Mary Mackillop's Influence On Australia

The influence of Mary Mackillop as the first Australian saint has developed Catholicism through important events and issues. Mary was born on the 15th January 1842 and was the eldest of eight children. Throughout her early life, she experienced several challenges that influenced her pathway to Catholicism. With the guidance and inspiration of church figures such as Father Woods, Mary soon followed her vocation. Significant events associated with her life, such as the Josephites, the Rule of Life and travelling continued to shape her upbringing. Through the influence of teaching and her religious calling, Mary developed Catholicism throughout Australia. Certain issues which includes her excommunication and loss of loved ones throughout her
Blessed Mary Mackillop is one of Australia’s most remarkable and inspiring women. The power of her inspiration is clearly visible as demonstrated by the large crowds who flock to visit her tomb in North Sydney. Most visitors come because they seek Mary’s intercession as they believe she will ask for God’s assistance on their behalf. People come to the chapel and find the peace & spiritual strength to deal with life’s difficulties. Others long for the kind of love Mary showed due to her forgiving nature towards those who treated her so unjustly. It was clearly evident that people recognised that she was a holy person and from that time onwards, the faithful has never ceased to regard her as a saint. Therefore, her official declaration as a saint influenced others to believe in her as the first Australian saint. The Sisters are inspired by the devotion and pure love that Mary demonstrated her commitment to improving the lives of those less fortunate such as building providences for the poor in South Australia . Mary’s beatification involved a process that included an examination of her writings, stories, and testimony concerning her reputation for holiness. After this act, permission was given to formally introduce the cause for beatification in May 1973, whereby she received the title ‘Servant of God’. After the examination of 2 Decrees in 1993 and 1992, Mary now had the title ‘ Venerable’. The recommendation was made to the Holy Father who then decided her beatification in Sydney on January 19, 1995. In April 2008, the documents pertaining to a remarkable cure of a woman with inoperable cancer were delivered under seal to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. After close scrutiny of this case and examination by the Medical Board and theologians, the cardinals and bishops recommended to Pope Benedict XVI that this was a miracle. He approved on December 19, 2009, and Mary’s canonisation occurred