On April 26, 2025, the diocesan inquiry into the cause for the beatification and canonization of Sister Mary of the Trinity (born Louisa Jaques) was officially opened by His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
To shed light on the official stages of this ecclesial process and the current procedures undertaken by the Diocesan Tribunal, Ms. Miral Atik, Media Officer at the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, conducted an interview with Bishop Ilario Antoniazzi, the Patriarch’s delegate in the tribunal, who is overseeing the inquiry into the life and virtues of Sister Louisa, who died in 1942 at the Monastery of the Poor Clares in Jerusalem.
Why was the diocesan investigation opened now?
Bishop Ilario explained that the opening of the case is not a sudden decision, but the result of a long journey of preparation that began after Sister Mary’s death. Over the years, priests, religious men and women, and lay faithful have contributed to this path. Requests to officially open the cause had been repeatedly submitted from various regions, including Jerusalem, South Africa, Switzerland, and even Morocco.
How did this journey begin?
After Sister Mary’s death in 1942, the Franciscan friars began collecting her writings. Her confessor, Fr. Silvère Van den Broeck, led the effort until his death in 1949. The work was later continued by Fr. Raphael Bonanno and then Fr. Sabino De Sandoli, who visited Switzerland, outlined her life chronologically, and published introductory materials, including a prayer for her beatification. In 1960, a dedicated committee in Switzerland began studying her life and mission. Among its key contributors was Fr. Alain-Marie Duboin, who published her first biography in 1979. Several South African bishops also supported the cause through official letters to the Patriarchs of Jerusalem.
A rare photograph of Sister Mary of the Trinity, taken just months before her death in 1942
What paved the way for the official investigation?
In 2013, a new prompt came from South Africa, accompanied by a substantial dossier attesting to the Servant of God’s reputation for holiness. The monastery’s archives also reveal ongoing and growing correspondence reflecting this reputation—both in volume and geographic reach—with explicit requests to open the Cause. In response, the Poor Clares of Jerusalem contacted Fr. Gianni Califano, OFM General Postulator. In 2022, the community decided to formally address the many appeals, and by 2023, they became the official Petitioner, entrusting the Postulator with initiating the preliminary canonical process, resulting in the formal opening of the sessions.
What is the role of the tribunal?
At this stage, the tribunal convenes in Jerusalem to hear the testimonies of 21 witnesses, carefully selected from numerous submitted statements based on criteria set by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. So far, four have testified to the spiritual impact Sister Mary had on their lives.
Bishop Ilario pointed out that the witnesses do not know one another and receive no prior access to the questions, ensuring their responses are spontaneous and heartfelt, not rehearsed or drawn from written sources. The interviews follow a list of questions provided by the Congregation in Rome, and each witness must take an oath of confidentiality, sincerity, and integrity. One of the court’s key objectives is to discern the relevance of the Servant of God’s message for our times.
Bishop Ilario noted that the answers received thus far have been deeply moving, revealing the profound and tangible impact Sister Mary continues to have on people’s lives—despite the fact that none of them knew her personally. He remarked:
“It is not intellectual knowledge alone that defines holiness, but the profound transformation that a person’s life brings to others. This is what we seek to find in the gathering of testimonies.”
Reflecting on the significance of this stage in the beatification process, he added:
“Holiness springs from the witness of the faithful; the Church simply recognizes it officially. People sense holiness as they sense warmth—without necessarily seeing its source.”
Sister Mary’s life and writings—particularly her spiritual work Inner Dialogues—have deeply touched hearts and left a lasting imprint on the faith journeys of many. Written in obedience to her spiritual director, Inner Dialogues explores essential themes such as God’s love and mercy, union with Christ through suffering and humility, complete trust in divine providence, and the call to a hidden life for the salvation of others. Translated into multiple languages—including French (the original), Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and Polish—the book presents a series of profound spiritual dialogues between Sister Mary and Jesus, which she believed were graces revealed to her by Christ, recorded as a testament to God’s presence in the depths of the human soul.
From left to right: Fr. Filippo Morlacchi; Mons. Ilario Antoniazzi; Mons. William Shomali, General Vicar, Fr. Ulise Zarza, OFM, Vice-Postulator; and Sister Marina Fischer,—during the oath-taking ceremony , affirming their commitment to carry out their responsibilities with integrity and confidentiality.
How are the testimonies collected?
The sessions are held at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem. Each witness must travel from their home country to testify in person. During the session:
- Bishop Ilario Antoniazzi, the Patriarch’s delegate, conducts the interviews;
- Fr. Filippo Morlacchi, Promoter of Justice; transcribes the testimony word for word;
- Sr. Marina Fischer, Notary, reviews the text for accuracy;
- The testimony is then read aloud to the witness, who signs it after confirming its contents.
All testimonies are subject to strict confidentiality to safeguard their credibility.
Is there a role for the “Devil’s Advocate”? *The so-called “Devil’s Advocate” refers to legal roles that traditionally challenge the cause by raising doubts or objections*
While this role does not exist formally at this stage, probing and precise questions are indeed asked during the sessions to verify the credibility of the testimonies and to distinguish true holiness from mere admiration or personal devotion.
Are other committees involved?
Yes. In addition to the tribunal, a historical commission was established on December 8, 2024, to collect and examine documents related to Sister Mary’s life. A theological commission from the Vatican is currently reviewing her writings, with two independent experts tasked with assessing their consistency with Catholic doctrine and ensuring they contain no theological error. The study has taken nearly a year and is expected to result in a detailed report evaluating the spiritual significance of her texts. The tribunal remains in regular contact with both commissions and the competent authority in Rome to support the preparation of the final dossier.
When will she be declared Blessed?
After the testimonies, historical, and theological reports are compiled, the full documentation is sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in the Vatican. If it is confirmed that Sister Mary practiced heroic virtue, she will be declared “Venerable.” For beatification to follow, a miracle attributed to her intercession must be recognized—and another one is required for canonization.
The tomb of Sister Mary of the Trinity in the cemetery of St Clare’s convent in Jerusalem, engraved on it: “Be my small seed planted in the soil of Jerusalem, to bring you the fruits into my Church” (cf. Colloquio interiore, no. 502)
Conclusion: The Church Continues to Recognize the Fruit of Grace
In the interview, Bishop Ilario expressed: “The Church in the Holy Land is not just a witness to history, it is still alive bearing the fragrance of sanctity, offering new saints to the universal Church,” said Bishop Ilario.
He added, “Contemplative nuns like the Poor Clares choose a life of silence and prayer behind monastery walls, yet their hearts remain present in the world. Over the years, we’ve seen powerful spiritual messages emerge from them—not through words, but through a silent presence filled with the grace of God.”
As the Diocese of Jerusalem continues along this rigorous and deeply spiritual path—a journey that may span several years—the faithful are encouraged to explore Sister Mary’s life and legacy. Thanks to Bishop Salim Sayegh, most of her works have been translated into Arabic, accompanied by commentary that brings out their spiritual and practical depth for daily Christian living.
