Bishop Frederic Baraga, known as the “Snowshoe Priest,” is one step closer to being called “Venerable,” part of the track toward being declared a saint. A four-month investigation into an alleged miracle has been completed and the findings have been sent to Rome. The tribunal responsible for the investigation signed and sealed documents at a ceremony held at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette on July 17.
Postulator for the cause, Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, will present the tribunal’s findings to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The congregation will once again review the position paper, which details Bishop Baraga’s life and virtues, as well as documents written by and about him. Then they will make a recommendation to Pope Benedict XVI regarding Bishop Baraga’s heroic virtue. The Holy Father will subsequently decide whether the title of “Venerable” can be bestowed on Bishop Baraga. This step in the process could take a year or more.
“This is one of the most remarkable, important, exciting and significant moments in the life, history of the Diocese of Marquette,” said Bishop Alexander Sample at the tribunal’s closing ceremony.
The tribunal investigated a case involving a supposed tumor on a patient’s liver that had shown up on various diagnostic tests. The patient, the patient’s family and their parish priest prayed for healing by invoking the intercession of Bishop Baraga. In addition, Bishop Baraga’s stole was placed on the patient’s abdomen, after which the patient reported that the pain being experienced went away. Doctors then performed exploratory surgery, but found no trace of the tumor.
In looking into the purported miracle, the tribunal was charged with collecting medical documentation and interviewing various witnesses, including doctors and medical personnel involved in the treatment of the patient. It is now the task of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican to examine the tribunal’s work and determine whether the event was one that could not be explained by science and whether it could be attributed to the intercession of Bishop Baraga. The tribunal is not allowed to disclose any details of its investigation at this time.
The official inquiry to investigate the alleged miracle began on March 12. Bishop Sample appointed Father Browne, moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Marquette, to lead the work of the tribunal. Other members of the team included Father Ben Paris as promoter of justice, Elizabeth Delene as notary, Judy Jason as copier (transcriptionist) and Dr. John G. Kublin, M.D. as the medical expert. Father Michael Steber, pastor of St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, served as chancellor.
“We finished an important document, called a ‘positio,’ in 1998. This is basically documentation of Bishop Baraga – his life, his virtues. This is why we believe Frederic Baraga to be a saint because of his life, his zeal, his missionary spirit,” Bishop Sample said. “This document is already in Rome and has been examined by the historical consultors and received their approval.”
Once a miracle attributable to Baraga has been verified and the proper documentation submitted to the pontiff, Pope Benedict will decide whether Bishop Baraga is to be beatified, which would give him the title of “Blessed.” This would allow him to be publicly venerated in a limited sense.
“We hope they affirm this miracle. It would be a very exciting moment, something we’ve been praying for so long,” Bishop Sample said.
Even if the title of “Blessed” is bestowed, more steps will be required for Bishop Baraga to be canonized, that is, declared a saint. The diocese would need to verify another miracle attributable to his intercession that occurred after his beatification. Pending a positive result, Bishop Baraga would be known as Saint Frederic Baraga and be subject to public veneration throughout the worldwide Church.
The cause for Bishop Baraga’s sainthood was opened in 1952. Bishop Baraga currently carries the title, “Servant of God,” since the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has formally admitted his cause for consideration.
Bishop Baraga was born in Slovenia in 1797. He came to the United States to be a missionary to the Odawa and Ojibwa of the upper Great Lakes region in 1830. Bishop Baraga traveled throughout the 80,000 square-mile territory by canoe, boat, horse, snowshoes and even dog sled. He was consecrated a bishop and appointed vicar apostolic of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in 1853.
When the vicariate apostolic was established as the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie (now called the Diocese of Marquette) in 1857, Baraga served as its first bishop until his death in 1868. His work includes an Ojibwa English dictionary, which is still in use today.
The Bishop Baraga Association was established in 1930 to promote the cause for sainthood of Bishop Baraga. For more information regarding the Bishop Baraga Association, contact Elizabeth Delene at 906-227-9117/800-562-9745, ext. 117 or edelene@dioceseofmarquette.org.
In photo: Bishop Alexander Sample, with assistance of Judy Jason, uses his ring to seal documents produced by the tribunal investigating a potential miracle attributed to Bishop Baraga's intercession.