Pic Today 5/18/11

AUTHENTICATED MIRACLES

HAPPEN HERE

The little known Shrine of St. Joseph church,

built in 1844 at the corner of 11th Street & Biddle,

was founded by Austrian Jesuits in north St. Louis

for the rapidly expanding German immigrant community.

This beautiful old church is site of the only

Vatican authenticated miracle in the Midwest (1864)

and still home to the Altar of Answered Prayers

when "not one parishioner" died during

a cholera epidemic in the surrounding neighborhood

which averaged 20 burials a day (1866-67).

A dying parishioner, Peter Claver, came to the church

in his final hours in March of 1864,

and was allowed to kiss a sacred relic . . .

when he immediately experienced a resurgence of strength.

Within days, he was able to return to work

and was restored to full health months later.

This miracle was formally declared authentic

by Cardinal Bianchi, in Rome in 1887.

Visitors from around the world

come visit this beautiful church and altar

to ask for their prayers to be answered.