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3 YOUR PALM BEACH COMMUNITY Florida Catholic Aug. 12-25, 2016 SAINTHOOD ficials that the candidate, in fact, Father Glen lived a virtuous life, had faith and Pothier, FROM 1 had the support and help of God. diocesan Miracles are also evidence adjtant that God is working through that judical vicar, Parish and is former director of the person. The miracles required seals papers diocesan Liturgy Office, was diag- for sainthood are usually medi- during nosed with the most severe stage of cally baffling healings, received formal metastatic malignant melanoma in response to prayers addressed ceremonies cancer 12 years ago. He prayed for to the candidate. In general, two July 11 at the diocesan healing through the intercession of miracles are needed for saint- Pastoral Father Brandsma. Members of the hood: one for beatification and the Center in Carmelite Order, parishioners of second for canonization. Martyrs, Palm Beach St. Jude, friends, family and faith- however, can be beatified without Gardens. ful from around the diocese prayed a miracle and need only a super- Father as well and Father Driscoll is can- natural phenomenon and miracle Pothier cer free. If the pope determines for canonization. serves as that the miracle evidence is clear Father Brandsma, a Dutch Car- episcopal and that contrary reports are not melite, distinguished teacher, delegate in credible, he may initiate the can- lecturer, journalist and adviser the current onization procedure and Father for Catholic editors and newspa- diocesan Brandsma may become one of the pers in Holland, was killed by the investigation Church’s next saints. Nazis, who invaded the country into an The solemn opening was at- in 1940. He was dedicated to the alleged tended by Carmelite priests and mission of the Church and put miracle. some parishioners from St. Jude. his life on the line defending faith Other Carmelites serving in the and freedom of the Catholic press. diocese were also on hand, along He fought against the promotion with diocesan officials. The event, of Nazi propaganda in newspa- a first for the Diocese of Palm pers as required by German law Beach, involved prayers, recog- and the spread of Nazi ideology. nitions, the presenting of docu- He also defended the right of the ments, signing and sealing of pa- Church to educate students sent perwork, and the taking of oaths to Catholic schools, including as part of the strict and important non-Catholics. He was arrested in Church proceedings. January 1942. “We have such a devotion to He was eventually sent to Titus Brandsma and all that he Dachau concentration camp in represents,” said Father Esposito. Germany, where he joined 2,700 “Blessed Titus was a true blue, we other imprisoned clergy, most of might say, Carmelite friar. He was them Catholic priests. Witnesses shy yet brave, an intellectual able at the camp later gave testimony to make himself understood by all saying that Father Brandsma nev- kinds of people, and ultimately, er hesitated to witness his faith when the time came to put his life and his love of God, even praying on the line for Christ, he did so for the guards who tortured him without hesitation.” and the nurse who finally killed “This is my first diocesan inqui- him. ry regarding an alleged miracle,” Six months after arriving at said Father Glen Pothier, adjutant Dachau, he was placed in the judicial vicar of the diocesan Of- camp hospital where he was a fice of Tribunal/Canonical Affairs. subject for medical experimenta- As part of the diocesan investiga- tion. He died July 26, 1942, after tion, Bishop Barbarito appointed an injection of carbolic acid. He Father Pothier to serve as episco- was 61. A small group of people, including parishioners from St. Jude Parish in Boca Raton and Carmelite priests pal delegate. In this role, he serves The nurse who gave him the from the parish, attend formal ceremonies July 11 at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Palm Beach Gardens. as a representative for Bishop Bar- lethal injection later testified that (PHOTOS BY LINDA REEVES | FC) barito in the inquiry, and acts “on Father Brandsma had prayed for his behalf,” said Father Pothier. her. Some reports say that he gave Father Driscoll’s incredible heal- plained Father Dello Russo. “As “That does not mean that he her his rosary and asked her to ing of aggressive malignant can- the promoter of justice, which is (Bishop Barbarito) is not involved. pray, and that the nurse, a fallen cer and good health over the past a required office in this process, Later, he will attest to the efforts Catholic, experienced a conver- 12 years — which defies all odds it is my job ultimately to sign off of the tribunal before sending the sion, a miracle in itself that car- — involves witnesses including for the Holy See that everything acts of the case to the Congrega- ried a hefty price tag but for the medical experts, questions, depo- prescribed by law in the process tion for the Causes of Saints in glory of God. sitions and document investiga- has been faithfully observed … to Rome,” Father Pothier said about Father Brandsma was declared tion. If the case is deemed by the see that all the acts (interrogation, the department of the Roman Cu- a martyr of the Catholic Church Vatican to be a miracle that oc- testimony, documents) have been ria, which oversees the complex and beatified in Rome by St. John curred through the intercession gathered in a thorough manner process that leads to the canon- Paul II in Nov. 1985. Since then, of Blessed Titus Brandsma and and that the process has included ization of saints. the promotion of his cause for approvals come from Pope Fran- all necessary information, pro Father Pothier explained that sainthood has been in progress. cis, the canonization procedure and con, for the Holy See, which as episcopal delegate, he will be “We have been praying as a may be initiated. will allow for a just and unbiased coordinating the investigation community. Blessed Brandsma Father Albert Dello Russo judgment. I will also be involved and keeping the process going in represents the spirituality of our serves as promoter of justice for with the interrogation of wit- an orderly manner. He will cite Carmelite order,” said Carmelite the investigation. He points out nesses and medical experts, along the witnesses for interviews as Father Guy Fiano, parochial vicar that this case is a first for the dio- with Father Pothier. The promoter A framed photo of Blessed well as other people who are re- at St. Jude, about the holy man of cese and “a great opportunity for of justice must be a priest, compe- Titus Brandsma, a Carmelite quired to be present during the prayer who had a deep relation- catechesis of the faithful.” tent in theology and canon law.” priest and martyr, is displayed investigation. ship with Christ, especially in the “I know Father Michael Driscoll People are asked to continue to during ceremonies and the The Church meticulously in- silence of his jail cell and up until as a priest of our diocese, however, pray for Father Driscoll and for the formal opening of the diocesan vestigates a saint candidate’s his death. I was not familiar with his medi- success of the investigation that investigation into an alleged life and death. Evidence must be According to diocesan offi- cal condition or the role of Blessed shines a glowing light not only on miracle attributed to his presented to convince Church of- cials, the local investigation into Titus Brandsma in his cure,” ex- the martyr, but on the people here intercession. .

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