February 27, 2011. The path to sainthood is a long road that may or may not end with the pope canonizing someone as a saint. The step before canonization is the opening of a cause for beatification, something that doesn't happen at every Mass, especially in places like Kansas City, Missouri. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception recently had this honor for Sister Marie de Mandat-Grancey. The French nun and founder of the House of the Virgin Mary.
Robert Finn is the bishop of Kansas City and during a pilgrimage he took to Mary's house he was introduced to the Archbishop Franceschini. Franceschini later asked Bishop Finn to take up the cause due to the lack of resources and personnel in his own diocese.
Sister Marie was born into a noble family in 1837. However, she chose to give away all her possessions to join the Daughters of Charity.
While serving as superior of a naval hospital in Turkey she began working to identify the House of Mary in Ephesus.
The house is located in present-day Turkey, which according to tradition is where the Virgin Mary was taken by Saint John to live until her assumption.
It serves as a shrine for both Christians and Muslims who offer “their petitions to the Mother of God, Theotokos, and to the Lady of the Koran.” It has become a place of pilgrimage with millions of people visiting every year, the majority of which are Muslim.
Pope Benedict XVI, John Paul II, and Paul VI have all celebrated Mass there.
Her cause for beatification is now being prepared for presentation to the Vatican. The Pope will then decide whether or not to beatify the nun, something that the diocese of Kansas City will be closely following.
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Catholic Diocese of Kansas City
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