Every day of the year, retired Viatorians living in the Province Center offer up a prayer during their morning Mass for the
Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General
beatification of their founder, Fr. Louis Querbes.
Now, their prayers may be answered. Some 12 years after Fr. Querbes was declared a “Servant of God” in Lyons, France, and two years after the beatification process officially began in Rome, there is news to report.
On Tuesday, Fr. Robert M. Egan, CSV, Superior General, told the worldwide Viatorian Community that the cause of Fr. Querbes is advancing.
Fr. Louis Querbes
“I am very happy to inform you,” Fr. Egan said, “that the Postulator for the Cause of Father Querbes, Msgr. Paolo Rizzi, has informed us that that the Commission of Cardinals of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints will examine the cause of Father Querbes some time in the first two weeks of October.”
Members of the Commission of Cardinals will review position papers documenting Fr. Querbes’ life and ministry. If they find him to be a person of “heroic virtue,” he would be named venerable. The next step on the road to sainthood would be to document miracles attributed to the intercession of Fr. Querbes.
International flags drape the grave of Fr. Louis Querbes in Vourles, France, representing all the countries where Viatorians have advanced his charism.
Fr. Egan urged members of the community to pray for the intercession of Fr. Querbes in obtaining a positive outcome of this new step. Once the Commission of Cardinals have completed their deliberations, they will present their decision to Pope Francis.
Back in 2007, on the day Fr. Querbes was named a Servant of God, Fr. Mark Francis, CSV, then Superior General, celebrated a Mass in the church Fr. Querbes had built in Vourles, France.
“I am convinced Fr. Querbes is speaking to us today,” Fr. Francis said. “He is telling us to be confident in the future; that our faith in Christ can help us to overcome any obstacle. God is with us!”