Venerable Frederic Baraga Chapel campaign underway

Bishop Alexander K. Sample has kicked off a campaign to raise $350,000 to construct a special chapel at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette to house the remains of the Catholic Diocese of Marquette's first bishop, Frederic Baraga, who was declared "Venerable" by Pope Benedict XVI earlier this year. Early gifts to the campaign total nearly $134,000.

When the Church gives the title of venerable, it proclaims that person worthy of public veneration and their tomb must be accessible to the public.

Venerable Frederic Baraga's remains are currently in the St. Peter Cathedral crypt, where other past bishops of the Diocese of Marquette are entombed. The space is small and not handicapped-accessible.
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6 comments:

James K Savonarola said...

just an odd bit of trivia to add, St. John the Evangelist in Greenfield has a stain glass window sporting the likeness on Ven. Baraga

Cassandra said...

I don't understand the concern about being handicapped-accessible. If the guy is worth venerating, shouldn't he be able to make the lame walk?

Badger Catholic said...

... so how do the handicapped enter the chapel to be healed? Cut a hole in the ceiling and lower them down?

Cassandra said...

What? You mean the power of grace stops at the door? I didn't realize that there was a "healing radius" around relics.

I figured the lame would walk into the chapel to give thanks after getting healed at the door.

Badger Catholic said...

So then why travel there at all? Shouldn't he just be able to heal me in my wheelchair at home watching the Packers?

Cassandra said...

Hey, that's been known to happen.

But pilgrimages have a long penitential tradition in the Church. Packer games, not so much.