Alum one step closer to Sainthood

BY SARAH MCDONOUGH
Cardinal Staff

Brother James Miller, a 1966 graduate of Saint Mary’s University has been declared a “Servant of God,” which is the first step of four in the process of canonization, or the process of becoming a saint.

While serving God by bringing education and faith to the indigenous people of Guatemala, Brother James was murdered on Feb. 13, 1982. He was murdered for teaching the indigenous people because their education posed a threat to some, said Jerome E. Hendrickson, classmate of Brother James.

“When Brother James was alone, having sent his student-helper inside, they approached, withdrew their pistols from under their shirts and opened fire, point blank,” said Brother Francis Carr ’66, Provincial the Christian Brothers Midwest District. The murderers Carr refers to were “three killers, all on foot, who were waiting behind the rear of the Cathedral 50 meters away.”

Two years earlier, similar murderswere taking place against priests in El Salvador, such as the death of Archbishop Oscar Romero.

“(Brother James) knew this was going on and stayed in the face of danger,” said Director of Campus Ministry Chris McClead. “He was in the middle of it.”

There are four steps that must be completed before one is declared a Saint: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed and then, ultimately, Sainthood. In order to be declared a “Servant of God,” the Bishop of Huehuetenango, where Brother James was martyred, initiated the investigation of his life. Brother James exercised Christian virtues that are considered heroic, and because of this he was declared “Servant of God.” The whole process cannot start until five years after the person has died.

Hendrickson reflected back to when he and Brother James were both students.

“We met in 1963; he was a farmer from Wisconsin,” said Hendrickson in a phone interview. “He had a very outgoing personality and was idealistic. While I was a student, he voiced a goal for him was to work in the missions. He was friendly; I’m happy I knew him.”

Currently, there is a scholarship in Brother James’s name available to students in need of financial assistance. The scholarship is offered every year, totaling up to almost $50,000 over four years for a student.