Saint Mother Marianne Cope - Photos

 Wooden statue of Saint Mother Marianne Cope that was temporarily housed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.  Same Cathedral where Father Damien was ordained.

 Following the canonization, Honolulu celebrated its newest saint with a special mass at the Cathedral, procession of the relic to the only royal palace in the United States, Iolani Palace.

The reliquary of Saint Mother Marianne Cope is on the opposite side of the Saint Damien reliquary in front of the adoration chapel in the Cathedral.  It is taken out for special occasions for veneration.


Saint Mother Marianne Cope,
you left your homeland, and you left your adopted home to care for those unloved, sick and forgotten in the Hawaiian islands.
Please intercede for those who continue to be marginalized by society.  Help us to love them as you loved the people on Kalaupapa.  We ask this to Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen

St. Mother Marianne Cope

"The Beloved Mother of the Outcasts"

Today is the feast of our beloved saint and one of the Church's newest saints recently canonized. Today would also have been her 175th birthday.  The following are excerpts pertaining to Mother Marianne's death from the late Sister Mary Laurence Hanley, OSF's biography of St. Marianne Cope entitled A Song of Pilgrimage and Exile.

"Although her body's strength was failing, Mother Marianne's consideration for others continued until she drew her last breath.  She still thought first of her daughters, just as they found comfort in taking care fo her.  All too well acquainted with the exactions of Sister Death, they did not grieve for their Mother, soon to be released from pain and suffering.  They sorrowed for themselves knowing that soon they would be left without the leader who, as the instrument of God's Will, had given meaning to their lives..."

"Now came the time of greatest anguish of the body. The torment was more than ever Mother Marianne could endure in silence."...During those sleepless nights,...she used to cry out loud, 'Sweet Heart of Jesus, pity me.  Pity me.'  She used to say it so pleadingly."

"And now, for her too, as St. Francis had promised his brothers, 'when death draws near the storm will cese, and there will be a great peace.'"

"As soon as she was anointed all fear left her...."

Photos from Saint Marianne's Day Celebration

In honor of Hawaii's newly canonized saint, the diocese of Honolulu and friends joined in together for a Mass of Thanksgiving, procession of her relic to Iolani Palace, followed by an inter-faith civic celebration, veneration of the relic back at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace.  I was pleasantly surprised to see Bishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco.  (I actually got close enough to mouth "Hello Bishop!  Welcome!  He smiled as if pleased that he was recognized.)

The following is from our dear Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI:

Plenary Indulgence for Celebrations Honoring St. Marianne Cope

"By decree of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, through he Apostolic Penitentiary, a Plenary Indulgence is granted to any of the faithful who take part in any celebration honoring the Sainthood of Mother Marianne Cope, especially the veneration of her holy relic, anytime during the Year of Faith (Oct. 11, 2012 - November 24, 2012).  The conditions that must be fulfilled:  sacramental confession  reception of Holy Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father  with the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, and the invocation, 'St. Marianne Cope, pray for us.'  The plenary Indulgence may be applied to oneself or to a faithful soul in Purgatory.

Those believers, who, due to old age, sickness, or for any other serious reason, are incapacitated, will be able to obtain the plenary indulgence, if, abhorring any type of sin and with the intention to fulfill, as soon as possible  the three usual conditions  they are spiritually close to the celebrations in honor St. Marianne Cope, through their own prayers and sufferings, or with the difficulties of their own life offered by them to the mercy of God."

Waiting for the Procession to Iolani Palace

Faithful waiting for the relic's procession

Bishop Silva being greeted by the faithful 

Our dear bishop looking content

Bishop Cordileone

The Knights of Columbus escorting St. Marianne Cope's holy relic

Visiting bishops processing with St. Marianne Cope's relic

Arrival at the gate of Iolani Palace - Oli Kahea and Oli Komo (Hawaiian
tradition - Seek Permission to enter the grounds of Iolani Palace - Chanted

The Royal Societies including the Royal Order of Kamehameha I welcoming the Holy relic at its arrival

Mamo Hawaii Les Correa of teh Royal Order of Kamehameha I
carrying the Reliquary to the grounds of Iolani Palace

The bishops' arrival at the Pavillion

A prayer of welcome by Bishop Larry Silva

A very joyful Knight of Columbus

Iolani Palace