The Cause of Blessed Charles of Mount Argus
Fr. Anthony O'Leary C.P. (dateline March 2003)

For many Dubliners Mount Argus is inextricably connected with this quiet Dutchman, who died in January 1893. Father Charles came to Dublin in 1857, one year after the establishment of the Monastery. The Passionists conducted their first Mission in Ireland in St Audeon's, High Street in 1849 and the favourable impression which they made elicited an invitation to establish a base in Ireland for their preaching apostolate.

The leader appointed for Dublin was Fr Paul Mary Pakenham, a member of a landed family and related to the Duke of Wellington. Within nine months of arrival Fr Paul Mary died. The need for another priest in the Community led to the appointment of the miller's son from Limbourg to Dublin. Things were never to be the same again.

Fr Charles threw himself into the life and work of the Community. His letters tell us of 'hearing confession from morning to evening nearly every day'. But he was also aware of the reality of life in a city where 'thousands neither go to confession nor make their Easter Communion'. In the course of his daily work people discovered that God had given Charles the gift of healing and many came to seek his help. He prayed with the people and blessed them with the relic of St Paul of the Cross. The name of Father Charles spread throughout Ireland and into the Irish diaspora in Britain, America and even Australia. At first he came down the stone stairs from his cell to receive his visitors individually, but when the numbers made this impractical, set times were arranged, one in the mid-morning and another in the mid-afternoon. These are the same times at which the Blessing with the Relic is still given in the Church.

The memory of Father Charles remained vibrantly alive among the people. Families passed down stories of graces and cures effected through his intercession. There was a desire to see Father Charles recognised publicly, as a holy person whose life could be an example for Christians. So the task of gathering up his letters and other pieces of evidence about his life was undertaken. Fr Gerald O'Boyle was the prime mover and was Vice Postulator until his death in 1968. Fr Oliver Kelly was the next Vice Postulator and it was during his tenure that the great step of Beatification was taken in 1988. After the Beatification the Office of Vice Postulator was vested in the Superior of the House and a member of the Community was appointed to attend to the day-to-day affairs. The late Fr John Francis Morris, Fr Linus Kelly and I have fulfilled this role.

Many letters come each week asking for prayers and information about Blessed Charles. In the recent past there have been requests from the USA, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Italy as well as many from the UK, but the bulk of the correspondence comes from all over Ireland. Over many years Fr Brian D'Arcy has alerted people to him through his newspaper column and his broadcasts. There are very few moments in the day when there is no one at the Tomb of Blessed Charles in the Church. A constant flow of people come to ask his help in their need. A faithful group of people prays at the monthly Healing Mass.

People sometimes ask how the Cause of Blessed Charles is going or will he be canonised soon? The Cause is like Fr Charles himself. He did things quietly and without great notice. Many instances of healing are morally certain, but do not have the documentation to enable presentation to the Roman Authorities. For the canonisation of a Beatus, a miracle which occurred since his Beatification, would need to be accepted as authentic. The Roman Authorities would have to agree to propose Blessed Charles as an example for the Universal Church. It is in God's Providence when He will offer us this renewed assurance of his approval of our quiet Dutchman, who loved the Irish so deeply.