The Pope is to canonise a new Saint for Ireland in a ceremony at St Peter's Square on Sunday.President Mary McAleese will be among hundreds of Irish pilgrims who will travel to Rome to see Pope Benedict XVI declare a new Saint for Ireland.
Blessed Charles of Mount Argus, who was born in Holland, spent most of his life ministering in the south Dublin suburb of Mount Argus, and will be canonised in an open-air ceremony on Sunday morning.
Other guests set to attend the ceremony include the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Vincent Jackson, the Garda Commissioner, Mr Noel Conroy and the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, who was Actor for the Cause of Blessed Charles.
Saint-To-Be Was Much Loved Around Dublin
Blessed Charles was a much-loved figure in the capital and around Ireland at the turn of the last century for his devotion to the sick and healing.
Born John Andrew Houben in Mustergleeen, Holland in 1821, he joined the Passionist Order at the age of 19.
Transferred first to England, he came to Mount Argus just as it was being founded and travelled around Ireland raising funds to help build it.
He grew to love Dublin and its people and spent his time working with the ill and dying in the community.
Irish people travelled from all over the country to meet Blessed Charles when word of his tremendous healing power spread.
His funeral in January 1893 drew thousands of people to Mount Argus, where he lay in state for five days.
His remains were moved to a Shrine in the Church in 1949.
Today, people still regularly visit the relic of Blessed Charles in Harold's Cross.
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