History of the Cause for Beatification of the Servant of God
Frederic i. Baraga First Bishop of Marquette
1868
Father Jacker delivers the eulogy on the life and holiness of Baraga.
1930
Founding of the Bishop Baraga Association to promote the cause for the beatification and canonization of Bishop Frederic Baraga. Joseph Gregorich begins locating, microfilming, translating, and cataloging of historical documentation of Bishop Baraga’s life/activities and personal correspondence from 1831-1967. Documents were obtained from 5 countries and were translated from 3 languages. This process took the next 40 years.
Pictured, Bishop Baraga Association Founder, Joseph Gregorich.
1952
Bishop Thomas Noa establishes a Diocesan Historical Commission to collect the documents concerning the life, ministry and writings of Bishop Baraga.
1970
Joseph Gregorich completes the work of compiling documentation on the life and labor of Bishop Baraga.
1972
The Ordinary Process of the diocesan phase is conducted in the Diocese of Marquette under the direction of Bishop Charles Salatka, and the acts are transmitted to the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints. At the November U.S. Bishops’ meeting, 194 bishops signed a petition to Pope Paul VI, asking that the cause for the beatification and canonization of Bishop Baraga, apostle to the Indians in the upper Great Lakes region and first Bishop of Marquette, be expedited.
1998
The Positio on the life, the reputation for sanctity and the virtues of Bishop Baraga is completed and accepted by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Ten years later in December, the Positio receives the overwhelming approval of the historical consultors to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
2010
A diocesan process to investigate an alleged miracle through the intercession of Bishop Baraga is concluded with a positive judgment, and the acts of the process are transmitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
2011
In March 2011, the theological consultors to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints give their unanimous vote in favor of the heroic virtue of Bishop Baraga, noting especially his missionary zeal, and recommended his cause proceed to beatification.
2012
Bishop Baraga is declared Venerable.
2018
An inquiry was opened into a new potential cure of unexplained origin.
2019
An inquiry is closed and is sent for review by the Medical Commission of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
