Spiritual leader, mentor and friend—to a local Monsignor, Blessed Mother Teresa was all of these things. Now, he is on his way to Rome to watch his friend be canonized as a Saint.
“She was humble, holy and she was humorous… and very, very human,” explains Monsignor Michael Mannion of Transfiguration Catholic Church in Collingswood, New Jersey. Monsignor Mannion spent four years living in Calcutta, India and knew Mother Teresa for 28 years.
On Sunday, Monsignor Mannion said his final mass before his pilgrimage to Rome for the canonization ceremony. After mass, he shared the many photos he has of the two together during his time in India and spoke of the miracles attributed to Mother Teresa that helped her achieve sainthood.
“The two official ones, I believe, would be Monica Bosra, the woman from India whose huge tumor was dissolved,” he explained.
Two verified miracles must be had in order to become “Blessed” and canonized as a Saint in the Catholic Church.
“I believe the second miracle was in Brazil," he said. "A man that had numerous brain tumors. For her intercession, I believe those tumors also dissolved.”
Monsignor Mannion was in Vatican City for Mother Teresa’s beatification and on Sunday, he will witness Pope Francis declare her a Saint. He hopes the trip will help him become a better servant.
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“How can I take that and pay it forward spiritually so it makes a difference in the life of another," he said. "That’s really what it’s all about.”
