(National Catholic Register) Thirty-three years after Venerable Henriette DeLille’s cause was opened, an alleged miracle is now in the hands of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican, putting this holy heroine of New Orleans close to becoming the first African American Catholic raised to the altars of the Catholic Church.
“We’re just waiting, praying, hoping and telling everybody to pray,” Sister of the Holy Family Doris Goudeaux, the head of the commission working on Venerable Henriette’s cause, told the Register. A previous alleged miracle lacked enough supporting documentation, but Sister Doris said she hoped this second alleged miracle would convince the Vatican to approve Henriette’s beatification.
Right now, the causes of six African American Catholic men and women, or the “Saintly Six,” as they are commonly known among Black Catholics, are moving forward in various stages. Venerable Henriette DeLille, Venerable Augustus Tolton and Servant of God Julia Greeley, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Servant of God Mary Lange and Servant of God Thea Bowman. None have been declared “Blessed” yet — the penultimate stage before canonization.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down progress, particularly at the Vatican, it has allowed the “Saintly Six” to achieve broader veneration among Catholics in the U.S. and even overseas, with many more faithful discovering their part of the Church’s story and relevance for the Church today.
Tej Francis
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