Father Paul Smolikowski, C.R. was a Resurrectionist priest whose life spanned the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. His devotion to Christ and the Church was legendary. Recently, he has been honored by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, a Vatican office which investigates the claims of those who advocate for Christians who have lived holy lives. The Congregation has determined after detailed investigation that Father Paul lived a life of heroic virtue. He is now listed among the “Servants of God” and can be called “Venerable.” The next stage in the process of declaring someone an example for the entire church is in being declared “Blessed.” The final determination whether a Christian can be declared a model for the entire Catholic Church is the declaration that a person like Father Paul was, and is, a saint.
We can now pray to Venerable Paul Smolikowski, asking him to intercede for us before the throne of God. Should a healing occur as a result of prayer for his intercession, documentation can be introduced to the Congregation asking that an official miracle be declared. If the documentation proves that the acclaimed healing is actually a special intervention of God, then a candidate can be declared a “Blessed.” Should a second miracle be certified, the candidate can then be declared a saint of the church. it sounds like a simple process but it’s not. The Church is deliberate and thorough in its investigation of purported miracles. The documentation for an alleged miracle must include the following:
- 1. The medical condition was incurable.
- 2. The alleged healing must have been obtained through the intercession of the sanctified person specifically. Often a relic of the person is applied to the sick person and this is noted.
- The healing must be complete. There must be no evidence of any residual disease in the patient.
- The healing must be instantaneous. Overnight is such an example. All these conditions must be met and documents proving the various conditions must be supplied by medical personnel.
If through the intercession of Venerable Paul, someone is cured completely and instantaneously of a fatal disease, he could be declared among the “Blesseds” of the Church. What that means is that his name can be used in public worship and a special Liturgy of the Eucharist may be prepared with prayers addressed to the Lord through the intercession of the Blessed. We pray that Father Paul Smolikowski, one of the heroic members of the Resurrectionists, may be raised to the honors of the altar.
The Chicago and Joliet Resurrectionists have taken the cause of Father Paul to heart. His intercession is being sought for special blessings for the people we serve in our parishes.
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