Fr. Solanus Casey (1870-1957)
Catholic Analysis has a post up on Fr. Solanus Casey of whom he compares to the Curé d'Ars for his lack of academic capabilities and he includes some of his quotes. His post reminded me of an article that included the following from Fr. Benedict Groeschel relating to Fr. Casey.
A Living Saint
Among those who recognized the simple holiness of the tall, bearded priest is Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R., director of the Office for Spiritual Development of the Archdiocese of New York. Fr. Groeschel was eighteen years old in 1950 and in formation at St. Felix Capuchin Novitiate in Huntington, Indiana, where Fr. Solanus lived at the time.
Fr. Groeschel recalled one warm evening that year when, unable to sleep, he slipped into the chapel to pray. "After a few minutes of kneeling in the dark, I realized that someone else was in there. A bit startled, I turned on the spotlight and there was Fr. Solanus, kneeling on the top step of the altar with his arms extended and his eyes riveted on the tabernacle. He was in his late seventies and yet he didn't move a muscle. Although his eyes were open, he didn't know I was there, and he didn't seem to recognize that the light was on. He was a very humble man and he would have moved immediately if he knew that someone was watching him."
Fr. Groeschel could only conclude that the priest was in a kind of "ecstasy," a state of deep mystical prayer in which all his attention was absorbed in Christ. After a few minutes, feeling like an intruder, he turned the spotlight off and quietly left the chapel.
I believe I have heard Fr. Groeschel previously mention that Fr. Solanus would also play his violin in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
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A long time ago, I read a book about Fr. Solanus. It did mention the violin-playing, and that the brothers weren't too fond of it. :)
I'm going to have to look him up, he sounds very interesting!
I am in awe of those who can let their very being be absorbed into the presence of Christ. Saints are among us from time to time, and if we're lucky, the liberals, lesbian nuns, and discendent priests won't run them all off. May the spirit of Father Casey help in preserving the orthodox Roman Catholic Church.
Oh, sister Sledgehammer? I doubt if Fr. Casey ever wore a rainbow sash, or even thought about disrespecting the Church or his superiors let alone the Pope. Now that's a Catholic and a saint. Something I would hope you thought was important.
Thanks for this posting. I had read of Fr. Solanus a couple of years ago. What's amazing in this crass, materialistic world is how the Lord loves and uses those among us who have truly hearts of a small, humble child.
One of saint stories that my kids loved the most when in primary grades at their Catholic school a decade or so ago was the story of St. Joseph of Cupertino. Another one of those priests who barely just slipped into their ordinations and who have souls that literally light the way to heaven.
If we open our eyes and don't judge by appearances, we can see these kinds of saints among us. Maybe even that adult with Downs Syndrome who is serving mass, that brain damaged young woman caring for a baby, that old Italian man growing olive trees where they aren't supposed to grow and praying quietly every morning at the 6:30 am mass, the little, crippled bagger who always smiles while working at the supermarket.
I didn't know anything about Fr. Solanus until I was invited to be in a play about his life back in 2001. I've been part of the production every year since. His life and spirituality are powerful. I've blogged a bit about him today, in relation to the play, which this year will be performed in Duluth, MN (shameless plug).
Thanks be to God for Solanus, a humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.
John, you're so poetic I love reading you!
Was Fr. Solanus also known to be an extraordinary confessor (as in, he knew what you were going to confess when you came to him!), or am I getting him confused with Padre Pio?
Oh, and Lucy, take heart... this is when the saints among us arise.
Father Solanus did not have the right to hear confession. He did council many people and send them to confession by others. As Fr. Groeschel said of him they called him the brother who said mass. He could say mass but not hear confession. I can't remember the term for that.
Peace
It's called a simplex priest. Source:
http://members.aol.com/blfrdamien/solanus.htm
As an expatriate cheese-head living south of the border (i.e. Illinois), allow me to remind everyone that Fr. Solanus was born in Hudson, WI.
He is a most fascinating man to read about. Although when I first heard of him I was discomfitted, since it meant being born in a pedestrian location such as Wisconsin did not exempt one from the obligation to live a life of sanctity. I guess I had felt off the hook, so to speak, since saints came from cool foreign locales. Oh, my. There goes that excuse....
As a Michiganian Catholic, I heard a lot about Father Solanus Casey. He is on of those "Great Little Guys" - humble people who lived a life focused on Christ. (Another one is Frederick Baraga, the first Bishop of Marquette, Michigan.)
The thing about these good people is that they did what they could, wherever they were planted.
I saw the story of Father Solanus on EWTN today. I only wish I had such a kindly Priest when I was growing up. I was afraid of them and left, and the nuns surely never showed God's love. I left the church after I was 18. Of course, I went around for the next 20 years thinking I could never make heaven because I had been excommunicated. I finally came to a loving relationship with God thru the Lord Jesus Christ and realize the church had misrepresented Him. A young child should only be taught of God's love and forgiveness.
I now realize that all believers in Jesus Christ are not excommunicated from Heaven, and He loves us all.
I am writing requesting prayers for my father....Robert Jacques. I read about Father Casey in a book called Miracles.
My father is not a religious man...in fact I don't believe he has any faith at all, but as he has grown older....I do believe he has become a better person. He is now 76 years old and suffering from a problem with his ankle and tailbone. He has been treated for both to no avail and he suffers daily. It has also kept him almost totally housebound and makes doing for himself very difficult. The most difficult of all is that my father has always been an active man....and his disabilities have taken a toll on him both emotionally and physically.
My prayer is...that if it be God's will that my father regain the health of his body and in doing this will realize that this gift is God given and turn himself over to God before he gets any older. Although none of us is sure what eternity holds for us....if heaven is in my future....I would surely like to be able to share it with my parents.
Please help me in asking Father Solanus to pray with me for my father. I am offering up the nine day novena for Father Solanus and will continue to ask Father Solanus to pray for my father throughout the month of August. I thank you all in advance for your prayers.
Sincerely,
L.E.
I have recently learned of Fr. Solanus Casey and love him! He's so neat. I'm educating my friends about him and hope to see him as a saint soon. I love his Irish humor, his humility and his thankfulness for anything and everything ,"Deo
Gratias". We should all be so thankful!! We have some wonderful American people that are candidates for sainthood, such as Fr. Emil Kapaun,who is from Kansas, where I'm from. I feel they are saints anyway but it would be nice to see them receive the title.
I was surfing and found info on Fr Solanus. Just wanted to let people know that he is a powerful intercessor. I was healed of back pain that would put me out of commission for a week at a time for years. When I first heard of him I read a book on his life out of curiosity and the next morning have been totally healed and that has been nearly 20 years. Thanks Barney!
Please can you email me a novena prayer to Fr. Solanus? Thnak you, Monica