Houben, Charles of Mount Argus, Bl.
HOUBEN, CHARLES OF MOUNT ARGUS, BL.
Baptized Johannes Andreas, Passionist missionary priest; b. Dec. 11, 1821, Munstergeleen, the Netherlands; d. Jan. 5, 1893, Dublin, Ireland. The fourth of the 11 children of Peter Joseph and Elizabeth Houben, Johannes had difficulties with his studies, yet persevered and realized his religious vocation. While serving five years in the military reserves (1840–45), Houben worked in his uncle's mill. He entered the Passionist novitiate (1845), took his vows (1846) and the name Charles of St. Andrew, and was ordained (1850). Thereafter he worked among the poor and humble in England. In July 1857 he was assigned to the Mount Argus Retreat House, Dublin, Ireland, where he distinguished himself through his apostolate as a confessor. He remained in Dublin the remainder of his life, except for a short return to England in 1866. Houben suffered patiently in his later years. Since 1949 his relics have been interred in the Passionist church at Mount Argus. Pope John Paul II praised Houben during his beatification ceremony (Oct. 16, 1988) for his ecumenical work and ministry of reconciliation.
Bibliography: p. f. spencer, To Heal the Broken-Hearted (Dublin 1988).
[k. i. rabenstein]