The Cause for her Canonization
The history of Mary Ward’s institute is complex and this has been a serious impediment to the cause for her canonization. The Bull of Suppression of 1631 with its imputation of ‘heresy’ was harsh even by 17th century standards. However, it was the 1749 Bull ‘Quamvis Iusto’ prohibiting the recognition of Mary Ward as foundress of the Institute that made it impossible for her cause to be introduced. The recognition by the Church of Mary Ward as foundress did not take place until 1909, and the First World War then presented a further delay. Only in 1922 was a petition to open her cause sent to Pope Pius XI signed by all the bishops of England. The process opened in Middlesborough, Yorkshire in 1929. Soon afterwards permission was obtained to pursue the case simultaneously in Munich where most of the archive material was available.
The historical research was begun by Fr Josef Grisar SJ and completed by Sr Immolata Wetter CJ accompanied by the Postulator Fr Paul Molinari SJ and the Relator Fr Peter Gumpel SJ. This was accepted by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in 1995. The theologians completed their investigation in May 2009 and recommended unanimously that Mary Ward demonstrated ‘heroic virtue’ and that her cause should go forward. This was confirmed by the commission of Cardinals and Bishops in November 2009, and promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI on 19th December of the same year. By this action Mary Ward was officially recognised as ‘Venerable’ by the Church. The diocesan investigation into the ‘miracle healing’ of a boy from Brixen in north Italy in 1936 was opened in the diocese of Bozen-Brixen in July 2010, and was completed in November 2010. The picture on the left shows the opening of the diocesan process. The centre picture is of Franz Putzer, the 12-year old who was suffering from a dangerous form of tubercular meningitis for which there was then no medical cure. His mother prayed that Mary Ward would intercede for her son to be healed. He made a full and rapid recovery. The picture on the right shows Mgr Golser, the bishop of Bozen-Brixen, handing the sealed documents of the case to Dr.Ambrosi, the postulator for the cause of Mary Ward. The documents have now been presented to the Vatican Congregation that will take the process on to its next stage.
The next stage towards Mary Ward’s canonization will be her beatification. For this the Church requires a miracle and you are invited to use the Mary Ward Novena Prayer asking for Mary Ward’s intercession for healing from sickness. You are asked to inform the Generalate of any answers to prayer for the beatification of Mary Ward.
"Our happiness, security and progress are not to be in riches, greatness and favour of princes, but in having open and free access to God Almighty, from where must come our strength, light and protection."
(Mary Ward)
(Mary Ward)