.

[Karenina]

2. Yeah, he better start doing something

AND QUICK!!! :evilgrin: