• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Search
  • Calendar
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • Bulletins
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Apostolic Center of Arts and Culture

  •  
  • Join Us!
    • Welcome!
    • Becoming Catholic/OCIA
    • Become a Member
  • Sacraments
    • Baptism
    • Reconciliation
    • Eucharist
    • Confirmation
    • Marriage
    • Holy Orders
    • Anointing
    • Funerals
  • Parish Life
    • Staff
    • Office Hours
    • Ministries
      • Altar Server Schedule
    • Fellowships
    • The Rescue Project
    • Alpha
    • Bible Study
    • Room Use Policy
    • Event Checklist
    • Have a Good Idea?
  • Tours
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • Group Tours
    • History
    • Our Stained Glass
    • Other Neat Tour Stuff
    • Virtual Tours
      • Go Inside the Cathedral
      • Get a Bird’s-eye View
  • Weddings
    • Process
    • Marriage Prep
    • Documents
    • FAQs
    • Choosing Your Music
    • Liturgy Planning
      • Nuptial Mass Planning Form
      • Sacrament of Matrimony Planning Form
  • Music
    • Cathedral Cultural Series
    • Support CCS
    • Organs
    • Schola
    • Archdiocesan Chorus
    • Parish Choir
    • Cathedral Choir Academy (Children)
  • Candles
    • Candle Lighting
    • Prayer Requests
  • Grotto Fund
  • Apartments
  • Times · Location
  • Events
  • News · Notes
  • Donate
  • All Articles
  • Arts & Culture
    • Statue and Relic Pilgrimage
    • The A.C.C.
    • Art for God’s Sake
Home All Articles Priests' Articles Fr. Solanus, Part 3

Fr. Solanus, Part 3

October 1, 2017 by Fr. Patrick Gonyeau

Hi Friends!  We continue this week with a multi-part evangelical biography on the life of Fr. Solanus Casey, God bless you!  Fr. Solanus, pray for us!

Fr. Solanus Casey:  An Icon of the Gospel Unleashed
(Part 3)

Eyes Fixed on Jesus

In 1891, at the age of 21, Solanus entered St. Francis Seminary High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was dedicated to growing in his relationship with God through spiritual and academic formation.  While Solanus struggled with studies because of his difficulty with the Latin and German languages which his courses were taught in, his superiors were convinced of his devotion to God and pursuit of holiness.  They recommended he pursue joining a religious order, and after applying to the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Capuchins, Solanus received a letter of welcome from all three.  Discerning which order to enter, he prayed a novena (a nine day period of prayer), leading up to the feast of the Immaculate Conception, and was blessed on the ninth day to distinctly hear Mary, the mother of Jesus, tell him, “Go to Detroit”.  He arrived at the monastery door of St. Bonaventure on Christmas Eve of 1896.

Within a month of arriving at the monastery, Fr. Solanus, known as Barney at the time, was given the new name Friar Francis Solanus. His patron was a Spanish missionary priest, St. Francis Solano, who loved the poor native children and called them to prayer with his violin.  There was another Capuchin named Francis already living in the monastery at the time, and so Barney became known as “Solanus”.   With his patron saint, he shared a love of playing the violin.  Despite his continued struggles with studies, Solanus continued to inspire his fellow religious and superiors through an attractive witness to holiness lived out through humility, charity and gratitude.  His superiors decided that he would be ordained a “priest simplex”, meaning he would not have the faculties to hear confessions or preach.  In the face of what would seem to be a great disappointment, Solanus responded with great humility, docility to the Holy Spirit, confidence, and gratitude to God, whom he insisted we must praise “in all His designs.”  On July 24, 1904, Fr. Solanus was ordained a priest and was primed with the right dispositions of mind and heart to set out on the mission of sharing the love and mercy of Jesus wherever he was sent.  God Bless– Fr. Patrick

 

Primary Sidebar

Cathedral Mass Times

Our current Mass schedule is:

Sundays: 11 AM in person and livestreamed.

All* Other Days: 8 AM in person and livestreamed.

Typically, non-Sunday Holy Day Masses are held at 8 AM. Any additional Masses will be listed under Upcoming Events.

Exposition on First Fridays and Second Thursdays after 8 AM Mass.

*High holy days and ordinations will cause exceptions.

Cathedral Hours

Current office hours are:

Sunday:  office closed

Monday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Wednesday: office closed

Thursday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Friday: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon

Recent Articles

  • Deacon on Duty – Holy Souls
  • From the Archbishop – Part Two
  • Jottings from Fr. J.J. – How Are We Doing?
  • Mass for the Solemnity of St. Joseph
  • Power Restored 3/4/23

Footer

Search this Website

More Information

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Connect With Us

  9844 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202
  (313) 865-6300
 cathedral@aod.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Get Our Newsletter

You may unsubscribe at any time.

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament
9844 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48202
(313) 865-6300


© 2023 · Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament · All Rights Reserved

Designed by 1955 Design