In Manhattan’s Columbus Hospital Extension, 16 years ago, an hour-old infant lay near death. A nurse, later adjudged to have been “tired,” had bathed his eyes with the wrong solution of silver nitrate, 50% instead of 1%, which had blinded him, seared his cheeks with deep furrows, and with its fumes caused pneumonia. Though his doctor had given the infant up as hopeless, a Missionary Sister of the Sacred Heart, which maintained the hospital, obtained the doctor’s permission to pin on the babe’s clothing a medal of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini,founder of the Sacret Heart Order.
Within 72 hours the infant’s blackened eyes were healed, his pneumonia gone, his cheeks unscarred. So, four years ago, testified Dr. Michael J. Horan and two colleagues, before a Chicago tribunal investigating the sanctity of Mother Cabrini, an Italian-born U. S. citizen who died in Chicago in 1917 (TIME, Sept. 18, 1933). The tribunal declared that the triple healing was “a wonder performed by supernatural power as sign of some special mission, and explicitly ascribed to God.” In Manhattan last fortnight declared Dr. Horan, a Catholic: “The average man does not believe in miracles. I saw one.”
In The Bronx, reporters hunted up Peter Smith, the beneficiary of the miracle, found him to be a clear-eyed youth, engaged in commuting daily to Manhattan’s Cathedral College where he is a sophomore studying for the priesthood. Peter Smith’s “wonder,” cited as a reason why the Catholic Church should make a saint of Mother Cabrini. last week helped advance her one step on the long road to canonization. In the Vatican, Pope Pius XI and his Congregation of Rites approved the “heroic virtues” of the energetic, well-born nun, directed that she be called “Venerable.”
Before Mother Cabrini may be beatified, with the title “Blessed,” two or more new miracles must be performed through her intercession. Since the Church in its investigations must winnow authentic “wonders” out of hundreds of minor cases of coincidence, hysteria, or self-hypnosis, and even well-meaning fraud, the reputation of the candidate must become widespread so that thousands of faithful may actively pray for miracles to happen. Last week an organization called the Cabrini Cavaliers, formed last year, made ready to seek 100,000 petitioners for Mother Cabrini’s early canonization.
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