Why is he canonized?
Brandsma was a fierce opponent of National Socialism. When the NSB wanted to place advertisements in Catholic newspapers in 1941, Brandsma traveled to all the editorial offices to strongly advise against this. Shortly afterwards, Brandsma was arrested by the Germans. He was imprisoned in Kamp Amersfoort and was deported to Dachau concentration camp. More clerics were imprisoned there. Brandsma died on July 26, 1942, a few weeks after arrival.
Because he had to pay with death for his resistance to National Socialism, the Catholic Church considers Titus Brandsma a martyr. He was beatified in 1985. In order to be canonized subsequently, a miracle is necessary that is directly attributed to Brandsma. The Vatican rules that this was the case with the medically inexplicable recovery of American Father and Priest Michael Driscoll.
When Driscoll got skin cancer in 2004, he prayed for a cure at the intercession of Titus Brandsma. Against all odds, he got better and the disease has not returned. The Vatican sees this as a miracle in which Titus Brandsma had a hand.
How does such a canonization work?
To determine whether someone can be canonized, the Catholic Church spends years extensive research into the possible miracle. If the pope concludes that there was a miracle, the way to canonization is open.
Titus Brandsma will be canonized today along with nine others during a special mass on Sint Pietersplein. The last Dutchman to whom this happened was the Limburg father Karel Houben in 2007.
On St. Peter’s Square, banners will display the faces of Titus Brandsma and the nine other new saints. Bishops from all over the world are present at the ceremony, including three from the Netherlands.
In addition, at least two hundred Dutch pilgrims traveled to Rome for the ceremony. During Mass, the Pope will read a statement that concludes that he “defines Titus Brandsma as a saint” and that he “orders that Titus Brandsma be devoutly honored throughout the Church”.
Holy, then what?
If someone is canonized, believers can pray through that person’s intercession. That means that if they pray to God, they can ask the saint to “put in a good word” for them with God. The Catholic Church says that saints are close to God.
Some saints are honored as the protector of a particular city or profession. Because Titus Brandsma stood up against National Socialism and for freedom of the press, an international group of more than sixty journalists argues in favor of making him the patron saint of journalism, but nothing has been decided yet.
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