5 Things to Know about the cause for sainthood of Baltimore's Mother Mary Lange

Things to know about the canonization cause for Baltimore’s Mother Mary Lange:

Who was Mother Mary Lange?

Mother Mary Lange helped establish in 1829 the Baltimore-based Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first religious order for women of color. Mother Lange, who also established the first Catholic school for children of color in the United States, was born in Cuba in 1784 and lived in Haiti before coming to Baltimore as a French-speaking immigrant. She died Feb. 3, 1882.

A painting depicts Mother Mary Elizabeth Lange, founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first Catholic order of African American nuns, who work largely in the Baltimore area. Vatican officials are moving ahead with Mother Lange’s sainthood cause. (CNS photo/courtesy of the Catholic Review)

What is the background on her cause for sainthood?

The late Cardinal William H. Keeler began the canonization process for Mother Lange nearly three decades ago while he was archbishop of Baltimore when he submitted a report to the Vatican. Dr. Camille Brown Privette, president of the Mother Mary Lange Guild, wrote a six-page historical document about the history of African Americans from slavery through Reconstruction, Civil Rights Act and other changes that Cardinal Keeler submitted, along with other materials, to the Congregation for Saints Causes at the Vatican. The commission accepted the historical part of the document quickly, but the commission considering the theological part was suspended for a time due to COVID-19 concerns. The commission has since reconvened, and Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori has added his support for Mother Lange’s cause.

What is the status of the request for her canonization?

According to Sister Rita Michelle Proctor, superior general of the Oblate Sisters of Providence, the historical part of the canonization request has been approved. Mother Lange supporters are waiting for approval of the full document (the positio) for sainthood so that it can be passed to Pope Francis with the request that Mother Lange be proclaimed “venerable.” After that, the typical canonization process requires one miracle attributed to her intercession for beatification, and another for canonization. Sister Rita Michelle said Mother Lange proponents are “praying not only for the movement of the positio, but also for a miracle through the intercession of Mother Mary Lange.”

How can we help?

Sister Rita Michelle urges local followers of the cause to keep “praying and encourage others to pray.”

You can say the “Prayer for the Beatification of Mother Mary Lange.”

Almighty and Eternal God, You granted Mother Lange extraordinary trust in Your providence. You endowed her with humility, courage, holiness and an extraordinary sense of service to the poor and the sick. You enabled her to found the Oblate Sisters of Providence and provided educational, social and spiritual ministry, especially to the African American community. Mother Lange’s love for all enabled her to see Christ in each person, and the pain of prejudice and racial hatred never blurred that vision.

Deign to raise her to the highest honors of the altar in order that, through her intercession, more souls may come to a deeper understanding and more fervent love of You.

Heavenly Father, glorify Your heart by granting also this favor (here mention your request), which we ask through the intercession of Your faithful servant, Mother Mary Lange.

Amen.

You also can submit prayer requests and favors received at https://www.motherlange.org/favors-asked-favors-received

How can we contribute monetarily?

The Mother Lange Guild is holding a “Ten-Dollar Gift Drive” to assure it has funds to keep moving forward Mother Lange’s cause for sainthood. To make an online donation, visit https://www.motherlange.org/

To read more about Mother Mary Lange’s cause for sainthood visit:

https://catholicreview.org/mother-lange-cause-for-canonization-seeks-prayers/

https://www.motherlange.org/