Audrey Santo
Encyclopedia
Audrey Marie Santo often referred to as Little Audrey by pilgrims to her home, was an American
young woman from Worcester, Massachusetts
through whom miracle
s were said to have happened during her lifetime.
On August 9, 1987, when Audrey was three years old. She was playing in the driveway with Stephen, her brother. It was on this day that Audrey fell into the family swimming pool. Audrey recovered but was rushed to the hospital. Audrey was in a coma
for about three weeks. She remained in intensive care with 24-hour attention and was out of the coma in three weeks. She remained in a state called Akinetic Mutism — non-speaking and limited movement. Her family was recommended to place Audrey in an institution. Audrey’s mother Linda, felt that she would receive better care being home with her family. In November, four months following the accident, Audrey was brought home.
Shortly after the accident, Linda took Audrey to Međugorje, a popular pilgrimage site in the then Yugoslavia
, where the Virgin Mary is said to appear to six visionaries since 1981. Audrey was present at one of the alleged apparitions; she seemed to be aware, and nodded her head as if to say 'yes'. Linda states that Audrey communicated directly with the Virgin Mary and agreed to become a victim soul
. In Catholic popular spirituality, a "victim soul" is someone who willingly takes on the suffering of others . Audrey subsequently went into cardiac arrest
and almost died, requiring a medical evacuation back to the United States. Rather than assuming that Audrey's health simply was not up to the strain of that much travel, her mother interpreted the child's heart failure as having to do with the fact that the apparition site was close to "the biggest abortion
clinic in Yugoslavia".
It has also been claimed that Audrey sometimes bore the stigmata
. The claimed miracles in Audrey's home included icons weeping blood or oil, a bleeding statue of Jesus
, consecrated hosts bleeding, blood appearing spontaneously in a tabernacle, oil dripping down the walls of the garage, and the Virgin Mary appearing in cloud formations overhead.
Many miraculous healings were attributed to Audrey as well. Many people with various diseases or injuries claim to have been cured either by visiting Audrey's house or by intercessory prayer offered by others at Audrey's house.
For example, Sheryle Parolisi of Methuen
, Massachusetts
, says she prayed at Audrey's bedside for the recovery of her son Joey, who had been injured in a motorcycle accident. She reports that, on returning home, Joey met her at the door without the crutches or cane which he had needed to help him walk since the accident. He told her that he "just had a feeling that he could walk". However, Joey's personal physician has stated that there was a 75 percent chance from the beginning that he would be able to walk again.
Promoters of sainthood for Audrey have alleged the following: :
During her life, Audrey's house became a pilgrimage site. The home was remodeled for this purpose and a large window installed in Audrey's bedroom so that visitors could view her as they passed by. This was removed at the request of the Church.
with no fingerprint and no origin. It was 75 percent olive oil and the remaining 25% was unidentifiable.
As for the purported miracles, he said "I want to underscore that any paranormal occurrences are not miraculous in and of themselves".
He also stated in regard to the claim that Audrey is a Victim Soul, "We must proceed quite cautiously here, since this term is not commonly used by the Church except for Christ himself who became the victim for our sins and transgressions on the cross." The report further states that "The term "victim soul" is not an official term in the Church. It was used in some circles in the 18th and 19th century when there was a fascination with suffering and death."
And with regard to the many pilgrims who were praying to Audrey while she was still alive, he said "praying to Audrey is not acceptable in Catholic teaching." It was further states that "One should only pray for Audrey. Our faith teaches us to pray to God and to pray for the intercession of the saints. Therefore, the distribution of a "Prayer to Audrey" should cease immediately."
In the case of the purported miracle oil, his report stated: "We must be careful not to identify this oil as "holy oil
," which could be used to anoint a person. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
, which can only be celebrated by a priest or bishop, uses oil blessed by the bishop at the Mass of Chrism, and is given to those who are seriously ill."
While the Bishop's report does not confirm any of the alleged miracles and cautions against some of the beliefs being promoted, it had nothing but praise for the care Audrey had received from her family. The bishop lauded the "excellent care the family gives to their daughter. This has manifested itself in her physical condition, for example, she has not apparently had bedsores in the eleven years she has been confined to her bed." He celebrated their "constant love and devotion to their daughter is a miracle in the broad sense of the word. They have always recognized the human dignity of their daughter, despite the circumstances."
Above quotes taken from the Diocese Issues Interim Findings on Miraculous Claims, Statement by Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, Bishop of Worcester.
was held April 17, 2007 and the funeral mass on April 18, 2007, both at St. Paul's Cathedral
in Worcester, Massachusetts
. The public was allowed to attend these two events, but the burial was private.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
young woman from Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
through whom miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s were said to have happened during her lifetime.
On August 9, 1987, when Audrey was three years old. She was playing in the driveway with Stephen, her brother. It was on this day that Audrey fell into the family swimming pool. Audrey recovered but was rushed to the hospital. Audrey was in a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
for about three weeks. She remained in intensive care with 24-hour attention and was out of the coma in three weeks. She remained in a state called Akinetic Mutism — non-speaking and limited movement. Her family was recommended to place Audrey in an institution. Audrey’s mother Linda, felt that she would receive better care being home with her family. In November, four months following the accident, Audrey was brought home.
Shortly after the accident, Linda took Audrey to Međugorje, a popular pilgrimage site in the then Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
, where the Virgin Mary is said to appear to six visionaries since 1981. Audrey was present at one of the alleged apparitions; she seemed to be aware, and nodded her head as if to say 'yes'. Linda states that Audrey communicated directly with the Virgin Mary and agreed to become a victim soul
Victim soul
A victim soul is a concept in Catholic theology with pre-Christian roots, however it is not an official term in the Roman Catholic Church. The concept is described by one theologian as a soul or person "chosen by God to suffer more than most people during life, and who generously accepts the...
. In Catholic popular spirituality, a "victim soul" is someone who willingly takes on the suffering of others . Audrey subsequently went into cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest, is the cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively...
and almost died, requiring a medical evacuation back to the United States. Rather than assuming that Audrey's health simply was not up to the strain of that much travel, her mother interpreted the child's heart failure as having to do with the fact that the apparition site was close to "the biggest abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
clinic in Yugoslavia".
Miracles claims
Since her visit to Međugorje, numerous miracles were purported to have occurred in Audrey's bedroom and within the house.It has also been claimed that Audrey sometimes bore the stigmata
Stigmata
Stigmata are bodily marks, sores, or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus, such as the hands and feet...
. The claimed miracles in Audrey's home included icons weeping blood or oil, a bleeding statue of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, consecrated hosts bleeding, blood appearing spontaneously in a tabernacle, oil dripping down the walls of the garage, and the Virgin Mary appearing in cloud formations overhead.
Many miraculous healings were attributed to Audrey as well. Many people with various diseases or injuries claim to have been cured either by visiting Audrey's house or by intercessory prayer offered by others at Audrey's house.
For example, Sheryle Parolisi of Methuen
Methuen, Massachusetts
Methuen is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 43,789 at the 2000 census.-History:Methuen was first settled in 1642 and was officially incorporated in 1726; it is named for the British diplomat Sir Paul Methuen. Methuen was originally part of Haverhill,...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, says she prayed at Audrey's bedside for the recovery of her son Joey, who had been injured in a motorcycle accident. She reports that, on returning home, Joey met her at the door without the crutches or cane which he had needed to help him walk since the accident. He told her that he "just had a feeling that he could walk". However, Joey's personal physician has stated that there was a 75 percent chance from the beginning that he would be able to walk again.
Promoters of sainthood for Audrey have alleged the following: :
- As of 1999, Audrey showed no visible bedsoreBedsoreBedsores, more properly known as pressure ulcers or decubitus ulcers, are lesions caused by many factors—such as unrelieved pressure, friction, humidity, shearing forces, temperature, age, continence, and medication—to any part of the body, especially portions over bony or cartilaginous areas such...
s despite having been in bed for 12 years. Either none were reported, or the assiduous care she received at home prevented them. She was arguably receiving a great deal more personal attention than she would in a medical facility. - Her mechanical respiratorRespiratorA respirator is a device designed to protect the wearer from inhaling harmful dusts, fumes, vapors, or gases. Respirators come in a wide range of types and sizes used by the military, private industry, and the public...
occasionally stopped, as did the flow in her feeding tubeFeeding tubeA feeding tube is a medical device used to provide nutrition to patients who cannot obtain nutrition by swallowing. The state of being fed by a feeding tube is called gavage, enteral feeding or tube feeding...
. Believers stated that Audrey voluntarily controlled these devices through telekinesis because she made a deliberate decision to fast for a period of time. Audrey's devotees have not put forth any evidence, empirical or scriptural, for such powers.
During her life, Audrey's house became a pilgrimage site. The home was remodeled for this purpose and a large window installed in Audrey's bedroom so that visitors could view her as they passed by. This was removed at the request of the Church.
Oil From the Weeping Images
Oil was tested in the Kraft Lab and H.S. Laboratory. The results were olive oilOlive oil
Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive , a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for traditional oil lamps...
with no fingerprint and no origin. It was 75 percent olive oil and the remaining 25% was unidentifiable.
Roman Catholic Church's position on Audrey's alleged miracles
In 1999, the Bishop of Worcester, the Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, released his preliminary findings on the case. In that report, the Bishop said that "The most striking evidence of the presence of God in the Santo home is seen in the dedication of the family to Audrey"As for the purported miracles, he said "I want to underscore that any paranormal occurrences are not miraculous in and of themselves".
He also stated in regard to the claim that Audrey is a Victim Soul, "We must proceed quite cautiously here, since this term is not commonly used by the Church except for Christ himself who became the victim for our sins and transgressions on the cross." The report further states that "The term "victim soul" is not an official term in the Church. It was used in some circles in the 18th and 19th century when there was a fascination with suffering and death."
And with regard to the many pilgrims who were praying to Audrey while she was still alive, he said "praying to Audrey is not acceptable in Catholic teaching." It was further states that "One should only pray for Audrey. Our faith teaches us to pray to God and to pray for the intercession of the saints. Therefore, the distribution of a "Prayer to Audrey" should cease immediately."
In the case of the purported miracle oil, his report stated: "We must be careful not to identify this oil as "holy oil
Holy oil
Holy oil may refer to:* Holy anointing oil, a perfume used to anoint the vessels of the Jewish Tabernacle* Holy Oil , a consecrated oil used in the administration of certain sacraments and ecclesiastical functions...
," which could be used to anoint a person. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick
Anointing of the Sick, known also by other names, is distinguished from other forms of religious anointing or "unction" in that it is intended, as its name indicates, for the benefit of a sick person...
, which can only be celebrated by a priest or bishop, uses oil blessed by the bishop at the Mass of Chrism, and is given to those who are seriously ill."
While the Bishop's report does not confirm any of the alleged miracles and cautions against some of the beliefs being promoted, it had nothing but praise for the care Audrey had received from her family. The bishop lauded the "excellent care the family gives to their daughter. This has manifested itself in her physical condition, for example, she has not apparently had bedsores in the eleven years she has been confined to her bed." He celebrated their "constant love and devotion to their daughter is a miracle in the broad sense of the word. They have always recognized the human dignity of their daughter, despite the circumstances."
Above quotes taken from the Diocese Issues Interim Findings on Miraculous Claims, Statement by Most Rev. Daniel P. Reilly, Bishop of Worcester.
Death and funeral
Audrey Santo died from cardio-respiratory failure on April 14, 2007 in her home. Family, friends, and clergy were at her side. The vigilVigil
A vigil is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance...
was held April 17, 2007 and the funeral mass on April 18, 2007, both at St. Paul's Cathedral
Cathedral of Saint Paul in Worcester
The Cathedral of Saint Paul — informally known as Saint Paul's Cathedral — is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester in Worcester, Massachusetts....
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. The public was allowed to attend these two events, but the burial was private.