Central West End building at center of "very rare" Catholic cause

By Mike Garrity

KSDK -- A global effort is underway to make an American Priest a Saint in the Catholic Church.

The cause is now officially based in St. Louis' Central West End.

St. Louis' former Archbishop, Raymond Burke, calls it a cause close to his heart.

For several days Burke has been back in St. Louis, from his new post at The Vatican, all for a visit, centered in large part around an effort he's helping to spearhead.

Burke and others are investigating the life of an American Jesuit Priest, Father John Hardon, who died in 2000.

They are working to make a case for Hardon to become a Saint.

A former convent in the Central West End, right next to the Cathedral Basilica Grade School, has become the center of this cause.

Some in the neighborhood have wondered why droves have boxes and other items were being brought into the two-story brick building at 4440 Maryland Avenue.

The building was selected, in large part by Archbishop Burke, and since then Father Hardon's writings and personal effects have been shipped to the former convent for study.

Monday afternoon, the building was blessed by Burke, as the official "Father Hardon Archive."

It is now open to the public by appointment.

Hardon wrote about 40 books on the Catholic faith, including, "The Catholic Catechism" back in 1975, and, "Modern Catholic Dictionary" in 1980.

Archbishop Burke says the books have helped many people join the Catholic Church.

Burke says years ago Hardon was also one of the first in the church to use the Internet to communicate his faith.

Archbishop Burke expects it will be years before Father Hardon could be canonized a Saint.

The cause will have to prove, through independent scientist verification, that Father Hardon was associated with two miracles.

Already Burke says there's a call to investigate a claim that Father Hardon was involved in the healing of a young Illinois man.

"There've already been some things happen with one young person who was very sick, and who unexplainedly the illness disappeared, and so we have some favors already that have been granted that we need to examine," says Burke. "It's a grandson of some people who were very close to Father Hardon, worked with him, and they were praying for his intercession."

Related link: www.hardonsj.org