AUSTIN, Rev. Father. The Life of Father Charles: of the Congregation of the Most Holy Cross and Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dublin: Sealy, Bryers & Walker, 1893. Crown octavo. First edition. pp. xxxii, 229, [1].Publisher’s blind stamped mauve cloth, lettered in gilt. A very good copy.
Born John Andrew (Johannes Andreas) Houben at Munstergeleen, Netherlands, on 11 December 1821, he entered the Passionists in 1845, taking the name Charles of St Andrew, and was ordained in 1850. After early ministry in England (from 1852), he was sent to Mount Argus, Harold’s Cross, Dublin, in 1857, where his gentle counsel and blessing of the sick drew huge crowds—contemporaries spoke of hundreds daily. Not a notable preacher, he excelled in the confessional and in pastoral care. Because of the crush of visitors he was transferred back to England in 1866, returning to Dublin in 1874, and remained there until his death on 5 January 1893. Popular devotion to him never waned. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 16 October 1988 and canonised by Benedict XVI on 3 June 2007; his feast day is 5 January. His shrine is at St Paul’s Retreat, Mount Argus.

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