Charles of Mount Argus
Dutch priest and saint (1821–1893)
Feast: 5 January (not on the universal Roman calendar; kept in the Roman Martyrology or local calendars)
Who they were
Johannes Andreas Houben was born at Munstergeleen, in the diocese of Roermond, Netherlands, on 11 December 1821, fourth of ten children of a well-off miller. Devout and reserved, he wanted from childhood to be a priest, and was ordained as a Passionist on 21 December 1850.
As Father Charles of St Andrew he was a zealous minister of confession. Often called to bless the sick, he was credited with surprising healings and gained a reputation as a wonder-worker.
The miracles
The Dicastery's biography does not describe the miracles approved in the cause.
Why that counted as sanctity
A Passionist confessor through whose blessing many sick people were helped.
- Dicastery for the Causes of Saints - biography: Padre Carlo di S. Andrea
- Wikidata Q1396004 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — Charles of Mount Argus (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.