Cause for the Canonization of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin

The person receives the title of Servant of God when a bishop opens a cause (or process) of beatification and canonization.

In the Cause of Mother Gamelin, historical research was undertaken as early as 1960 to prepare the dossier required by Rome. On May 31, 1981 – twenty-one years later – the Cause of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin was officially introduced in the Archdiocese of Montreal, at the Notre-Dame Basilica, her parish church.

After the documents submitted to Rome are studied, if the heroic virtues (or martyrdom) of the person is certified, he/she is declared venerable. 

In 1983, the Historical Commission appointed by the diocese proceeded to study the collated documentation. A diocesan tribunal heard the witnesses and submitted documents to Rome expressing the wish for recognition of the fame of the holiness of the life of this Servant of God.

In 1989, a large body of evidence on the fame of holiness, the life and virtues of Emilie, who dedicated herself to the cause of the poor and needy, was presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Such a file is named: “Positio”.

Historians, theologians and cardinals in Rome looked at the documents, then asked Pope John Paul II to recognize the heroic virtues of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin. The Holy Father proclaimed her Venerable on December 23, 1993.

Following the decree by the pope on a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable person, that person is beatified. 

In 1983, the action of God was manifested and a healing occurred: Yannick Frechette, a boy of 13, was cured of acute lymphoblastic leukemia thanks to the intercession of Mother Gamelin!

In 1997, the medical record was submitted for the study of physicians of Rome, who emitted in 1999 a unanimous, positive judgment on this case judged inexplicable by medical science. Thereafter, the Roman theologians spoke out in turn on the intercession attributed solely to Emilie Tavernier Gamelin.

On December 18, 2000, Pope John Paul II recognized the intercession of Emilie Tavernier Gamelin, as well as the authenticity of the miracle. He presented her to the Christian people as blessed on October 7, 2001 in St. Peter’s Square and enabled public worship in the regions associated to her.

From the day of her beatification, Emilie Gamelin has been exemplified as a model of compassionate charity and heroic practice of Christian virtues. She is also known for her secular commitment and as foundress of an apostolic religious congregation, the Sisters of Providence.

Finally, after the recognition of a second miracle obtained after his/her beatification, the blessed person can be proclaimed a saint and his/her cult becomes universal.

In pursuing the necessary preparation surrounding the final step of canonization, the Office of the Cause has worked for over fifty years to make Emilie Tavernier Gamelin known, to promote her devotion and her reputation of holiness.