9.8.20 - Solanus Casey, the doorkeeper saint

Ademola, here's the doorman saint I mentioned. (almost saint)

Solanus Casey, the Doorkeeper

Solanus Casey spoke in a soft and quiet voice to all who came to him for help. And he prayed. Some say his prayers cured illness. All say his serenity and counsel gave them peace.

He was born into a family with simple faith. He maintained that simple faith all his years. In everything, Solanus took God’s word to heart. He believed every prayer is answered in God’s own way.

He had faithfully served the people of Detroit, MI, Huntington, IN, New York City and Yonkers, NY by providing soup for the hungry, kind words for the troubled, and a healing touch for the ill. Wherever he served, people would line up for blocks for a moment with Solanus.

Solanus spent his life in the service of people. As porter of the Detroit monastery door, he met thousands of people from every age and walk of life. He earned recognition as "The Doorkeeper." He was always ready to listen to anyone at any time, day or night….and to encourage everyone to “thank God ahead of time.”

The Capuchin ministry responsible for sharing the story of Solanus reports that many over the years have asked Solanus for his prayers as an intercessor to God and that those prayers have been answered, often in dramatic ways.

Because of Solanus’ holiness, Pope John Paul II declared him Venerable in 1995. On May 4, 2017, Pope Francis announced that Venerable Solanus would be beatified, November 18, 2017 at Ford Field, Detroit. A miraculous cure had been approved! Another approved miracle after that will advance the cause finally to sainthood.

Often, people think that holiness is unattainable. But Solanus demonstrated that an ordinary person can live an extraordinarily faithful life. He so believed in God that he could not believe that some people questioned God. Such a conviction about the existence of God and God’s love is critical for our age.

Solanus was known for his wonderful ministry of healing and compassion toward people of faith, Catholic and Non-Catholic, Non-Christians and even Atheists. But, like Jesus himself, Solanus’ heart also went out to those who had given up the practice of their faith or had no affiliation with any church community. He saw each person as loved by God and called to share in God’s life.