He looked more like a retired rockstar than a magazine managing editor — let alone the managing editor of a Catholic magazine. His faded denim jacket, long hair, and wire-rim glasses gave the appearance of a cross between Jerry Garcia and Sammy Hagar, but the reality was that the man standing before me, with a warm smile and an outstretched hand, was Richard Beemer —an award-winning editor with more than 50 years of experience in shaping stories that penetrate the heart and mind.
I’d landed in Indiana the day before, feeling a strange familiarity, having recently been here to cover the National Eucharistic Congress a few months ago. Passing by Lucas Oil Stadium, memories of that time spent in adoration with more than 50,000 fellow souls rose vividly to mind. While this journey wouldn’t feature the throngs of Catholics flooding downtown Indianapolis, it was a pilgrimage in its own right — an exploration into the life of a man who spent his days fully devoted to serving Christ and his fellow man.
His name was Blessed Solanus Casey.
Born Bernard Francis Casey in Oak Grove, Wisconsin, in 1870, Blessed Solanus Casey grew up the sixth of 16 children in an Irish-American farming family. He felt a call to the priesthood early in life but struggled academically, especially with German and Latin, which led him to join the Capuchin Franciscans and finally being ordained a “simplex priest,” meaning he was not given permission to hear confessions or preach formal sermons.
However, his humility, warmth, and intense dedication to prayer made him a beloved presence in churches and friaries across the country, where he served as a porter. Known for his deep compassion and miraculous ability to heal both body and spirit, he drew people from all walks of life who sought his counsel, healing touch, and tireless listening ear. In 2017, the Catholic Church beatified him, putting him on the path to sainthood.
But for as much as has been written about Blessed Solanus, many of the countless stories of his healing words and gentle touch risk being lost to the sands of time. As 1957 — the year of his passing — fades further into history, so do the voices of those he once touched with compassion, mercy, and hope. Those who wept tears of joy or sorrow in his presence, who found renewed faith, or who were brought back from the brink of despair, are fewer each year.
This, Richard explained, was the inspiration behind his new mission: collecting and preserving these precious, fading memories in his newly released book, “Memorable Graces: Testimonies, memories, anecdotes, and favors granted through the intercession of Blessed Father Solanus Casey, OFM Cap.”
The journey of gathering these stories was no simple task. Initially, Richard set out on his own, placing a small ad in a church bulletin, hoping it might lead him to a few people who remembered Solanus firsthand.
To his surprise, one response stood out — a woman named Linda Leist. After reading Richard’s ad, Linda felt called to join the effort. She began visiting churches across the area, speaking to congregations before Mass and inviting people to share their encounters with Blessed Solanus. Through her dedication, Linda amassed a significant portion of the stories that now fill “Memorable Graces.” Together, Richard and Linda became custodians of these sacred memories, preserving them for a world that increasingly seems to forget the humble saints among us.
“I think anyone who reads about Father Solanus or follows him has to be affected by that man one way or another,” Richard said, gazing out his living room window amid the farm fields in Huntington, Indiana, the town where Solanus himself lived from 1946 to 1956, the year before his death.
He spoke about the challenge and privilege of collecting stories from people who encountered Solanus and had their lives changed in ways big and small. The stories range from miraculous physical healings to the quieter but equally profound healing of hearts and souls.
Yet, while Richard spoke humbly of the project, it was clear that his connection to Solanus ran deeper. At 13, Rick and his friend Ken Brennan had set off on a small adventure, hiking across town to visit the Capuchin Friary.
“I don’t remember meeting him,” Rick admitted, referring to his early years in the 1950s when his mother would take him there for early morning Sunday Mass, but at 13 “we got a full tour from Brother Francis Mary, the porter at the time.”
It wasn’t until years later that Richard would realize the lasting impact of that visit. He remembers coming to the friary as a toddler, the rich, haunting sounds of Gregorian chant, the faint scent of beeswax candles, and the gentle clang of bells forming a kind of sacred memory. These moments, tucked away in the background of his life, had stayed with him — a quiet reverence that would later grow into a profound respect for the friary’s most beloved resident.
Decades later, it felt as though these early impressions had resurfaced, fueling Richard’s resolve to capture the stories of Solanus. “Memorable Graces” was more than a book; it was his way of making sense of those memories — of honoring a man whose life continued to resonate across time.
I’ll admit, I only knew of Solanus in passing before I boarded a plane to Indiana. Just days before the trip, I finished reading “Gratitude and Grit” (Franciscan Media, $16.99), a book about his life. When I closed that final page, I was stunned — stunned at how a humble, obedient man, a “simplex priest” with limited permissions, could have such an overwhelming effect on the lives of so many. Here was a man who embraced his limitations and devoted himself to Christ, and in doing so, became an extraordinary vessel for God’s grace.
Blessed Solanus literally counseled tens of thousands of people during his lifetime, offering comfort, spiritual direction, and, at times, miraculous healing. I couldn’t help but wonder how much each of us could accomplish if we surrendered our lives as fully as he did — how, by cooperating with God’s grace, we might play a more profound role in others’ lives, even if only in small, everyday ways. I think of Solanus as a kind of poster child for what’s possible when we give ourselves entirely to Christ. His life is a testament to the power of humble service, of living with an open heart and obedient spirit.
More than anything, Solanus has become for me a symbol of hope and possibility. He reminds us that holiness isn’t reserved for the extraordinary; it’s a path open to us all. And through the stories preserved in “Memorable Graces,” this truth emerges more clearly. We need him — his example, his quiet strength, his willingness to be “little” so that others might encounter the greatness of God.
Through “Memorable Graces,” we see him as a man who brought Christ’s presence into every conversation, every encounter. His legacy reminds us that faith is not just belief; it is action, compassion, and an openness to seeing Christ in others. In preserving these stories, Richard and Linda have created more than a book — they’ve offered a doorway for new generations to experience the humble and profound faith of a man on the path to sainthood.
For those seeking Christ or simply a listening ear, the story of Blessed Solanus Casey is an invitation. He shows us that even the simplest acts — listening, praying, consoling — can reveal the Divine. Perhaps each of us can find a moment to open our hearts a little more, to listen more deeply, and to let Christ’s grace work through us, just as Solanus did. His example reminds us that true greatness lies in humble service and that, like him, each of us has the potential to bring God’s healing love into this broken world.
How to order: “Memorable Graces”
“Memorable Graces” can be ordered at Amazon.com, Lambingpress.com, and CatholicBooksDirect.com. The cost is $15.95. All proceeds benefit St. Bonaventure Monastery Soup Kitchen in Detroit, Michigan.
Richard Beemer is the managing editor of Angelus.
