Former Cretin Teacher Brother James Miller is Beatified

March 27, 2018

Former Cretin teacher, Brother James Miller, was beatified by Council on March 19, 2018, in Rome. He is now officially “Blessed Brother James Miller.” Beatification is the step prior to canonization, or, the full declaration of sainthood.

Blessed James Miller is the first De LaSalle Christian Brother from the United States to be beatified.  

Born and raised on the family farm near Steven’s Point, Wisconsin, Blessed James entered the Brothers and began his initial formation in Glencoe, Missouri, and then completed his college degree at (then) Saint Mary’s College in Winona. After his religious profession, he taught Spanish at Cretin High School in the late 1960s and started the boys’ soccer program.

From Cretin, Blessed James served with the poor in Nicaragua until political tensions required his return to the United States. He once again returned to Cretin and taught Spanish. When the opportunity arose, he requested to teach at the Brothers’ mission in Huehuetenango, Guatemala, in 1980.

Blessed James’ work (and the ministry of the Christian Brothers) with young men at the Boys School in Huehuetenango created tension with the local authorities and the Guatemalan government. The Brothers’ advocacy for their students, for instance, keeping them in school rather than being taken into the military during civil unrest, led to his killing. Blessed James Miller, FSC, 37, was murdered on February 13, 1982, while he was repairing an outside wall of the Boys’ School.

The Bishop of Guatemala initiated the process for Blessed James’ canonization. In 2010, Blessed James was designated “Servant of God” the first step in the process of sainthood. Having reviewed his case, eyewitness accounts, and much documentation, he was beatified by Council on March 19. A formal ceremony celebrating his beatification will be held at a future date.

Now beatified, one miracle attributed to him (after the decree of beatification) is required for Blessed James to be canonized a saint by Pope Francis.

The Cretin-Derham Hall community has been particularly touched by his life because he spent time at Cretin as a young teacher. CDH is in the process of dedicating his former classroom in his honor with an icon and a plaque to honor one of our Church's modern-day martyrs. His ties are deep to our community and a source of inspiration to those he touched.

Saint Joseph, pray for us.

Saint John Baptist de LaSalle, pray for us.

Blessed James Miller, pray for us.

Live Jesus in our Hearts, Forever!

Lou Anne Tighe, Director of Campus Ministry at CDH, shares a personal reflection on the impact of Blessed Brother James Miller on her and her life's work. As a student at (then) Saint Mary's College in Winona, her connection with the Christian Brothers was strong and the stories of Brother James and his tragic killing were very real. Now at CDH, where Brother James taught (at Cretin High School) in the late 1970s, Ms. Tighe reflects on his story and the significance of his recent beatification. Read more: Personal Reflection on Blessed Brother James Miller.