Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin will celebrate a mass of thanksgiving in Rome today for the canonisation of St Charles of Mount Argus, renowned for his help of Ireland's sick and poor.
Pilgrims will be told at the ceremony at the Basilica of St John and St Paul on Coelian Hill that the Dutch-born saint remains an inspiration for his work in post-famine Ireland.
"Father Charles teaches us that we should never allow the seemingly difficult circumstances in which we minister or witness to lead us to give up on the proclamation of the Gospel," said the archbishop.
"The Dublin of the second half of the 19th century was no Garden of Eden yet Charles touched the hearts of thousands."
Pope Benedict XVI canonised Charles yesterday in a ceremony at St Peter's Square attended by President Mary McAleese.
St Charles, born John Andrew Houben, was known throughout the country for his healing powers. It is said the Passionist priest's funeral in Dublin in January 1893 was bigger than Charles Stewart Parnell's two years earlier.
His remains were moved to a shrine inside Mount Argus Church in Harold's Cross in 1949 where it became a place of prayer.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988 before the Vatican announced last February he would be canonised.
Archbishop Martin, Education Minister Mary Hanafin and Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy were among a 600-strong Irish audience at the canonisation ceremony in Rome. An Post will issue a special 55c stamp tomorrow to celebrate the canonisation