About Blessed Solanus Casey

Get to Know Bl. Solanus

In life, Blessed Solanus Casey spoke in a soft and quiet voice to all who came to him for help. And he prayed. Some say his prayers cured illness. All say his serenity and counsel gave them peace. Since his death in 1957, his example continues to inspire others that the path to sainthood is open to all.

Humble frontier beginnings

The Casey family in 1892. Blessed Solanus is in the back row, third from left.

Bernard Francis Casey was born into an Irish immigrant family in 1870 in Oak Grove, Wisconsin. The family practiced a simple faith on what was then the American frontier. Blessed Solanus would maintain that simple faith throughout his life. In everything, Blessed Solanus took God’s word to heart. He believed every prayer is answered in God’s own way.

In 1958, the Capuchin Minister General called Bl. Solanus “an extraordinary example of a true Capuchin and a replica of St. Francis.”

This tribute confirmed the many reports that been coming in from people everywhere about the outstanding virtues of Blessed Solanus.

He had faithfully served the people of Detroit, Huntington, Indiana, New York City and Yonkers, New York by providing soup for the hungry, kind words for the troubled, and a healing touch for the ill. Wherever he served, people would line up for blocks for a moment with Blessed Solanus.

Cause for canonization

The Father Solanus Guild was established in 1960 with a mission of sharing the holiness and spirituality of Blessed Solanus and to promote his cause for canonization. Soon after his death in 1957, reports of favors received through his intercession began to arrive. The holiness of Blessed Solanus led Pope John Paul II to declare him Venerable in 1995. On May 4, 2017, Pope Francis announced that Venerable Solanus would be beatified. On November 18, 2017 at Ford Field in Detroit, a crowd numbering 70,000 participated in the celebration of the Mass of Beatification for Blessed Solanus Casey. A miraculous cure had been approved! Another approved miracle after that will advance the Cause finally to sainthood, and the man born Bernard Francis Casey will be known thereafter as St. Solanus Casey.

Blessed Solanus spent his life in service of people. As the porter of St. Bonaventure Monastery, he met thousands of people from every age and walk of life. He earned recognition as “The Doorkeeper.” He was always ready to listen to anyone at any time, day or night and to encourage everyone to “thank God ahead of time.”

The example of Blessed Solanus

Blessed Solanus example shows that holiness is attainable. He demonstrated that an ordinary person can live an extraordinarily faithful life. Pilgrimages to the Solanus Casey Center lead the pilgrim to discover that we are all capable of living a faith-filled life, and that each of us is on a road to sainthood.

Solanus Casey so believed in God that he could not believe that some people questioned God. Such a conviction about the existence of God and God’s love is critical for our age. Solanus Casey’s understanding of faith speaks to the hearts of people. His faith was steadfast. He demonstrates to us that faith is the cornerstone to our existence. A pilgrimage to the Solanus Casey Center is a trek to reinforce or rediscover our faith and love for God and God’s unconditional love for us.

Blessed Solanus was known for his ministry of healing and compassion toward people of faith, Catholic and non-Catholic, people of other faiths and even those who profess no faith. But, like Jesus himself, Solanus Casey’s heart also went out to those who had given up the practice of their faith or had no affiliation with any church community. He saw each person as loved by God and called to share in God’s love. A pilgrimage to the Solanus Casey Center will reflect how we might embody some of his attitudes in our own relationships.

The Capuchin charism at the Solanus Casey Center

The Solanus Casey Center is a spiritual oasis where souls are nourished. It is a place of peace and the presence of God’s healing grace experienced through the intercession of Blessed Solanus. It is an anchor of authentic Catholic values and spirituality for generations past, present and future.