DOM MARMION SEMINAR

 Dom Marmion House, Dundrum, Dublin 14

11 October 2003

FROM BEATIFICATION TO CANONISATION

The present state of the Cause of Blessed Columba Marmion

By

Fr Mark Tierney, OSB, Glenstal Abbey, Co Limerick

It is now three years since Pope John Paul II declared Dom Columba Marmion "Blessed".That memorable day in Rome, 3 September 2000, will forever stand out in my mind. Along with three Italians, Pius IX, John XXIII and Tomaso Reggio, and a Frenchman, William Chaminade, there was one Irishman, Columba Marmion, raised to the altars of the Church. On such an occasion it is very difficult to avoid an element of triumphalism. The cheering crowds (over 100,000 were in St Peter's Square to witness the Beatification ceremony), the sight of the large painting or icon of Columba Marmion, hanging from the facade of St Peter's,the presence of Pope John Paul II, the general ambience or atmosphere of Rome, all helped to give us a feeling of joy, as we honoured this Dublin-born monk and priest.

First of all, we have to ask ourselves WHY was Marmion thus honoured by the Church.WHY was he beatified? Pope John Paul II put his finger on the answer, when he said in his homily on 3 September 2000, seeking a common thread or link between the five beati that day:"Five different personalities, each with his own features and his own mission, ALL LINKED BY A LONGING FOR HOLINESS." It is precisely this burning desire for holiness that marks off the saints from us ordinary beings. The Holy Father then went on to define what is meant by holiness: "It is a profound and transforming relationship with God, built on a basis of Love and Service." Already as a young seminarian in Holycross College, Clonliffe, Marmion had set his sights on achieving holiness. He made his own the saying of St John Berchmans: "If I do not become a saint when I am young, I will never become a saint". As one of his fellow students in Clonliffe later wrote about Marmion: "He believed what others professed to believe". The secret of Marmion's holiness can be summed up in three words: LOVE, BELIEF, SERVICE.

It is fitting that we are holding this seminar in the Dom Marmion House, the headquarters of the Dom Marmion Society.    I have always been edified at the dedication and devotion of the members of this Society. And that goes for the people of Dundrum in general, who recently inaugurated a new bridge in the town and called it the Dom Marmion Bridge.  The Dom Marmion Society is drawn from people in all walks of life, who are committed to serve those in need. May the Dom Marmion Society continue to grow in strength and in numbers. May they continue to serve the people of the Parish of Dundrum, with the same spirit and generosity in which Blessed Columba Marmion served here during the years 1881-1882. Above all, may they continue to take as their motto the aim of Blessed Columba: "TO SERVE RATHER THAN TO BE SERVED". I am convinced that Marmion spent much of his time in Dundrum reflecting on his own spiritual life. May we all ask him now to help us strengthen our spirituality and faith. And in imitation of him, may we take time each day for quiet prayer.

I was appointed Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Dom Marmion in 1989. I prefer to consider myself as PROMOTER OF THE CAUSE.  The word Postulator has too much of a Latin ring about it, while the word "vice" in English has a rather unflattering connotation.   At that time, Marmion was referred to in any Roman document as "The Servant of God". Very little real progress had been made towards having him beatified. It is true that his body had been taken from the monastery cemetery in the Abbey of Maredsous, and re-interred in the Abbey church. (His body, by the way, was found to be incorrupt, after more than forty years) There had also been the Diocesan Enquiry into his life and virtues, undertaken by the bishop of Namur, in whose diocese Maredsous is situated.   There had, however, been one serious set-back, namely, the rejection in 1978 by the Roman authorities, of a possible miracle, attributed to Marmion. In truth, everything was looking rather bleak in the Marmion camp in the early 1990s.

Although Ireland was known in early Christian times as "The Island of Saints and Scholars", we have had very few canonised saints over the past four centuries. The Irish poet Cristoir O'Flynn has a lovely poem about SAINTHOOD,

It should be recorded that a number of factors occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, which helped to stir up interest in the Cause of Dom Columba Marmion. One such factor, was the lobbying of the Roman authorities by cardinals, archbishops, bishops, religious leaders and lay people from all over the world, in the form of postulatory letters, requesting the Canonisation of Marmion.    Among those who wrote a postulatory letter to Rome was the future Pope John Paul I, then Mons. Albino Luciani, Archbishop of Venice.  Many of the writers referred to Marmion's "heroic sanctity" and "noble virtues", and urged that his Cause be advanced as soon as possible. Another factor was the renewed interest in Marmion's spirituality, which was noticeable in the aftermath of Vatican Council II. In fact, his name had come up on several occasions in the discussions of the Council Fathers. Marmion's doctrine is recognisable in several articles of the Constitution on the Church, the Sacred Liturgy and the Church in the Modem World. It was Marmion who first coined the phrase "The Liturgical Movement", but his greatest contribution to modem spirituality was to restore Jesus Christ to his rightful place at the centre of our Christian life.

The whole procedures, for beatifying and canonising worthy candidates, had been overhauled and stream-lined by Pope John Paul II in 1983. This involved a radical reform of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, did away with the famous "Devil's Advocate", and above all, called for a more historically accurate account of the lives of the would-be saints. And then there was the visit by Pope John Paul n to Belgium in 1985, when the papal helicopter flew over Maredsous on the way from Brussels to Beauraing. We have it on good authority that the Holy Father, at this moment, confided to one of his aids: "I owe more to Columba Marmion for initiating me into things spiritual, than to any other spiritual writer."  And on his return to Rome, he asked about the actual state of the Process for the Cause of Marmion's Beatification. As a result of this papal intervention, and also his saying later "I hope to beatify Abbot Columba Marmion before I die", the monks of Maredsous were urged to make some more significant move to have Marmion's Cause advanced in Rome. I was given the job, because I am a historian.  My first task was to research and write an objective biography of Marmion, based on authentic documentation and sources. It took me five years to produce the required Critical biography.

I have often told the story of my first visit to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints.  I made an appointment with a certain sub-sub-Secretary, who, it turned out had never heard of either myself or Columba Marmion. He looked up Marmion in the file-names beginning with M., but could find no reference to any Marmion. Then he looked under C. for Columba, and drew a blank. I had only one card left and suggested he should look under J, as Marmion's baptismal name was Joseph. But no sign of it there. At this stage I felt quite a fool, as the good sub-sub-Secretary made it quite clear that I was wasting his time. However, at that moment I got a brainwave, and suggested that the good man look up under the I's, as Joseph in Latin is Ioseph. And sure enough, there was the vital evidence on the index-card, which was entitled "De Canonisatione Servi Dei losephi Columbae MARMION".    The good sub-sub-Secretary did not quite embrace me, but at least I was accepted as a legitimate person, chosen to work on the Cause of Columba Marmion. He did, however, point out to me that Marmion had been given the number Prot. 948, and that I should not be too optimisic about his Cause reaching any conclusion in my life-time. He assured me that Marmion would have to wait in line, until the other 947 candidates had been dealt with.

I spent the next five years working on the biography, in Maredsous, Rome and Glenstal.    The work was eventually published in 1994 by the Vatican Press, and given the very interesting title:    "Canonisationis Servi Dei Josephi Columba Marmion Sac. Prof. OSB (1858-1923)". This seemed to imply that Marmion was up for Canonisation, though it was clear that he had first of all to be beatified.   The truth of the matter is that anyone who has been beatified - as is the case with Marmion - is also a worthy candidate for canonisation.

All this became very clear to me, less that a week after Marmion's beatification on 3 September 2000, when I was approached by the Congregation for the causes of the Saints, and invited to work on the process for his Canonisation. It was also indicated to me that they hoped one day to declare Marmion a Doctor of the church – The Doctor of Divine Adoption.

At this very moment, we are about half-way towards that goal. There are three steps on the way to Canonisation.  The first is the publication of the Complete Correspondence of Blessed Columba Marmion.   There are about 2000 extant letters written by him, covering all of his adult life. The majority of these are kept in the archives of the Abbey of Maredsous, in Belgium, although there are a number still in private hands. I have spent the last three years preparing these for publication. The letters will be published early next year, in three volumes, under the title: "Blessed Columba Marmion: Self-portrait in his Letters".   It will then be studied by the people in the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. I should add, that the majority of these letters are in French., and the first edition will be a French-language version.   However, I will have them translated into English, as soon as possible, in order to have them available in the English-speaking countries of the world.

The second requirement for the Canonisation process is a new and lengthy study of Marmion's writings, stressing his importance in the history of Catholic spirituality, and showing how he is worthy of being declared a Doctor of the Church. This is a big challenge, but the work is progressing satisfactorily. I am discovering new insights into Marmion's spiritual message, new depths, as well as new horizons. I just could not begin to summarise the richness of Marmion's overall spiritual message. Suffice to say that he offers a new look at our relationship with God. He assures us that not only are we the adopted sons and daughters of God, and brothers of Christ, but that we are called to become deified.   Most writers speak of our sanctification; Marmion would push this further, and speaks of our deification.  A key to this lies in his definition of Grace, which he says is nothing more than "the life of Christ in the soul". It is no coincidence that Marmion's most successful book is entitled Christ, the Life of the Soul. A new translation into modern English, of this last-mentioned book, is almost complete, and should be available early in 2004

The third factor, which forms part of the on-going process for Canonisation, is a MIRACLE.   At present I am examining three possible miracles, but, for obvious reasons, cannot give any specific details or names. We require one miracle, with irrefutable evidence. A great number of people, at this very moment, are praying for such a miracle, through the intercession of Blessed Columba Marmion.   There are special prayer/intercessory leaflets available, as well as relics. These relics are small pieces taken from the religious habit worn by Blessed Columba during his life and may be obtained from the Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Blessed Columba Marmion, at Glenstal Abbey, Murroe, Co. Limerick.

Rome is usually looking for a miracle in the form of a cure from a serious or terminal illness.   It must be a cure which medical science cannot explain, being outside the experience of ordinary medical practice. We had such a miracle in the process for the Beatification of Blessed Columba.   The person in question was cured of terminal cancer. Her doctors proclaimed that they could not explain her condition "by medical science alone".   She visited the tomb of Blessed Columba in Maredsous in 1966, prayed for a miracle, and has been cancer-free ever since. She is still living, in good health and of course, so grateful to Blessed Columba. I should add that she is a woman of strong faith, the mother of seven children and innumerable grand-children. Marmion has certainly changed her life.

We have, I think, to pray that the Lord will grant another miracle through Blessed Columba. This is where you good people of Dundrum, and especially the members of the Dom Marmion Society, can help. Many people write to me to say that they have received "favours". In the Abbey of Maredsous, over the years, thousands of such letters have been received, from all over the world. People pray to Marmion especially for help in family matters. For example, married couples, who seem to be unable to have children, pray to him, and their prayers have been heard. People pray to him to deepen their spiritual life, or help in times of despair and doubt.

There is one other matter which needs to be mentioned. Making saints is a costly business.   The main expenses are incurred in printing and publishing: books, pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, and so on.      My colleagues and fellow vice- Postulators: Fr. Alcuin Deck, of Marmion Abbey, Aurora, Illinois, USA, and Fr.Ferdinand Poswick, of the Abbey of Maredsous, Belgium, have provided wonderful support and some essential expertise, in furthering the Cause for Canonisation. But we have had to employ various people to help out. For example, at present I have commissioned someone to undertake the translation of Marmion's book Christ, the Life of the Soul. Marmion's complete Correspondence - some 2000 Letters - are in the process of being typed out,, with notes and editorial material. This has proven to be a long and costly job. The French edition of the Letters will be ready by the end of this year. The next stage will be to find someone prepared to translate them into English.   There is considerable interest in Marmion in the USA, mainly centred on Marmion Abbey in Aurora, outside Chicago. So we must have an English version of Marmion's Letters. Marmion reveals himself more in his letters than in his spiritual writings.

Finally, in order that we proceed successfully towards the Canonisation, there must be a continual lobbying of the people in Rome, who are responsible for the actual decisions taken in this matter.    Fr. Olivier Raquez, a Benedictine monk, is our permanent representative or Postulator, in Rome, constantly on the job, reminding people that Marmion is waiting in the wings.   We also have to influence members of the various Congregations in Rome, especially the people in the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. Furthermore, there are the cardinals, both in Rome and elsewhere, who must be approached and asked to give their support for the Canonisation Cause. Within the next year or so, I will be sending a circular letter, asking interested cardinals, archbishops, bishops, heads of religious orders, Benedictine abbots, lay people, etc., to write to the Roman authorities on behalf of the Marmion Cause. This is no artificial pressure campaign, but the expression of a widespread desire to see Blessed Columba Marmion canonised. I would hope that many such letters will go out to Rome from people here in Dundrum, and in Dublin generally. When Marmion is canonised, he will be the first Dubliner, since the Reformation, to be so honoured.

Let me conclude by quoting the words of Pope John Paul II, which he used in Rome, on 3 September 2000, when beatifying Columba Marmion: "May a widespread rediscovery of the spiritual writings of Blessed Columba Marmion help priests, religious and laity to grow in union with Christ, and bear faithful witness to him through ardent love of God and generous service of their brothers and sisters."

Thank you.