Pope Benedict has today canonised Saint Charles of Mount Argus, who although of Dutch nationality, had a strong Irish connection and who spent 28 years in Dublin as a Passionist priest.
Blessed Charles of Mount Argus was declared a saint at a Mass in St Peter's Square in Rome at a ceremony in Rome attended by President Mary McAleese.
The Pope also canonised two priests from Malta and Poland, and a French nun.
Born John Andrew Houben, Blessed Charles was a Dutchman who arrived in Dublin 150 years ago, on July 9th, 1857.He spent 28 years in the city as a Passionist priest.
Blessed Charles in the late 1880s
Such was his fame as holy man and healer that following his death at Mount Argus, in Harold's Cross, in January 1893, his funeral was said to have been bigger than that of Charles Stewart Parnell, which had taken place two years beforehand.
His grave became a place of pilgrimage and in 1949 his remains were moved inside the church at Mount Argus, where his shrine became a place of prayer. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988 and, last February, the Vatican announced he would be canonised.
He was declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1979. The cure of a Dutch woman who had a large inoperable growth in her stomach, led to his beatification by the pope in 1988.
The second miracle, confirmation of which paved the way for his canonisation, took place in Charles's home village of Munstergeleen, in 1999 when he reportedly cured a man whose appendix had ruptured and who faced death.
Some 600 Irish people will be present for today's ceremony, including Mrs McAleese, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, the Garda chaplain Fr Joe Kennedy, who is a Passionist priest, and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. The guests will also include Passionist priests from the community in Harold's Cross and from Scotland, part of the same Passionist province as Ireland.
The parish of Mount Argus is holding a Mass of thanksgiving today to mark the canonisation of Saint Charles. Its main celebrant will be Bishop Ray Field, auxiliary bishop of Dublin and the Mass will be presided over by Bishop Joseph Duffy, bishop of Clogher.
On Tuesday, An Post will issue a 55 cent stamp to mark the canonisation.