1925 – 2009

Irving C. Houle was born December 27, 1925 at his family home in Wilson, Michigan. His parents were Peter and Lillian Houle. They were faithful Catholics who raised seven children, six boys and one girl. Irving was the sixth child. All of Irving’s siblings have also died. The last sibling, Bob, died in June 2018.

As a young child Irving recalled his family praying the rosary together, especially during Lent. Even then he felt a calling to suffer for Jesus. He once told that his mother “scolded” him for kneeling upon the metal grate in the room where they prayed. He recalled that his family would remain after Mass to pray the Stations of the Cross. His father would direct the children in praying an Our Father and a Hail Mary at each station. In addition to Holy Mass and the Eucharist, the rosary, and the Stations of the Cross, in later years the Divine Mercy Chaplet were part of his daily prayer.

At the age of 6, Irving was badly injured when he was thrown from the back of a galloping horse. He suffered a severe chest injury with broken ribs and a punctured lung. He was taken to a hospital in Escanaba, Michigan, where x-rays revealed the broken ribs and punctured lung. In addition, he was hemorrhaging badly through the nose and mouth. A local newspaper clipping reported the injuries as believed to be fatal.

Irving had an aunt who was a Franciscan Sister by the name of Sister Speciosa. She and the Sisters at the convent prayed an all-night vigil for his recovery. The next morning the doctor at the hospital was amazed to find that Irving had improved significantly and was no longer struggling to breathe. Irving related to his mother and the doctor that a “beautiful man in a white bathrobe” had stood at the foot of his bed during the night and raised his hand over him. Later in life, Irving would tell those close to him that he knows it was Jesus.

Irving had a happy childhood with many memories of family celebrations at Christmas, Easter, attending Holy Mass, family prayer and much love within his family. The Houle family had relatives in the city of Escanaba, Michigan, and when Irving was 16-17 years old, his family moved to Escanaba. Irving was happy about this as it gave him the opportunity to go to Holy Mass more often and to pray in a church  regularly. Irving went to daily Mass when he was in high school, even though he was the only young person from his school to do so. He loved Holy Mass and the Eucharist and it was not uncommon for him to be moved to tears at the consecration and upon receiving Jesus in Holy Communion. Irving graduated from Escanaba High School in 1942. While in school he was active in many sports and his love for sports continued throughout his life.

The day after high school graduation, Irving entered the U.S. Army and served in World War II throughout Europe. His letters home frequently mentioned his faith, the Eucharist and his desire to attend Holy Mass, and sharing his faith with fellow soldiers.

Irving married his wife Gail on November 17, 1948, and they were married for 60 years. Gail Houle survives as of this writing. Irving and Gail were members of St. Joseph-St. Patrick Parish in Escanaba. They raised 5 children, Margo, Steve, Peter, John and Matt. They have seven
grandchildren and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. His family knew him as a devoutly religious, loving, caring person, who was fun to be around. Irving was known to be a teaser and a prankster. He was also known to have his feelings hurt easily, and at times he had a temper.

Throughout his working years Irving held several different jobs. He worked at several retail stores and for two major manufacturing companies. The last 15 of his employment years was spent at Engineered Machine Products, where he was the plant manager. Irving kept pictures of the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart on his desk. Once a comment was made about the religious pictures, and he replied, “If they go, I go.” Irving was known to go to a church to pray the Stations of the Cross every day after work, no matter the number of hours worked. Upon retiring, he spent his days in daily Mass, praying the rosary, the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet,
and praying for other people. He always prayed 12 Our Father’s and 12 Hail Mary’s upon arising each day. He attended family gatherings and closely followed and attended his grandchildren’s school and athletic events.

Irving was a 4th Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. All six brothers, along with their father, were members. They were all devoted to Catholic life and to their families. On Good Friday, 1993, it is said that Irving received the stigmata, and his healing ministry began when he received the stigma. The wounds first appeared on the palms of his hands and he began to experience physical sufferings. He suffered The Passion every night between midnight and 3:00 a.m. for the rest of his earthly life. He understood that these particular hours of the day were times of great sins of the flesh. Irving received a locution from Jesus, which asked him to “touch my children,” and Irving spent the last 16 years of his life doing just that. He prayed over tens of thousands of people. The fruits of his healing ministry were spiritual as well as physical. One person gave an individual testimony regarding his own healing from a metastatic sarcoma. This person had been advised by his doctor at the Mayo Clinic that he had only months to live. During this time, Irving prayed with him and touched him. As a result, this person attributes his survival to Irving’s prayers to Jesus Christ for a special healing. As part of his healing ministry, Irving would hold a person’s hand and then cup their face in his hands, and he was noted for saying, “Jesus, you know what your child needs.” This person also asked Irving to pray for his daughter, Sara, so that she might return to the Church and that she might be able to have children, for she had been informed by her own doctors that she would not be able to conceive a child naturally.

This person attributed Irving’s laying hands on her, touching her with the stigmata, and praying over her, to Sara’s return to the Church and to her ability to have four children naturally. A woman named Kathy, who was from Dearborn Michigan, has a son named Chad, who is
currently 40 years old. When Chad was around 18 or 19 years old, he had a cancerous tumor on his neck. Kathy took Chad to Flint, Michigan, where, after Holy Mass, Irving prayed over him. By the time Kathy and Chad drove home, the tumor on Chad’s neck disappeared. Kathy had also experienced a spiritual healing from this experience, inasmuch as she has a renewed faith in God and has been a faithful Catholic since Chad’s healing. One time, following the celebration of Holy Mass at St. Joseph-St. Patrick parish in Escanaba, Michigan, Irving sat in the front of the church to offer his healing ministry. This particular celebration had attracted people from many different places, including Green Bay, Wisconsin. While Irving prayed over people, several priests heard confessions. Although Irving rarely spoke, he made it clear that only God heals people. Many in attendance remained at the church for 3 to 4 hours, in order to have a chance to speak their petitions and to be touched by Irving. As each person approached, Irving would ask what they wanted Jesus to do for them, and then he would take time with each person and reaffirm Jesus’ love.

Irving visited many locations, including EWTN, the Fatima Family Apostolate in Alexandria, South Dakota, many local parishes throughout Michigan, many parishes in the Diocese of Marquette, and even Fatima. Irving also worked his healing ministry in his hometown. On one
occasion, Irving visited a man, Jerry, who was dying from cancer, his wife Anne, and their 10-year-old son, Ben. During this visit, Jerry was in a coma. Anne said that the doctors expected Jerry to linger for six weeks or so. Irving, and others present, prayed with Jerry’s family, and
approximately 25 minutes later, Jerry died.

Irving’s greatest concern was for the conversion of souls. He was most happy to learn of people returning to confession after 20, 30, or 40 years, and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist. Irving loved Jesus and Mary and wished to suffer for Him and for the conversion of sinners. Irving was concerned with people turning to Jesus and loving Jesus.

If he were ever asked to speak at a church or gathering, Irving always gave glory to God. Many people have spoken of extraordinary physical and spiritual healings that they experienced when Irving prayed over them, and he always made it crystal clear that the healing came from God. He would simply say, “I don’t heal anybody” and “Jesus is the one who heals.” In addition to his healing ministry, there were some unexplainable manifestations that occurred.

On occasion, the smell of roses emanated from Irving, and the heavenly scent often remained after Irving left the room. The scent would also remain on sacramentals, such as rosaries and medals for periods of time. One person testified that the same scent remained on his own hands for after just shaking hands with Irving. Some people would also feel heat coming through Irving’s hand when he touched them. When pictures of Irving were developed, there were images of a crucifix and the Blessed Mother superimposed over the wounds in the palm of his hands. One photograph shows an image of a rosary showing under the skin of Irving’s head. Irving and his wife Gail both suffered as a result of this special charism, however, they both persevered and eventually came to peace with their situation. Their love for God and for each other
and their family allowed them to cooperate with our Lord and His will for their lives.

Irving died at Marquette General Hospital in Marquette, Michigan, on Saturday, January 3, 2009. He will be remembered for his love of God, his closeness to Jesus and the Blessed Mother, his love for the Eucharist, the Church, prayer, and his care and concern for others.
Irving’s life bears witness to holiness in daily life. He was an ordinary man, an athlete, a model husband and father, and a diligent worker. As he grew in holiness over the course of his life, the exercise of the virtues became more and more evident. Particularly noteworthy are the virtues of humility and obedience.

Irving was disturbed by the public attention that arose from talk that he had the stigmata and healings that people experienced. Without fail, he continually pointed the way to Jesus Christ, and he did not call attention to himself. He would not accept any money and prayed for people
whenever approached. Irving always showed respect and obedience to the Bishop. He prayed over people with the Bishop’s permission. The Most Reverend James Garland, then Bishop of the Diocese of Marquette, wrote in a letter that Irving was an obedient son of the Church who had his blessing for the good work that he is doing for strengthening people’s faith and hope in the Lord. Once when Irving was asked what he would do if the Bishop ever told him that he could not pray over people, he replied that he would be obedient. Though no formal ecclesiastical process to investigate the stigmata was ever conducted, doctors who examined him said that there was no medical explanation. Furthermore, the manner in which he lived does not give rise to doubt. Bishop Garland wrote in a letter to a priest about Irving, “For some years he has been experiencing the stigmata on each of his hands. I have met him and talked with the priest who serves as his spiritual director. … I find no objections to this activity.” In other letters Bishop Garland stated, “He does not preach or publicly promote himself, but simply prays with individuals. He and Catholic priests have told me of conversions and blessings that have come from the Lord on the occasion of these prayer services.” “I know Irving and have talked with him several times. … I find him a humble man who has had an extraordinary experience.

”In the life of Irving Houle, we see the extraordinary grace of God at work in an ordinary, simple man who offered his life in love for the Lord and others. Over the years, Irving’s generous response to simple sufferings disposed his heart to make of his life a generous outpouring of love expressed in prayer and suffering for the conversion of others.” In general, the effects of Irving’s ministry, clearly increased greatly the faith of the people with whom he came into contact, and devotion to him continues to grow more and more everyday throughout the Diocese of Marquette. The growth of such devotion can be seen in the prayers that are continuing to be offered at the local level for a cause of canonization for Irving, as well as in an increasing desire for local presentations on Irving’s life. Conversion, repentance, returning to the Sacraments, Mass attendance, hope, physical healings, the experience of being loved fully, deeper prayer lives, perseverance in prayer and
belief, and life for many who were suffering with illness and disease have been some of the effects of Irving’s ministry. Jesus did all of these things through the charism He gave Irving. Irving would be the last person to want anyone to call him a saint. He only wished to serve God and love Jesus, Our Blessed Mother, and the people God put in front of him every day. God used Irving Houle as a sign of his own live for all of us.

Diocese of Marquette