Catherine's Canonisation Cause

Answers to Prayer

The following are stories of faith and confidence in the intercession of Catherine McAuley:

From Maryland, USA (2008)

My first encounter with Catherine McAuley was through hearing about her from my dear friend, Sister Frances Demarco RSM, who I met when we were both working at the same parish back in 1976.

On one of my first visits to the sisters’ home I remember seeing on the wall a plaque that contained a quote from Catherine as she was dying:  “Be sure you have a comfortable cup of tea for them when I am gone.”  Those words struck me as being exceptionally compassionate for a dying person; to be more concerned about the comfort of her sisters who may come to her funeral than for herself touched me deeply.  Through these many years, I have heard much about Catherine’s life from the Mercy Sisters who I have had the joy of meeting and knowing.  And so when in August of 2003 our parish sponsored a pilgrimage to Ireland—with a visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Knock particularly in mind—it occurred to me that I should visit the home of Mother McAuley while in Dublin.  So one free afternoon I went alone looking for her home on Lower Baggot Street.  When I arrived I simply rang the door bell and a wonderful Sister of Mercy greeted me with exceptional kindness and hospitality even though I had made no prior arrangements.  She showed me through the house and shared many details about Catherine’s life.  When we visited Catherine burial site, it was my intention to simply pray for my Mercy friends but there was something about that experience that drew me closer to her.  I asked if I could return the next day to celebrate Mass in the chapel and the immediate response was a resounding “yes.” 

The next day I returned accompanied by the entire bus load of 45 pilgrims.  We celebrated Mass on that day—August 25th—which happens to be the feast day of Saint Louis, the patron saint of our parish!  Since it was not planned, and since it had not occurred to me until I prepared for the Mass and since I do not believe in coincidence, I saw it as the Lord’s hand at work introducing all of us to Catherine.  To our great surprise, several of the Sisters of Mercy joined us at Mass and provided beautiful organ and vocal accompaniment. It was a most memorable celebration of the Eucharist as we prayed through the intercession of Catherine.  We were further surprised by and touched that after Mass all of us—all 45 persons—were invited to the dining room for tea and scones.  Many remarked later that the highlight of the entire two week pilgrimage to Ireland was the visit to the International House of Mercy. In our visit we literally experienced Catherine’s charism of welcoming the stranger and providing hospitality through her sisters.

The following year Sister Francis Demarco won the local Mercy Community’s annual lottery which  enabled her and another friend, Sister Kate Bell RSM, to travel to Ireland and to the home of Mother McAuley for the purpose of attending a retreat entitled: “Walking with Catherine.”   They invited me to join them—an invitation I readily accepted.  I believe I became the first (and perhaps only) priest that has joined the sisters for this unique retreat.  Though I stayed in a nearby hotel, I still participated in all the activities including visiting the places in Dublin which were part of Catherine’s life.  Each day I had the privilege of joining the sisters in a variety of prayer experiences and being able to celebrate Mass with them in Catherine’s home.  Through that experience, my love for Catherine and my appreciation for her life deepened considerably.

Since then, I begin each day with Catherine’s prayer called The Suscipe:  “My God I am yours for time and eternity.  Lord I am Yours forever.”  I keep her prayer card  in my breviary.  I also have that prayer set to music on a CD that I use at priest retreats and meetings.  In addition I often speak about Catherine at parish liturgies.  She has become a member of our parish-family.

On April 23, 2006 our parish celebrated the dedication of our new church.  I requested and received a relic of Catherine McAuley that was placed in our new altar.  Often as I celebrate Mass and kiss the altar my thoughts turn to this incredible woman of faith.

In fact she continues to inspire us to this day.  I credit our parish Hospitality Ministry to her example and intercession.  It had always been my prayer and hope that in our large parish of over 4500 families we would be able to offer hospitality to those who visit us.  Through Catherine’s intercession that prayer has been realized with hospitality ministers greeting everyone at each of our seven weekend liturgies as congregants enter our parish church.  In addition our Bereavement Committee offers hospitality to all families that celebrate the funeral of a loved one by providing a reception for all guests either at the family home or in our pastoral center.  These wonderful parishioners go to the home of the grieving family, while they are attending the funeral, and there prepare and then serve a marvelous buffet luncheon.  In addition they make certain that everything is cleaned and returned to the way it was before the reception so the family can greet and welcome their guests with no worries.  If a family prefers, the reception is  held in our lovely social hall.  A typical reception will serve 100 people; and it is not unusual for that number to be even higher.

These are small but important ways that I personally and our parish together follow in the footsteps of Catherine and carry her memory in our hearts.  Though she has yet to be formally canonized, I believe her to be one of our Church’s great women of faith.  I pray that I may live to see the day when the Universal Church recognizes her as Saint Catherine McAuley.

Rev. Msgr. Joseph L. Luca
Saint Louis Church
12500 Clarksville Pike
Clarksville, MD 21029

410-531-6040
www.stlouisparish.org

From New Jersey (2008)

I first learned about Catherine McAuley in my grammar school, in New York, USA, which was taught by the Sisters of Mercy.  Even as a young child I found her story of compassion, especially for children, endearing.  The title “Mother” seemed appropriate as it summed up her life’s work. Through my experiences with her sisters in the parish I witnessed her chrism and this helped me begin my relationship with this remarkable woman of God.

Later in life I married and moved into a parish in New Jersey that included what is now a Mercy University.  In that same university that I received my Masters of Theology. Once again I found myself surrounded by the Mercy tradition.  I left my position in New York and accepted a position at a high school as Campus Minister.  Our high school was founded in the Mercy tradition and I am privileged to work with her sisters.

It seems that Catherine has been a part of my life and with every experience I have come to know and appreciate her wonderful teachings. I have recently undergone an illness that has been trying.  I turned to Catherine at this time and ask for her intercession for healing.  Although this time has been challenging, I found a special comfort and peace as I asked Catherine to be with me.  I truly felt her presence. 

I look forward in continuing my work at the high school and with the intercession of Catherine, I am sure that wonderful times lie ahead.  I am grateful for the support of her Mercy community and I grow in respect and love each day for life of Mother Catherine McAuley, my intercessor and friend.

From Ohio, USA (2007)

On Mercy Day, September 24, we (Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center, Fremont Ohio) received a letter from a recently decease woman's lawyer telling us that we will be receiving $1,000,000 now and an additional $400,000+ in December when the trust has been settled.   I truly believe that Catherine is responsible for this; That it was not a coincidence that we received the letter on Mercy Day.  We received the actual check three days later.  It would be wonderful to have the final check delivered to us on December 12, but that may be asking for more than necessary for  us to believe that this is Catherine's miracle.  As all retreat centers we struggle to make ends meet.  We have been praying and asking God and Catherine what we are do with this ministry.  Catherine said, "If it is of God, it will continue."  We have been blessed. This ministry, and our long tradition of Mercy in this little town, will continue into the future. This is Catherine's miracle! Rejoice with us.

Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center Sponsored Ministry of the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Cincinnati Fremont, Ohio, USA

From New Zealand (2007)

These are a few of the blessings and “little miracles” that I believe are as a result of meditations/prayers invoking Catherine McAuley – especially in regard to our son H.

He is now 31 and I believe is recovering from mental illness exacerbated from drug taking (cannabis) – my husband and I were unaware of the extent of its problems until he returned from overseas eight years ago.  Our family had a heartbreaking and stressful time helping him.  Then towards the end of 2005, which was about the time I read about Catherine McAuley and decided it was “up to her” to bless H and to, in some way, help himself / us.

Since then he:

• has re-met a lovely young woman, A (who is a nurse!);
• has established a committed caring relationship with A;
• believes he and A have a long term future;
• has rented a lovely house and garden and has grown a huge vegetable garden;
• has admitted that dope won’t help;
• has enrolled back at University and has passed all exams 2006-07;
• enjoyed summer school and passed two tricky papers;
• is working part-time and managing work, study, relationships happily;
• has insights into mental health issues;
• was recently in the wedding part of a school friend and did “best man duties” exceptionally well.
• Best of all – he has become our dear son / brother again.  He has a great friendship with his Dad and they talk regularly on the phone about cricket and rugby.

Catherine McAuley has actually been part of our family for years as my sister reminded me.  Our cousin was a foundation pupil at McAuley High School in Auckland in the 1960s.

Two aunts and my twin, trained as nurses at the Mater – Mercy Hospital in Auckland, so I guess that influence has always been there – probably my most recent up-dating on her life was when I was teaching at St Matthew’s and we were asked to reflect and research on the founders of our various schools.  St Matthew’s was a Mercy Sisters’ school and it was indeed a blessing to find the charism of Catherine McAuley’s religious order was as relevant today as it was when she founded her religious order. 

Although I have to protect my son’s privacy through all this, if it was required, I could certainly sign my name to any verifying documentation.

God bless
MM

From New Zealand (2007)

I was introduced to Catherine McAuley by my friend Sister Muriel in Auckland, New Zealand.  I read much about Catherine and have become a great admirer of her and what she achieved in a short span of ten years.  I, a practising Anglican, pray to her in all my needs.

In my life I have nursed both my father and husband through terminal cancer.  I now have developed pernicious anaemia and my mother, who has been living with me for the last twenty years became seriously ill in 2006.  She needed constant care and I found this extremely difficult as I no longer had the support I had when nursing my father and husband.  I suffered from lack of sleep and physical exhaustion.

Sister Muriel offered to pray for my mother and through the day I often ask Mother McAuley to help me.

Mother had a serious fall and was taken to hospital   While there an ultra scan revealed a cancerous growth in her bladder and the doctor suspected that the cancer had spread though her system.  As she was close to death I decided not to have further investigations done.  I was exhausted, very stressed and hated seeing my mother in this state.  I was also warned that extreme pain would start when the tumour closed down the bladder.

The hospital phoned to say that my mother could come home and would I come and collect her.  I felt hysterical   I was terrified and didn’t know how I would cope.  I have never felt so alone and desperate.  I saw my picture of Catherine McAuley and she seemed to be looking right at me, she reached out to me and aloud I  prayed to her, with very ounce of my being, to help me.

Approximately five minutes later the phone rang.  The caller was my cousin, Josie, with whom I do not keep in close touch.  She asked me if I knew Barbara P….  I couldn’t believe it as Barbara is a cousin on the other side of my family.  We were once very close and I loved her dearly, was a bridesmaid at her wedding.  After I married I lived in Australia for seven years and lost touch although I have often wondered where she was.  It appears that these two cousins of mine live next door to each other in a country town without knowing the connection.  One day Barbara saw Josie in her yard and called out asking if she was busy.  Josie responded, yes, that she had two family members very ill.  She mentioned Diane and her mother, Pearl.  Amazed, Barbara asked for the surname and address.  These confirmed that Josie was talking about Barbara’s aunt and cousin also. 

Within fifteen minutes of my praying to Mother McAuley Barbara phoned me.  I couldn’t stop crying when I heard Barbara’s voice.  She said she would drive up next day and stay with me till my mother died.

To me this is a miraculous answer to prayer.  I was at a low ebb, terrified and alone.  I hadn’t seen my cousin for twenty years and here she was giving me all the support and help I needed. 

From Scotland (2008)

I am writing to enquire about a prayer card that the priest gave to my family to say for me as I was seriously ill with a mystery virus and a high temperature and couldn't say it for myself.   One night I could see a face in between the statue of Our Lady that was on my fireplace and a picture of St. Teresa on the wall.   It was a lady with a black face.   I was telling my family about it and I think they thought it was the high temperature.   When I came round after a week or so I was given the prayer card of Catherine McAuley and at the side was the face that I had described.   I asked the priest if he knew anything about her and he told me to write to you.