Missionary, author, founder of the Paulists Fathers, formally known as the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle. The Paulists were the first religious congregation of Roman Catholic men established in the United States of America.
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 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 at the Paulist House on 59th Street in Manhattan, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and entered eternal life.
After Fr. Hecker died he was initially buried in the vault of New York's Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street (where the first of the original four Paulists to die, Fr. Francis Baker, C.S.P., had earlier been buried in 1865). Later, when the crypt below the South Tower of St. Paul the Apostle Church was completed, Fr. Hecker's remains were transferred there. Then, on Jan. 24, 1959, at the conclusion of celebration of their centennial year, the Paulist Fathers dramatically reinterred Fr. Hecker's body in a new 20-feet high sarcophagus in the northeast corner of the church.
The sarcophagus was designed by sculptor Lumer Martin Winter and executed in bottocino marble in Pietrasanta, Italy. At the base of the sarcophagus are six images.The first of the six images shows Isaac Hecker as a sick child, in danger of death from smallpox, reassuring his mother: "No, mother, I shall not die now; God has work for me to do in the world, and I shall live to do it." The second image shows him as a young man delivering bread from his brothers' bakery. The third shows Hecker searching for God at Brook Farm in 1843. The fourth image depicts his ordeal in Rome after his dismissal from the Redemptorists in 1857. The fifth image portrays his preaching as a Paulist missionary, while the final image shows his establishment of the Catholic World magazine and the beginnings of the Paulist Press. Above, a heroic angel of the resurrection, enfolding within its wings the figures of St. Paul the Apostle and Fr. Hecker, stands in silent vigil over the Paulist Founder's remains.
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York formally opened Fr. Hecker's cause for sainthood on January 25, 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New York City. Fr. Hecker is now known as Servant of God, Issac Thomas Hecker. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of St. Paul the Apostle Parish and of the Paulist Fathers in July 1858.
**Prayer for the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.**
Heavenly Father, you called Isaac Hecker to preach the Gospel to the people of North America and to know the peace and the power of your indwelling Spirit. Like St. Paul the Apostle, he spoke your Word with a zeal for souls and a burning love for all who came to him in need. Hear our prayer through the intercession of Father Hecker, grant (state the request). We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Biography of Father Isaac T. Hecker
A Pilgrimage to Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker's Tomb
Church Of St. Paul The Apostle: Opening of the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.
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 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 at the Paulist House on 59th Street in Manhattan, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and entered eternal life.
After Fr. Hecker died he was initially buried in the vault of New York's Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street (where the first of the original four Paulists to die, Fr. Francis Baker, C.S.P., had earlier been buried in 1865). Later, when the crypt below the South Tower of St. Paul the Apostle Church was completed, Fr. Hecker's remains were transferred there. Then, on Jan. 24, 1959, at the conclusion of celebration of their centennial year, the Paulist Fathers dramatically reinterred Fr. Hecker's body in a new 20-feet high sarcophagus in the northeast corner of the church.
The sarcophagus was designed by sculptor Lumer Martin Winter and executed in bottocino marble in Pietrasanta, Italy. At the base of the sarcophagus are six images.The first of the six images shows Isaac Hecker as a sick child, in danger of death from smallpox, reassuring his mother: "No, mother, I shall not die now; God has work for me to do in the world, and I shall live to do it." The second image shows him as a young man delivering bread from his brothers' bakery. The third shows Hecker searching for God at Brook Farm in 1843. The fourth image depicts his ordeal in Rome after his dismissal from the Redemptorists in 1857. The fifth image portrays his preaching as a Paulist missionary, while the final image shows his establishment of the Catholic World magazine and the beginnings of the Paulist Press. Above, a heroic angel of the resurrection, enfolding within its wings the figures of St. Paul the Apostle and Fr. Hecker, stands in silent vigil over the Paulist Founder's remains.
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York formally opened Fr. Hecker's cause for sainthood on January 25, 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New York City. Fr. Hecker is now known as Servant of God, Issac Thomas Hecker. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of St. Paul the Apostle Parish and of the Paulist Fathers in July 1858.
**Prayer for the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.**
Heavenly Father, you called Isaac Hecker to preach the Gospel to the people of North America and to know the peace and the power of your indwelling Spirit. Like St. Paul the Apostle, he spoke your Word with a zeal for souls and a burning love for all who came to him in need. Hear our prayer through the intercession of Father Hecker, grant (state the request). We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Biography of Father Isaac T. Hecker
A Pilgrimage to Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker's Tomb
Church Of St. Paul The Apostle: Opening of the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.
Missionary, author, founder of the Paulists Fathers, formally known as the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle. The Paulists were the first religious congregation of Roman Catholic men established in the United States of America.
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 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 at the Paulist House on 59th Street in Manhattan, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and entered eternal life.
After Fr. Hecker died he was initially buried in the vault of New York's Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street (where the first of the original four Paulists to die, Fr. Francis Baker, C.S.P., had earlier been buried in 1865). Later, when the crypt below the South Tower of St. Paul the Apostle Church was completed, Fr. Hecker's remains were transferred there. Then, on Jan. 24, 1959, at the conclusion of celebration of their centennial year, the Paulist Fathers dramatically reinterred Fr. Hecker's body in a new 20-feet high sarcophagus in the northeast corner of the church.
The sarcophagus was designed by sculptor Lumer Martin Winter and executed in bottocino marble in Pietrasanta, Italy. At the base of the sarcophagus are six images.The first of the six images shows Isaac Hecker as a sick child, in danger of death from smallpox, reassuring his mother: "No, mother, I shall not die now; God has work for me to do in the world, and I shall live to do it." The second image shows him as a young man delivering bread from his brothers' bakery. The third shows Hecker searching for God at Brook Farm in 1843. The fourth image depicts his ordeal in Rome after his dismissal from the Redemptorists in 1857. The fifth image portrays his preaching as a Paulist missionary, while the final image shows his establishment of the Catholic World magazine and the beginnings of the Paulist Press. Above, a heroic angel of the resurrection, enfolding within its wings the figures of St. Paul the Apostle and Fr. Hecker, stands in silent vigil over the Paulist Founder's remains.
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York formally opened Fr. Hecker's cause for sainthood on January 25, 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New York City. Fr. Hecker is now known as Servant of God, Issac Thomas Hecker. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of St. Paul the Apostle Parish and of the Paulist Fathers in July 1858.
**Prayer for the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.**
Heavenly Father, you called Isaac Hecker to preach the Gospel to the people of North America and to know the peace and the power of your indwelling Spirit. Like St. Paul the Apostle, he spoke your Word with a zeal for souls and a burning love for all who came to him in need. Hear our prayer through the intercession of Father Hecker, grant (state the request). We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Biography of Father Isaac T. Hecker
A Pilgrimage to Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker's Tomb
Church Of St. Paul The Apostle: Opening of the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.
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 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 at the Paulist House on 59th Street in Manhattan, Father Hecker raised his hand, making the Sign of the Cross in blessing, and entered eternal life.
After Fr. Hecker died he was initially buried in the vault of New York's Old St. Patrick's Cathedral on Mott Street (where the first of the original four Paulists to die, Fr. Francis Baker, C.S.P., had earlier been buried in 1865). Later, when the crypt below the South Tower of St. Paul the Apostle Church was completed, Fr. Hecker's remains were transferred there. Then, on Jan. 24, 1959, at the conclusion of celebration of their centennial year, the Paulist Fathers dramatically reinterred Fr. Hecker's body in a new 20-feet high sarcophagus in the northeast corner of the church.
The sarcophagus was designed by sculptor Lumer Martin Winter and executed in bottocino marble in Pietrasanta, Italy. At the base of the sarcophagus are six images.The first of the six images shows Isaac Hecker as a sick child, in danger of death from smallpox, reassuring his mother: "No, mother, I shall not die now; God has work for me to do in the world, and I shall live to do it." The second image shows him as a young man delivering bread from his brothers' bakery. The third shows Hecker searching for God at Brook Farm in 1843. The fourth image depicts his ordeal in Rome after his dismissal from the Redemptorists in 1857. The fifth image portrays his preaching as a Paulist missionary, while the final image shows his establishment of the Catholic World magazine and the beginnings of the Paulist Press. Above, a heroic angel of the resurrection, enfolding within its wings the figures of St. Paul the Apostle and Fr. Hecker, stands in silent vigil over the Paulist Founder's remains.
Cardinal Edward Egan of New York formally opened Fr. Hecker's cause for sainthood on January 25, 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in New York City. Fr. Hecker is now known as Servant of God, Issac Thomas Hecker. The ceremony took place at the conclusion of a Mass celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the founding of St. Paul the Apostle Parish and of the Paulist Fathers in July 1858.
**Prayer for the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.**
Heavenly Father, you called Isaac Hecker to preach the Gospel to the people of North America and to know the peace and the power of your indwelling Spirit. Like St. Paul the Apostle, he spoke your Word with a zeal for souls and a burning love for all who came to him in need. Hear our prayer through the intercession of Father Hecker, grant (state the request). We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit. One God, forever and ever. Amen.
Biography of Father Isaac T. Hecker
A Pilgrimage to Paulist Founder Fr. Isaac Hecker's Tomb
Church Of St. Paul The Apostle: Opening of the Cause of Canonization of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, C.S.P.
