Pushing for Canonization


I just read about a group promoting the canonization of six Black Catholics. One of the six is Sister Thea Bowman, a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. I was excited to see this because I had met Sister Thea in person about 40 years ago and have read about her ministry in the U.S. I remember when she addressed the bishops of the United States, challenging them to practice justice and getting them to rise and sing "We Shall Overcome" with her. She was dramatic and dynamic as a speaker and the bishops responded.

This group of Baltimore Catholics challenged the committee in charge of the canonization process, saying the process is not working for Black Catholics. They think these six people: Mother Mary Lang, founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence; Julia Greeley, the city of Denver's "Angel of Charity;"  Mother Henriette De Lille, founder of the Sisters of the Holy Family; Fr. Augustus Tolton, and Pierre Toussaint should be recognized as saints and are petitioning Rome to act on this request. Three already have the title "Servant of God" and three are called "Venerable," steps to canonization.

These six Black Catholics lived in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, battling racism and discrimination as they brought the love of Christ to their communities. Most white Catholics have not even heard of them, much less of their heroic lives. The U.S. has 11 canonized white saints, but no Black saints. 

Of course, these holy men and women can be honored without being named saints with a capital S. But their lives are worthy of being known to the entire Catholic community. They ought to be included in Catholic books of saints so young people, especially Black youth, will know that they have noteworthy holy men and women too.  








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