Timeline for Mother Theodore Guerin’s Canonization Process
Dec. 3, 1907: The remains of Mother Theodore Guerin are transferred from the Sisters of
Providence Cemetery to the crypt in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint
Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind.
Oct. 30, 1908: The miracle healing of Sister of Providence Mary Theodosia Mug occurs
after she prays at Mother Theodore’s tomb for the improved health of another Sister of
Providence.
Sept. 8, 1909: Bishop Francis Silas Chatard, bishop of the (then) Diocese of Indianapolis,
grants permission to open the Informative Process of the Cause for the Beatification and
Canonization of Mother Theodore Guerin.
June 30, 1913: The Informative Process ends.
July 25, 1927: The Congregation for the Causes of Saints approves the writings of
Mother Theodore Guerin.
September to November 1937: The process continues with study and interviews in the
Diocese of St. Brieuc and the Diocese of Le Mans, sites in France where Mother
Theodore Guerin lived and ministered.
Dec. 6, 1955: Cardinals at the Vatican vote to continue the Cause for Mother Theodore
Guerin.
Feb. 19, 1956: Pope Pius XII approves and signs Placet Eugenio to continue the Cause.
At the same time, the Apostolic Process of the Cause is formally introduced.
Nov. 5, 1956, to Oct. 20, 1958: Archbishop Paul C. Schulte of the Archdiocese of
Indianapolis presides over the Apostolic Process and conducts meetings at Saint Mary-ofthe-Woods and in Indianapolis.
October 1978: Sister of Providence Joseph Eleanor Ryan arrives in Rome to compile the
Positio, a documented account of the life, work and writings of Mother Theodore Guerin.
May 12, 1988: Vatican historical consultants vote unanimously to approve the Positio.
The approval affirms that the information in the Positio is sufficient to judge the sanctity
of Mother Theodore.
Feb. 15, 1992: Vatican theologians approve the Positio.
July 22, 1992: By Papal Decree, Pope John Paul II grants Mother Theodore Guerin the
title “Venerable” indicating that she lived a virtuous life to a heroic degree.
Nov. 20, 1996: Vatican medical consultants unanimously approve the healing of Sister
Mary Theodosia Mug, through the intercession of Mother Theodore Guerin, as a miracle.
March 25, 1997: Vatican theologians unanimously approve the cure of Sister Mary
Theodosia Mug, through the intercession of Mother Theodore Guerin, as a miracle.
June 3, 1997: Cardinals unanimously approve the cure of Sister Mary Theodosia Mug,
through the intercession of Mother Theodore Guerin, as a miracle.
July 7, 1997: Pope John Paul II accepts the healing of Sister Mary Theodosia Mug,
through the intercession of Mother Theodore Guerin, as a miracle. The acceptance of the
miracle clears the way for the beatification of Mother Theodore.
Oct. 25, 1998: During a beatification ceremony in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Pope
John Paul II grants the title Blessed to Mother Theodore, thus signifying that she is a holy
woman worthy of honor and veneration.
Jan. 23 to April 7, 2003: Formal trial in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to determine
the validity of the claims of a second miracle attributed to Blessed Mother Theodore
Guerin’s intercession.
June 9, 2005: Evidence of a miracle granted through Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s
intercession is approved by a commission of medical examiners appointed by the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome
Jan. 23 to April 7, 2005: Formal trial in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to determine
the validity of the claims of a miracle attributed to Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s
intercession.
June 9, 2005: Evidence of a miracle granted through Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s
intercession is approved by a commission of medical examiners appointed by the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
Nov. 20, 2005: Evidence of a miracle granted through Blessed Mother Theodore
Guerin’s intercession is approved by a commission of theologians appointed by the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome.
Feb. 21, 2006: The Ordinary Congregation of Cardinals in Rome makes a positive
declaration concerning a second miracle attributed to Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s
intercession, opening the way to her canonization.
April 28, 2006: Pope Benedict XVI signs a decree acknowledging the second miracle
attributed to Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s intercession. The pope’s action serves as
the final approval for canonization.
June 21, 2006: The Vatican announces the next Consistory, a meeting between the Pope
and cardinals to consider important matters, is planned for July 1. It is expected that an
announcement about Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin’s canonization will made at that
time.
July 1, 2006: Pope Benedict XVI announces Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin will be
canonized Oct. 15, 2006, during a ceremony at the Vatican.
July 21, 2006: Indiana Governor Mitch Daniel hangs a portrait of soon-to-be Saint
Mother Theodore Guerin in the Governor’s Office during a ceremony in the Indiana
Statehouse in Indianapolis.
Oct. 3, 2006: The remains of Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin are moved to an interim
shrine adjacent to the sanctuary in the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Saint
Mary-of-the-Woods to allow for greater public veneration
Oct. 10, 2006: A portion of U.S. Highway 150 adjacent to the Sisters of Providence
motherhouse grounds is named Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Memorial Highway by
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels. Highway designation signs are placed along the
roadway.
Oct. 15, 2006: Mother Theodore Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint
Mary-of-the-Woods, is canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church during a
ceremony and Eucharistic Liturgy presided over by Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican.
Post-canonization highlights
Oct. 17, 2006: The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments approves the designation of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin as patroness for
the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.
Jan. 23, 2007: Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is awarded the Torchbearer Award by the
Indiana Commission for Women. It is the highest honor for women in Indiana.
Nov. 3, 2007: Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is honored as a Hoosier Pioneer by The
Society of Indiana Pioneers.
May 10, 2008: Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s statue is dedicated in the Marian Garden
outside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington,
D.C.
Oct. 24, 2008: Sisters of Providence Archives staff works with the Indiana Historical
Society to protect and digitize Saint Mother Theodore Guerin’s hand-written documents
of her life, thoughts and events upon her arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.
Oct. 30, 2008: 100th anniversary of the miracle healing of Sister Mary Theodosia Mug.
April 29, 2009: An Indiana historical marker is dedicated on the grounds at Saint Maryof-the-Woods and is located on Grotto Lane near Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto. The
bronze marker commemorates the life of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and her
contributions to the historical foundation of Catholic education in Indiana and other
states.
June 28, 2009: Life-sized statue of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin dedicated at Saint
Mary-of-the-woods. Statue is located near the entrance of the Church of the Immaculate
Conception.
Sept. 29, 2009: Statue depicting Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is dedicated in All Saints
Cemetery in Des Plaines, Ill., a Chicago suburb.
Oct. 16, 2009: The former MacDougal Chapel on the grounds of the Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne, Ind., is rededicated in honor of Saint Mother
Theodore Guerin.
Oct. 23-25, 2009: Inaugural Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Fest, a biennial event at Saint
Mary-of-the-Woods featuring prayer, reflection and celebration of the life of Saint
Mother Theodore. First Fest attended by Pierre Vimont, ambassador to the United States
from France.
Nov. 17, 2009: Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is in the first group of people honored in
Terre Haute’s new Local Legends Walk of Fame. A plaque is placed in a sidewalk in the
downtown area in her honor.
Jan. 26, 2010: A statue of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is blessed in commemoration
of the location of a school she and other Sisters of Providence opened in the diocese of
Fort Wayne-South Bend (Indiana). The location is near the former diocesan chancery
office.
Feb. 14, 2011: Students, faculty and staff of St. Theodore Guerin High School in
Noblesville, Ind., visit Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to present a specially commissioned
icon of the school’s namesake to the Sisters of Providence.
Oct. 21, 2011: Sister Diane Ris, former general superior and successor to Saint Mother
Theodore Guerin, publishes a book titled Saint Mother Theodore Guerin: Woman of
Providence. The book was started by Sister Joseph Eleanor Ryan before her death in
1991.
March 4, 2012: Saint Mother Theodore Guerin is a subject of a 11-minute documentary
on Cable News Network (CNN) in a story titled, The Business of Making Saints.
May 6, 2012: Terre Haute artist Bill Wolfe unveils a six-foot-by-10-foot mural of Saint
Mother Theodore Guerin’s life and arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods. The mural is
placed in the Vigo County Court House rotunda.
Oct. 3, 2012: Dedication of the log cabin chapel, a replica of the chapel where Saint
Mother Theodore Guerin and her traveling companions received the Eucharist upon their
arrival at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.