Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, named Adele Brice a servant of God and officially opened her cause for canonization Jan. 30, her 195th birthday.
Brice, who was born in Belgium but lived much of her life in Wisconsin, was a third order Franciscan. The Blessed Virgin Mary reportedly appeared to her on several occasions in 1859.
“I am the Queen of Heaven who prays for the conversion of sinners, and I wish you to do the same,” Mary said to her during one such apparition, according to the Adele Brice website. “You received Holy Communion this morning and that is well. But you must do more. Make a general confession and offer Communion for the conversion of sinners. If they do not convert and do penance, my Son will be obliged to punish them.”
Brice was confused about how she could possibly help people come to Christ because she knew so little herself. The Blessed Mother reassured her.
“Teach them their catechism, how to sign themselves with the sign of the Cross, and how to approach the sacraments; that is what I wish you to do,” she said, according to the Adele Brice website. “Go and fear nothing, I will help you.”
Brice dedicated her life to following Our Lady’s instructions, sharing the Gospel with the people of Wisconsin and praying for their conversion. Despite not being able to read or write, she brought many souls to Christ.
Noted for holiness during her life, many credit Brice’s prayers with ending the Great Peshtigo Fire, which killed more than 1000 people. Many people died trying to escape the flames, but others joined Brice to pray in a chapel that was in the path of the fire. On the morning of the 12th anniversary of Brice’s first apparition, rain fell and saved the lives of those in the chapel. All those in the chapel survived, and the building itself was unmarked by fire despite all the buildings around it burning.
Brice is the first servant of God from the Diocese of Green Bay. A diocesan investigation will soon begin into her life and any prayers that may have been answered through her intercession.
Bishop Ricken approved a prayer for the canonization of Adele Brice, which can be found here.