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One hundred years ago today, on Monday 5 October 1926, Mother Mary Joseph Aubert, Suzanne to her family and Meri Hohepa to the first people of our land in Aotearoa, was laid to rest in Karori Cemetery Wellington after a Requiem Mass in St. Mary of the Angels in Boulcott Street.

I like that when we speak of Meri Hohepa we name places that we know.

The twenty-five year old Suzanne Aubert arrived (from France) in Auckland in 1860 where she began her mission among the poor. Then to Hawkes Bay (Meeanee / Pakipaki) before establishing her better known mission in Hiruhārama (Jerusalem – Whanganui River) then moving to Wellington for the last years of her life.

We know these communities since this is our land.

The Lambton Quay image above from the day of her funeral illustrates the mind and the mood of the people of the time who knew her to be a saint.

From the time of her death the people of our land have taken every step and followed every process to let the Congregation for the Causes of Saints know what we already know: the life of Suzanne Aubert is one of heroic virtue and profound intimacy with God.

In short Suzanne Aubert is a Saint of God and we know this.

Eight hundred years ago (October 1252) one of the world’s best-known saints Francis of Assisi died and within a couple of years of his death was recognised as a Saint of the Church.

In recent years years there have been significant canonisations of other holy men and women. I think of the two months I spent on sabbatical in Assisi leading up to the canonisation of Carlo Acutis, who died of illness aged 15. It was clear at the time that this young man was remarkable and holy, and it was timely that he be named as a Saint of the Church.

I think of Fulton Sheen (c.1979) the American Archbishop and preacher, last month named “Blessed” the final step before Canonisation.

I have no doubt that both these disciples-of-our-time are with God and that there are many aspects of their earthly lives which give inspiration and are worthy of imitation.

The problem with having a holy and remarkable disciple of Jesus, acclaimed even during her life as a saint, not yet named as a saint a century after her death, is that we begin to think that if she is not a saint, then there is no hope for us.

Let’s not make that mistake.

Of course a big part of the problem is that we in Aotearoa are small and our little antipodean voice cannot stir an army of support or match the required volume of campaing resources those of Acutis and Sheen.

But we know that Mother Suzanne Aubert, Meri Hohepa, is with God as a Saint of God.

I am confident that one day the Church will name her as a Saint not only of God but also of the Church.

In the meantime the photographic witness of the crowds through downtown Wellington lining the route to Karori cemetery one hundred years ago today with the example of her sisters the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion is enough for me.

And we are right today to without hesitation call her Saint.

Saint Meri Hohepa, Suzanne Aubert, Pray for us.