Catherine's Canonisation Cause

Answers to Prayer

The following are stories of faith and confidence in the intercession of Catherine McAuley:

From Ohio, USA (2007)

On Mercy Day, September 24, we (Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center, Fremont Ohio) received a letter from a recently decease woman's lawyer telling us that we will be receiving $1,000,000 now and an additional $400,000+ in December when the trust has been settled.   I truly believe that Catherine is responsible for this; That it was not a coincidence that we received the letter on Mercy Day.  We received the actual check three days later.  It would be wonderful to have the final check delivered to us on December 12, but that may be asking for more than necessary for  us to believe that this is Catherine's miracle.  As all retreat centers we struggle to make ends meet.  We have been praying and asking God and Catherine what we are do with this ministry.  Catherine said, "If it is of God, it will continue."  We have been blessed. This ministry, and our long tradition of Mercy in this little town, will continue into the future. This is Catherine's miracle! Rejoice with us.

Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center Sponsored Ministry of the Sisters of Mercy Regional Community of Cincinnati Fremont, Ohio, USA

From New Zealand (2007)

These are a few of the blessings and “little miracles” that I believe are as a result of meditations/prayers invoking Catherine McAuley – especially in regard to our son H.

He is now 31 and I believe is recovering from mental illness exacerbated from drug taking (cannabis) – my husband and I were unaware of the extent of its problems until he returned from overseas eight years ago.  Our family had a heartbreaking and stressful time helping him.  Then towards the end of 2005, which was about the time I read about Catherine McAuley and decided it was “up to her” to bless H and to, in some way, help himself / us.

Since then he:

• has re-met a lovely young woman, A (who is a nurse!);
• has established a committed caring relationship with A;
• believes he and A have a long term future;
• has rented a lovely house and garden and has grown a huge vegetable garden;
• has admitted that dope won’t help;
• has enrolled back at University and has passed all exams 2006-07;
• enjoyed summer school and passed two tricky papers;
• is working part-time and managing work, study, relationships happily;
• has insights into mental health issues;
• was recently in the wedding part of a school friend and did “best man duties” exceptionally well.
• Best of all – he has become our dear son / brother again.  He has a great friendship with his Dad and they talk regularly on the phone about cricket and rugby.

Catherine McAuley has actually been part of our family for years as my sister reminded me.  Our cousin was a foundation pupil at McAuley High School in Auckland in the 1960s.

Two aunts and my twin, trained as nurses at the Mater – Mercy Hospital in Auckland, so I guess that influence has always been there – probably my most recent up-dating on her life was when I was teaching at St Matthew’s and we were asked to reflect and research on the founders of our various schools.  St Matthew’s was a Mercy Sisters’ school and it was indeed a blessing to find the charism of Catherine McAuley’s religious order was as relevant today as it was when she founded her religious order. 

Although I have to protect my son’s privacy through all this, if it was required, I could certainly sign my name to any verifying documentation.

God bless
MM

From New Zealand (2007)

I was introduced to Catherine McAuley by my friend Sister Muriel in Auckland, New Zealand.  I read much about Catherine and have become a great admirer of her and what she achieved in a short span of ten years.  I, a practising Anglican, pray to her in all my needs.

In my life I have nursed both my father and husband through terminal cancer.  I now have developed pernicious anaemia and my mother, who has been living with me for the last twenty years became seriously ill in 2006.  She needed constant care and I found this extremely difficult as I no longer had the support I had when nursing my father and husband.  I suffered from lack of sleep and physical exhaustion.

Sister Muriel offered to pray for my mother and through the day I often ask Mother McAuley to help me.

Mother had a serious fall and was taken to hospital   While there an ultra scan revealed a cancerous growth in her bladder and the doctor suspected that the cancer had spread though her system.  As she was close to death I decided not to have further investigations done.  I was exhausted, very stressed and hated seeing my mother in this state.  I was also warned that extreme pain would start when the tumour closed down the bladder.

The hospital phoned to say that my mother could come home and would I come and collect her.  I felt hysterical   I was terrified and didn’t know how I would cope.  I have never felt so alone and desperate.  I saw my picture of Catherine McAuley and she seemed to be looking right at me, she reached out to me and aloud I  prayed to her, with very ounce of my being, to help me.

Approximately five minutes later the phone rang.  The caller was my cousin, Josie, with whom I do not keep in close touch.  She asked me if I knew Barbara P….  I couldn’t believe it as Barbara is a cousin on the other side of my family.  We were once very close and I loved her dearly, was a bridesmaid at her wedding.  After I married I lived in Australia for seven years and lost touch although I have often wondered where she was.  It appears that these two cousins of mine live next door to each other in a country town without knowing the connection.  One day Barbara saw Josie in her yard and called out asking if she was busy.  Josie responded, yes, that she had two family members very ill.  She mentioned Diane and her mother, Pearl.  Amazed, Barbara asked for the surname and address.  These confirmed that Josie was talking about Barbara’s aunt and cousin also. 

Within fifteen minutes of my praying to Mother McAuley Barbara phoned me.  I couldn’t stop crying when I heard Barbara’s voice.  She said she would drive up next day and stay with me till my mother died.

To me this is a miraculous answer to prayer.  I was at a low ebb, terrified and alone.  I hadn’t seen my cousin for twenty years and here she was giving me all the support and help I needed. 

From Scotland (2008)

I am writing to enquire about a prayer card that the priest gave to my family to say for me as I was seriously ill with a mystery virus and a high temperature and couldn't say it for myself.   One night I could see a face in between the statue of Our Lady that was on my fireplace and a picture of St. Teresa on the wall.   It was a lady with a black face.   I was telling my family about it and I think they thought it was the high temperature.   When I came round after a week or so I was given the prayer card of Catherine McAuley and at the side was the face that I had described.   I asked the priest if he knew anything about her and he told me to write to you.