Adele Brice: The Path to Sainthood
A woman who experienced Marian apparitions in 1859 in Northeast Wisconsin and dedicated her life to teaching children about the Catholic faith is on the path to sainthood. Bishop David L. Ricken of the Diocese of Green Bay has issued an Edict requesting information about Adele Brice to aid in the process of considering her for sainthood. This step is a standard procedure in the Catholic Church's evaluation of potential saints. The Edict can be found at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Green Bay and on the Diocese of Green Bay's website.
In June 2024, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops unanimously supported advancing Brice's cause for sainthood. The Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints has granted formal approval for the Diocese of Green Bay to conduct a local investigation into Adele's life, faith, and deeds. Adele Brice was born in Belgium in 1831 and later moved to Wisconsin with her family at the age of 24.
In 1859, Brice reported encountering the Blessed Virgin Mary three times while walking in the woods of Northeast Wisconsin. During the final apparition, Mary instructed Brice to offer her Communion for the conversion of sinners and to educate the children in the area about salvation. Brice spent many years traveling on foot, teaching children, assisting families, and preparing young individuals for their First Holy Communion.
Throughout her life, Brice experienced what many believe to be instances of divine protection, such as during the Great Peshtigo Fire of 1871 when the chapel built at the site of the apparitions was miraculously spared from destruction. Following this event, Brice and others established a school on the same grounds to care for children and impart Catholic teachings. Adele Brice lived a humble life of service until her passing in 1896, as indicated by her gravestone inscription, "Sacred Cross, under thy shadow I rest and hope."
In conclusion, Adele Brice's journey to sainthood is marked by her devotion to teaching the Catholic faith and her reported encounters with the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Diocese of Green Bay is actively seeking information about her life and actions to further assess her candidacy for sainthood.