TV special includes Tekakwitha

"It Takes A Miracle," a one-hour ABC News special about the Catholic Church's process for declaring something to be miraculous, includes a section about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha that was videotaped in the Albany Diocese

The special, scheduled to air June 18, 10 p.m., on WTEN, is hosted by correspondent Elizabeth Vargas. Her report focuses primarily on the case of Benedicta McCarthy, a Massachusetts girl who nearly died from an accidental overdose of Tylenol. When her family prayed to Blessed Edith Stein, Benedicta recovered full health.

Those who wanted Blessed Edith to become St. Edith submitted the case to the Vatican as a miracle to attribute to her intercession and lead to her canonization. After ten years of investigation, the Vatican released its finding: The cure of Benedicta (named after Edith Stein, who took the name Sister Benedicta when she entered the convent) was indeed a miracle, and Edith Stein will become a saint this fall.

While the special concentrates on that case, it includes a portion about Blessed Kateri, the Native American who was born and lived in what is now the Albany Diocese. Vargas interviews Rev. John Paret, SJ, of the Shrine, who is promoting Kateri's sainthood cause. He has submitted a possible miracle, involving a Binghamton man, to the Vatican for authentication and attribution to Blessed Kateri's intercession. The show includes many scenes taped at the Shrine of the North American Martyrs in Auriesville.

(06-18-98) [[In-content Ad]]