Born John Andrew Houben, on 11th December 1821, into a poor, Dutch Catholic family, St Charles of St Andrew CP was received into the Passionist Congregation by Blessed Dominic Barberi.

​St Charles later followed Dominic Barberi’s example, joining the Passionist mission in England, working at Broadway, near Evesham, and in the industrial missions of north Staffordshire. There he devoted himself particularly to the spiritual and physical care of the impoverished Irish migrants who settled in England.

He took the Irish to his heart, and in 1856, he was transferred to the monastery of Mount Argus, near Dublin, dividing the rest of his life between Mount Argus and the English missions in Lancashire, Broadway and Staffordshire. He gained a devoted following among the Irish people on both sides of the Irish Sea, becoming known as “the saint of Mount Argus”. St Charles died there on 5th January 1893, having reputedly performed many healing miracles.

St Charles was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1988, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on 3rd June 2007.

His memorial is celebrated in the Passionist calendar on the 5th January.

O God, who granted Saint Charles of Saint Andrew
to spend his life doing good to all and healing those
 who were weighed down by guilt and suffering,
grant that, imitating his example,
we may seek to work constantly for
the salvation of our neighbours.
Through our Lord.
Amen.

St Charles of Mount Argus