THE CAUSE FOR CANONIZATION

MARY VIRGINIA MERRICK, FOUNDER OF THE CHRIST CHILD SOCIETY

Since the death of Mary Virginia Merrick many people have called her a saint, as she truly was a holy woman. Very few individuals live their lives with such heroic virtue, living ordinary lives in such an extraordinary way that they are our models for others.

The formal inquiry into the life of Miss Mary was begun in 2003 by the Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick. Archbishop McCarrick began the initial cause by first inquiring about Mary Virginia Merrick’s virtue. After his investigation, he wrote to the Vatican to determine any objections to officially beginning the Diocesan phase of investigating the cause. At that time the Vatican indicated it had no objection by issuing a nihil obstat, and the title “Servant of God” was then bestowed upon Mary Virginia Merrick.

Over the past seven years, an intense investigation of Miss Mary’s life has been undertaken. Many of her writings have been transcribed and interviews have been conducted with anyone who may have firsthand knowledge of her life. This information and documentation was presented to the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. In April, 2011, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the current Archbishop of Washington, officially opened the next step of this process. He decreed in The Catholic Standard, the publication of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., that he is “initiating the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God, Mary Virginia Merrick.”

With the opening of the official cause, the Diocese will inquire further into her reputation for holiness and virtue. After this portion of the investigation is completed and approved, the cause will be sent to the Congregation of the Causes of Saints for the Roman phase of the investigation.

Please keep the cause for the canonization of Miss Mary in your prayers.

Kindly forward information in regard to all favors received through the intercession of Mary Virginia Merrick to Kathleen Asdorian, Postulator.

In care of the National Christ Child Society
6110 Executive Blvd, Suite 504, Rockville MD 20852
canonization@nationalchristchildsoc.org