Saint of the Month - January 2015: Saint Charles Houben of Mt. Argus

St. Charles Houben

Consoler of the Afflicted

Feast: January 5th

Originally from Holland, St. Charles Houben was born to the very large family of Peter and Elizabeth Jane Houben on December 11, 1821; the fourth child out of eleven children. His biographers reported that he was not a very bright student in his childhood, as well as extremely shy, but what Charles lacked in intelligence, he made up for with his diligence and eagerness to learn.  Also noted for his budding piety in his youth, he made his First Holy Communion when he reached the age of 13.

Another photo of St. Charles Houben

In 1840, Charles joined the military and served for five years, after which he went to work as a miller with one of his uncles. Feeling quite unfulfilled and searching for deeper meaning in his life, he joined the Passionist Congregation at Ere, Belgium, in November, 1845; he took the name of “Charles of St. Andrew”. Despite his slow mental abilities, he managed to pass his studies and was ordained a priest on December 21st, 1850. His superiors at first assigned him to England where he worked for about five years, before transferring him to a place called Mount Argus near Dublin, Ireland, in 1857. Except for a short return to England in 1866, Fr. Charles spent his remaining years ministering to rural communities in the Emerald Isle.

As a chaplain at Mount Argus, Fr. Charles was noted for his utmost dedication to his priestly duties, his parishioners, and for the apparent gift of healing he mysteriously acquired. When news of his spiritual gift became public knowledge, masses of visitors began converging at the Passionist Monastery to request his healing blessing and/or his counsel. Daily, Fr. Charles was allowed to conduct prayer services during which he used a relic of the Passionist founder - St. Paul of the Cross (d. 1775) - while he prayed over the sick. Patiently, and lovingly, the simple-minded priest did his best to comfort all those who came to him for help, encouraging his visitors to have a devotion to Our Lady and his congregation's sainted founder. In the evenings, Fr. Charles's time was often occupied by those who fetched him to the homes of the seriously ill and the dying. His presence either brought about astounding cures, or comfort and hope to those who were destined for eternity.  His Christ-like example brought many to a deeper faith and love for God.

The tomb of St. Charles Houben at Mount

Argus in Dublin, Ireland

Fr. Charles died in 1893, after enduring for many years a stubborn and worsening leg wound that he suffered from a carriage accident. His passing was mourned by many of the Faithful from Ireland and beyond, including non-Catholics, who also revered him as a holy man in his lifetime. A person who knew Fr. Charles once recalled about him, "When you spoke to him, you had the impression that you were talking to someone who was an intimate friend of God."  This was the essence of his sanctity - he was indeed a "friend of God".

The Church Beatified Fr. Charles of St. Andrew in 1988, and he was later Canonized on June 3rd, 2007.  May St. Charles Houben pray for us and for the needs of the Universal Church.

A Reflection

“Our happiness in this life and in the life to come lies in carrying out God’s will…”  ~ Words of St. Charles Houben

A Short Prayer

Dear Lord, in imitation of the life of your faithful servant, St. Charles Houben, help us to be a source of peace, hope, and consolation for our sick and dying brethren.  Amen.