LIFE
Isaac Thomas Hecker was born in New York City on December 18, 1819, the third son and youngest child of John and Caroline (Freund) Hecker. Ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1849, he founded the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle in New York on July 7, 1858. The society was established to evangelize both believers and non-believers in order to convert North America to the Roman Catholic Church. Father Hecker sought to evangelize Americans using the popular means of his day, primarily preaching, the public lecture circuit and the printing press. He founded the monthly publication, "The Catholic World," in 1865.
Father Hecker's spirituality centered on the action of the Holy Spirit upon the soul and the need to remain attentive to the prompting of the Spirit in the great and small moments of life. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Father Hecker labored to establish a dialogue between faith and culture, which he believed would lead to an American Catholicism whose vitality and optimism would transform the world.
Isaac Thomas Hecker was born in New York City on December 18, 1819, the third son and youngest child of John and Caroline (Freund) Hecker. Ordained a Redemptorist priest in 1849, he founded the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle in New York on July 7, 1858. The society was established to evangelize both believers and non-believers in order to convert North America to the Roman Catholic Church. Father Hecker sought to evangelize Americans using the popular means of his day, primarily preaching, the public lecture circuit and the printing press. He founded the monthly publication, "The Catholic World," in 1865.
Father Hecker's spirituality centered on the action of the Holy Spirit upon the soul and the need to remain attentive to the prompting of the Spirit in the great and small moments of life. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Father Hecker labored to establish a dialogue between faith and culture, which he believed would lead to an American Catholicism whose vitality and optimism would transform the world.
In the latter years of his life, Father Hecker suffered suffered with dark nights of the soul that varied in intensity; this was combined with the physical problems of a weak heart and leukemia. While emotionally and physically overcome at moments, Father Hecker remained faithful through his sure belief in the Holy Spirit: "God is now visiting me with the profoundest desolation of spirit. Yet I never knew that God would permit me to come so near to Him and love Him as I have," Father Hecker wrote.
On December 22, 1888, as the Paulist community gathered around his bed in prayer, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and died.
On December 22, 1888, as the Paulist community gathered around his bed in prayer, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and died.
THE CAUSE OF FATHER HECKER
Father Isaac Hecker was a holy man who inspired people to come to know God more deeply and to trust more completely in the gift of the Holy Spirit that dwells within the soul. From his early childhood to his death at the age of sixty nine, Father Hecker sought to deepen his personal experience of God and believed that what he experienced could serve as an example to others. His writings center on the spiritual search that all of us make, if we open our hearts to God's grace. In addition, Father Hecker had a particular concern for how that search for God occurs in North America with its complex culture and needs.
There have always been spiritual followers of Father Hecker, beginning with the society he founded and the members of the parochial communities where the Paulists have served. Father Hecker has inspired converts, authors, priests, bishops and other religious. His belief in an active American Catholicism that uniquely contributes to the larger church and his promotion of devotion to the Holy Spirit, are powerful ideas that are very much a part of the American church. The Paulist Fathers seek to extend and promote his reputation for sanctity among the Catholic faithful, believing that his life is a model of holiness for others to follow and that his teaching offers substantial guidance for seekers who wish to know God more deeply, especially through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Father Isaac Hecker was a holy man who inspired people to come to know God more deeply and to trust more completely in the gift of the Holy Spirit that dwells within the soul. From his early childhood to his death at the age of sixty nine, Father Hecker sought to deepen his personal experience of God and believed that what he experienced could serve as an example to others. His writings center on the spiritual search that all of us make, if we open our hearts to God's grace. In addition, Father Hecker had a particular concern for how that search for God occurs in North America with its complex culture and needs.
There have always been spiritual followers of Father Hecker, beginning with the society he founded and the members of the parochial communities where the Paulists have served. Father Hecker has inspired converts, authors, priests, bishops and other religious. His belief in an active American Catholicism that uniquely contributes to the larger church and his promotion of devotion to the Holy Spirit, are powerful ideas that are very much a part of the American church. The Paulist Fathers seek to extend and promote his reputation for sanctity among the Catholic faithful, believing that his life is a model of holiness for others to follow and that his teaching offers substantial guidance for seekers who wish to know God more deeply, especially through the action of the Holy Spirit.
Father Hecker's cause was formally opened by Cardinal Edward Egan of New York in 2008, the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Paulist Fathers.This is the first stage towards canonization. In addition to investigating his reputation for sanctity, we seek his intercession, a sign that Father Hecker is in heaven. Please ask for Father Hecker to assist us, especially when we have prayer requests that have very serious consequences. As his cause develops, we will keep you informed.
Be sure to follow Father Hecker's cause on facebook and receive daily quotes on twitter @PaulistFathers
Be sure to follow Father Hecker's cause on facebook and receive daily quotes on twitter @PaulistFathers
To learn more about Isaac Hecker check out our Links page, the Hecker Blog, and these fine selections from Paulist Press...
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