This weekend on EWTN: "They Might Be Saints: Bishop Frederic Baraga"

HT SA

Alderman: A Disappointment for Bishop Baraga

I was delighted to hear the news, recently, that Bishop Frederic Irenaeus Baraga had recently been declared venerable by the Holy See, and that a possible miracle for his beatification was under investigation. Baraga, the Slovene "snowshoe priest" was an early missionary in the region of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and in addition to serving as first bishop of Sault Sainte Marie, also translated the Scriptures into Ojibway. I was just as exited to hear a new chapel for his tomb was planned for the handsome neo-Romanesque St. Peter's Cathedral in Marquette--until I saw the official renderings. I laud Bishop Sample of Marquette for proactively moving forward with a new devotional tomb space for the bishop (like any ecclesiastical project, no easy task today), but the design, while better than it might have been, still represents a lost opportunity.

In this day and age, amid a growing revival of traditional art and design, that what might become the tomb of an American saint--a rare breed indeed--would be designed in an uninteresting, anonymously neo-modern pseudo-traditional style is surprising. Perhaps I should be grateful for the traditional nods--stained glass, arches, stone walls--which the design includes. The problem is not that the design is searingly avant-garde, but that it is far too timid and inarticulate.

continue at New Liturgical Movement

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.

continue at DailyPress

Baraga Days be held in Marquette, MI on Sept. 22-23

Bishop Alexander Sample shows off the new, official button for Baraga Days, which will be held in Marquette on Sept. 22-23 this year. Father Ben Paris, executive director, and Lenora McKeen, associate director of the Bishop Baraga Association presented the button to Bishop Sample. For more information, or to register for Baraga Days, contact McKeen at (906) 227-9117 or via e-mail at lmckeen@dioceseofmarquette.org. Also, visit www.bishopbaraga.org online. (Update: To get a button, register for Baraga Days. It will be your pass to the events.)

The U.P. Catholic

Bp Frederic Baraga declared Venerable

by Matthew Alderman

Bishop Frederic Baraga now bears the title of "Venerable." The advancement in his cause for sainthood was announced May 10 at the Vatican.

Pope Benedict XVI met with Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome, and approved the congregation's recommendation that Bishop Baraga, first bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, exhibited a life of heroic virtue and could thus be called "venerable."

"I am thrilled beyond words at this recognition of Bishop Baraga's heroic virtue by the universal church," said Marquette Bishop Alexander K. Sample. "I cannot overstate what a significant step this is towards the anticipated beatification and canonization of Bishop Baraga. This is a day for which we have been waiting nearly 40 years. I am so pleased to be able to call my saintly predecessor 'Venerable' Frederic Baraga."

Attaining this first of three steps in the sainthood process means that devotion to Bishop Baraga and the veneration of his memory can become very public. People can now pray for the intercession of the "Snowshoe Priest," as Baraga is called. In addition, church law states that access must now be given to his tomb.

continue at The Compass

Servant of God Bishop Baraga honored at Guadalupe Shrine

The Shrine Church has two levels. The main level of the Church contains shrines and first-class relics of Blesseds and Saints who would be meaningful to those who come to the Shrine in need. In the lower Narthex, there are two Venerables and one Servant-of-God who are honored. All three of these holy men have ties to Wisconsin; two of them particularly are known for their total self-giving to ministering to the spiritual needs of the people, particularly of the Native American, of what was then the Northwest Territory.

The portraits draw attention to what these three men have contributed to the history and the faith of this area of the United States. Artist Robert ‘Brett’ Edenton was commissioned by Cardinal Burke to paint portraits of Venerable Solanus Casey, Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli, and Servant-of-God Bishop Frederic Baraga.

Brett is a strong believer in the realist traditions of the old masters, influenced by artists such as Bouguereau, DaVinci, and Caravaggio. In order to paint Casey, Mazzuchelli, and Baraga, he studied a series of extensive drawings, portraits, along with the life of each saint and then in his painting tried to portray the man, the deeds, the time period, and the place as accurately possible. As a result, Brett’s paintings can tell you a lot about the person portrayed.

continue at Guadalupe Shrine

Bishop Baraga's Heroic Virtues Approved

From Bishop Sample's Facebook page

The news we have all been waiting for these days. I spent the day taking care of business in Rome that was interrupted by the snow. I was having lunch with Cardinal Raymond Burke when the phone call came to me from our Postulator for Bishop Baraga's Cause. The Cardinals and Archbishops who are members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints met today and gave a POSITIVE vote on Bishop Baraga's heroic virtue! This means this will now go to the Holy Father who will declare his heroic virtue and give him the title "Venerable"! A HUGE step in the Cause for his beatification. Now if the miracle is approved, we could have a beatification before too long. Thank you for your prayers and sacrifices. It is customary in the Church to celebrate great news with a solemn "Te Deum". Enjoy the attached YouTube recording from Westminster Cathedral as we celebrate this wonderful news. May God be praised!

HT Caritas in Veritate

Image by Matthew Alderman

Church built by sainthood candidate Bishop Baraga - 1910

The interior of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. It was built in 1841 by Father Frederick Baraga (later Bishop), who established his mission in 1835. A small log church was commenced the same year. Later when a larger church was needed, this one was re-erected on a different site. Contrary to local legend, this is not on the site of the mission established by Fr. Claude Allouez in 1665. His mission, La Pointe du Sainte Esprit, was built on the mainland near or in the present ciy of Bayfield, Wisconsin. The altar appointments are Roman Catholic in iconography.

Wisconsin Historical Society

Prayers for "Snowshoe Priest" veneration

Bp Baraga - Guadalupe Shrine, La Crosse, WI

From the Office of Bishop Sample of the Diocese of Marquette, Michigan.

March 12, 2011 is a very important day in the Cause for Beatification of our first Bishop, Frederic Baraga. On that day the positio will be examined at the Vatican by a group of theological consultors to the Congregation for Causes of Saints. This positio is the documentation of the life, ministry and writings of the Servant of God Frederic Baraga. It also includes a summary of his virtues.

The theological consultors, after discussing Bishop Baraga's life and ministry, will make a formal recommendation to the Congregation for Causes of Saints concerning whether or not Bishop Baraga exhibited in his life what is referred to as "heroic virtue." If such a recommendation is made and accepted by the Congregation, then it goes to the Pope who would declare the heroic virtue and give Bishop Baraga the title of "Venerable."

This is a critical step in the eventual beatification of Bishop Baraga, the other being the recognition of a miracle attributable to his intercession. We have been waiting for over twelve years for this step to be taken.

Bishop Alexander K. Sample is calling upon all the faithful of the Diocese of Marquette and beyond to observe Friday, March 11, 2011 as a day of prayer and penance for the success of this important step. Due to the six-hour time difference between here and Rome, it is important that we pray before the examination by the theologians on March 12. The bishop especially recommends attendance at Mass, Eucharistic adoration and not eating between meals. Since this is a Friday in Lent, he is also asking that our communal abstinence from meat on March 11 be offered for this special intention.

Caritas in Veritate 

Photo
HT Fr Z

"Snowshoe Priest" miracle moves U.P. bishop's cause for sainthood

Marquette, Mich., Jul 28, 2010 / 03:27 am (CNA).- Following a four-month investigation, the Diocese of Marquette has closed its inquiry into an alleged miracle attributed to its first bishop, Servant of God Frederic Baraga, who is known as the “snowshoe priest.” The inquiry now proceeds to the Vatican for further consideration.

The alleged miracle concerns a reputed tumor found on a patient’s liver in various diagnostic tests. The patient, the patient’s family and their parish priest prayed for healing through the intercession of Bishop Baraga. Bishop Baraga’s stole was also placed on the patient’s abdomen, after which the patient’s pain ceased.

An exploratory surgery by doctors found no tumor, according to the diocese.

Bishop Baraga was born in Slovenia in 1797. He came to the United States in 1830 as a missionary to the Odawa and Ojibwa tribes of the upper Great Lakes region, traveling through the vast territory by canoe, boat, horse, snowshoes and dog sled. His Ojibwa-English dictionary is still in use today.

Consecrated a bishop in 1853, he served as the Bishop of Sault Ste. Marie, which would later be called the Diocese of Marquette. He died in 1868. The Bishop Baraga Association was established in 1930 to promote his cause for sainthood, which was officially opened in 1952.

The tribunal investigating the bishop’s alleged miracle collected medical documentation and interviewed witnesses, including doctors and medical personnel involved in the treatment.

The diocesan inquiry closed with a July 17 ceremony at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette. Members of the canonical tribunal which examined the possible miracle signed papers attesting to their work and verifying the authenticity of the documents.

Further inquiry at the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints will examine the tribunal’s work, determine whether the event cannot be explained by science and whether it could be attributed to the intercession of Bishop Baraga. After reviewing a document detailing the bishop’s life and virtues, the congregation will then advise Pope Benedict about the cause.

The Pope will decide whether to bestow the title “Venerable” on Bishop Baraga, the Diocese of Marquette reports. If the miracle is verified and attributed to the bishop, the Pope will decide whether to beatify him. Another recognized miracle would be necessary for Bishop Baraga’s canonization.

The postulator of Bishop Baraga’s cause is Dr. Andrea Ambrosi of Rome.

CNA

Image from Matt @ HolyWhapping

Let us not forget Archbishop Burke is a newly appointed to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.

Bishop Alexander Sample of the Diocese of Marquette I believe is a (recently appointed) board member at the Shrine of Guadalupe, and also speaks about Bp Baraga on mp3 here.