The journey from serving children in her community during the 1800s to sainthood took another step this week when Bishop David Ricken formally recognized Adele Brice as a Servant of God.
The declaration is the first step on the path to sainthood for Brice, a Belgian immigrant who was visited by the Virgin Mary in October 1859 and called to dedicate her life to catechism and teaching local children God’s word.
During the Great Peshtigo Fire in 1871, Brice gathered area residents at the chapel and prayed for Mary’s protection from the blaze. While the fire destroyed much of the surrounding area, the grounds where the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion now sits remained largely untouched.
Brice was buried on the chapel grounds in 1896. Over the years, many have pointed to visits to the shrine as the source of miracles in their lives, leading Ricken to designate the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion as the first approved Marian apparition shrine in the United States.
Earlier this month, Ricken called on area Catholics to submit testimony as he considered nominating Brice for canonization, which led to this week’s announcement.
Shrine Rector Fr. Anthony Stephens said this is something rarely done in the United States and is unprecedented in the Diocese of Green Bay.
Ricken will promulgate the decree during Solemn Vespers at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay at 7 p.m., which coincides with Brice’s 195th birthday.
According to the Archdiocese of San Francisco, there are 11 American saints and nearly 20 others who are considered “blessed” or “venerable.” There are four major steps to sainthood: request for canonization, determination, beatification and canonization.
