CAUSE OF BEATIFICATION & CANONIZATION OF THE
Servant of God, Sister Reinolda Franziska May, OSB
- In January 2014, the Parish of St Joseph in Ngome wrote to Bishop Xolelo Thaddeus Kumalo requesting consideration of sainthood for Sr Reinolda Franziska May OSB
- In February 2014, Bishop Kumalo motivated the Roman Curia Congregation for the Causes of the Saints on behalf of the Diocese of Eshowe
- The Diocese of Eshowe mainly considered three aspects of the life of Sr Reinolda May as motivation for the Cause of her sainthood, namely, Fame of sanctity, Heroicity of virtue, and Appropriateness of the Cause of her Sainthood for the Church in Southern Africa
- In October 2014, the Congregation Prefect, Angelo Cardinal Amato, S.D.B. granted the nihil obstat to the Cause Sr Reinolda Franziska May OSB was granted the title “Servant of God”
- In motivating for the Cause of Sainthood of Sr Reinolda May OSB, the Diocese of Eshowe encountered difficulties securing readily available persons with expertise in theology, canon law or church history to lead process of the Beatification (Postulator) - hence the gap between 2014 and 2017
- In February 2017, Bishop Kumalo, found and appointed the Postulator, Fr Dennis Bonginkosi Xulu
Biographical Timeline - Sr Reinolda May, OSB
- 1901Born in Pfahlheim, Diocese of Rottenburg, southwest Germany on October 21 and baptized the next day as Franziska
- 1922Entered the Missionary Benedictine Sisters Convent in Tutzing on March 1
- 1925
- Took religious profession & religious name Reinolda on February 1
- Received missionary cross and sent to South Africa on June 21
- 1928
- Pronounced final vows in South Africa on February 12
- Worked as a seamstress at the Entabeni and Mbongolwane stations for 10 years
- 1938
- Received a midwifery diploma from Pietermaritzburg's Greys Hospital in May
- Stationed at Nongoma Benedictine Missionary Hospital as Maternity Ward Matron
- Continued Pastoral Work and teaching Catechism
- 1976
- Retired from the Benedictine Missionary Hospital in June
- Stayed at St Alban Convent in Nongoma till 1980
- 1981
- Transferred to the Inkamana Abbey’s Infirmary in 1980 because of illness
- 1955 - 1971
- Wrote that she had apparitions with the Blessed Virgin Mary
- The apparitions led to the founding of the Ngome Marian Shrine, which was blessed as a Place of Prayer
What is the Cause of Beatification?
In simple terms, the first stage towards declaring someone ‘holy’, is the Beatification stage, and it has various phases. The first phase starts after the Congregation for the Cause of Saints, in Rome, states it sees no problem (nihil stat) in the bishop with jurisdiction opening investigations into the virtues of the individual.
The individual is then called “Servant of God”. For Sister Reinolda, her heroic virtue, fame of sanctity and life are being considered to establish her reputation of sanctity. The second phase proceeds if after reviewing the findings of the Diocesan investigations, the Congregation of Saints recommends the Pope to make a proclamation of the Servant of God’s heroic virtues. Once the Heroic Virtues are recognized by the Pope, the one said to be heroic in virtue is titled “Venerable”.
A heroic virtuous person has great goodness, is a holy person, and is considered as the model of beauty of the human person. Heroic virtue is characterized by the embodiment of the cardinal and theological virtues, namely, faith, hope, and charity.
The last phase before Beatification, is the approval of a miracle, this will be the evidence of the intercessory power of the Venerable, and thus her union after death with God. The diocese with the candidate miracle then conducts its own scientific and theological investigations.
The scientific commission determines, by accepted scientific criteria, that there is no natural explanation for the alleged miracle. The theological commission determines whether the miracle resulted through the intercession of the Venerable exclusively, if so, then the case is demonstrated. If prayers were to the Servant of God, to the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and others, then the case is clouded, and probably cannot be demonstrated.
The theological commission judges whether the cure was a miracle, and whether this miracle is due to the intercession of the Servant of God. The decision is sent to the Congregation in Rome. The Congregation for the Causes of the Saints also establishes scientific and theological commissions. The positive vote of the theological commission is transmitted to the General Meeting of the cardinal and episcopal members, whose affirmative judgment is forwarded to the Pope.
If the Holy Father Decrees a Miracle, the Servant of God can be beatified. Beatification is a statement by the church that it is “worthy of belief” that the person is in heaven. The Venerable receives a new title, the “Blessed”.
The second stage is Canonization, whereafter the Blessed will be officially called a Saint, and venerated throughout the whole Church.
A Short Biography
Early Years
She was born on Monday, October 21, 1901 and baptized the following day as Franziska, the youngest of nine children of the devoutly Catholic family, headed by a hard-working master shoemaker and small farmer at Pfahlheim, Diocese of Rottenburg, southwest Germany.
The parish priest of Pfahlheim, Fr Eugene Adis, highly advocated parishioners to actively commit and participate in the various Catholic sodalities. Young and old were encouraged to practice their faith and to fulfil their duties to the church conscientiously. Devotion to the Eucharist, especially in the exposed Blessed Sacrament, was implanted into the soul of Franziska at an early age.
Youth
In her youth, Franziska learned about Mary and consider her mother and wanted to emulate her. She joined the sodality of Our Lady, awakening a real love and devotion to Mary. In the sodality, she was guided to serve God through a Christian life; urged to fight against the enemy of the faith, live chaste and to support the work of Jesus and His church.
In a quest to realize her missionary work interest, Francisca applied to join the Missionary Benedictine Sisters of Tutzing, as advised by Father Adis; but her health was found wanting, unfit for missionary work; she returned to Pfahlheim, 220km away and spent her days praying at her local chapel in front of the Eucharist. Later she traveled back to Tutzing and this time was accepted and entered the Missionary Benedictine Sisters Convent on March 1, 1922, she took her religious profession on February 10, 1925, and the religious name, Sister Reinolda.
After receiving the missionary cross, she was sent to South Africa on June 21, 1925. There pronounced her final vows on February 12, 1928, she worked as a seamstress at the Entabeni and Mbongolwane stations for 10-years; learned to speak Zulu; and whenever possible, visited the locals in their homes on foot and on horseback.
Missionary Nun
In 1926, the Benedictines opened a mission station in Nongoma, and established other out-stations in the district to win new converts. In 1944, they bought a 338-hectare farm at Ngome as a source of income for the Nongoma mission station with its school and hospital. The farm was mainly used for cattle but a small school, Mayime, was also erected to enable basic education for local children. The classroom was also used as a chapel for Sunday Holy Mass.
As a missionary worker, Sr Reinolda longed to bring the love of Christ to God’s people in Zululand. On many Sundays, she went with the Nongoma out-stations’ priest, inviting people to Mass, cared for the sick and dying and also counsel marriages. She won the hearts of many by her kindness and generous readiness to help. ‘Mashiyane’, as she was fondly called, because of her thick eyebrows, was well known and loved in the region. Even the Zulu King, Zwelithini, who was born in her department, often came to her small office they shared knowledge and counsel.
She helped the poor, distributed food and clothing and did not stop even when her kindness was occasionally misused. The pastor of Nongoma, described Sr Reinolda as a very solid missionary nun in the truest sense of the word and of inestimable help to his pastoral work. Her friendly manner combined with her zeal for souls had a great moral influence on those who sought her help, many non-practicing Catholics found their way back to the Church.
She tracked down children who received emergency baptisms in her maternity department and encouraged parents to enroll baptized children in Catholic schools. Through her nursing and pastoral visits, she could direct missionaries to families in need of pastoral experience.
Midwife
Bishop Thomas Spreiter of Eshowe, strongly believed in the importance of indirect mission work in schools and hospitals as means to spread the faith. He had ceaselessly, for many years, sought permission from Rome to train Benedictine Nuns in midwifery, and finally receiving permission in 1936, also from Tutzing.
In spite of own concerns about her age (mid-thirties), lack of secondary education and limited knowledge of the English language, Sr Reinolda responded positively to her Superior’s request to train as a midwife. Trusting in God’s help and the requisite to meet the personnel demands of the hospital, under construction at the time, she studied hard and received a midwifery diploma from Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg in May 1938.
In June 1938 the Nongoma Benedictine Mission Hospital opened and the newly qualified Sr Reinolda, first nun trained in midwifery, was placed in charge of the maternity division.
The early years were difficult there was great poverty and distrust from the community. Sr Reinolda prayed hard, in the hospital’s chapel, for fortitude to handle the difficulties. She also trained many midwives; her first group took exams in 1941. Her expertise as a midwife earned her the trust of other medical practitioners and attracted expectant mothers from afar.
Sr Reinolda remained head of the Benedictine Hospital Maternity Division until her retirement in June 1976; the South African government took over the hospital in the same year. Statistics indicate over 28000 children were born during the 38years the maternity division was under her tutelage and management.
Called To Prepare Tabernacles
Intercessory Prayer to the Servant of God
Sr. Reinolda Franziska May OSB
Eternal and ever-loving God. You gave us your Son,
our Lord Jesus Christ, our God, and Saviour in the
Holy Eucharist.
We thank you for the radiant charity
infused into the heart of Sr Reinolda Franziska May,
who served your people with zeal.
May her love for the Holy Eucharist and obedience to
the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tabernacle of the Most High,
inspire us to be faithful followers of Christ.
We believe that she still cares for us, the struggling Church,
and so we place our petitions in the hands of
the Servant of God, Reinolda Franziska May,
(here place your petitions),
Asking her to intercede for us before Your throne
of grace. May her prayers obtain for us the miracle
needed for your church to proclaim her a
Blessed and Saint for our times!
We make this prayer
through Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Servant of God, Sr. Reinolda May
PRAY FOR US
Any graces received through this prayer, please send details to:
POSTULATOR:
- • P.O. Box 488 Eshowe 3815 • KZN, RSA •
- • Email: postulator@reinoldamay.co.za •
IMPRIMATUR:
- • Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, OFM •
- • Diocese of Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, RSA •
Schedule
of Events
| Date | Event | Venue |
| 26 October 2024 | Sr Reinolda Day | Inkamana Abbey |
Sr Reinolda
Fundraising
According to the norms of the Church, funds supporting the Cause Process may come from individuals. The Cause Office of Beatification & Canonization of the Servant of God, Sister Reinolda Franziska ‘Mashiyane’ May OSB, needs your financial and material support to:
- Promote the Cause of Beatification
- Promote the Cause of Canonization
- Build/Repair the Office and the Archive Rooms
- Printing of Documents & Publications
- Related Events
Road to Sainthood
Canonization Request “Servant of God”
A bishop with jurisdiction gives permission to open an investigation into the virtues of the individual. The findings of the investigation of the “Servant of God” is presented by the local Bishop to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints after having heard from the SACBC
Determination "Venerable/Heroic in Virtues”
The Congregation recommends to the Pope that he make a proclamation of the Servant of God’s heroic virtues. From this point the one said to be heroic in virtue is referred to by the title “Venerable.
Beatification “Blessed”
Beatification is a statement by the church that it is “worthy of belief” that the person is in heaven, having come to salvation. The venerable receives a new title, “Blessed”
Canonization “Saint”
The Prefect of the Congregation then sends the cause for canonization to the Pope to make the final decision. Once canonized, the person is officially declared a “Saint”.
Contact Us
0897273823
postulator@reinoldamay.co.za
fundraising@reinoldamay.co.za
Diocese of Eshowe KwaZulu Natal RSA
www.reinoldamay.co.za