Back in the 1900's she was known to the outback folks of Southern Australia as Sr. Mary MacKillop.

Today the daughter of Scottish immigrants is posthumously known as Saint Mary MacKillop of the Cross.

Last weekend the once rebellious nun was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square in Rome.

MacKillop, who was excommunicated for a period for exposing an Irish paedophile priest, has been credited with bringing a Co. Cork man David Keohane out of a coma after he was attacked on the streets of Sydney.

Keohane's family prayed night and day to Sr. Mary while he was in a coma and truly believe that their prayers were answered by the now saint when he woke up.

Keohane and his father traveled to Rome to celebrate St. Mary's canonization and to give thanks to her for his recovery.

Celebrations of MacKillop's canonization was celebrated at the Sydney chapel where her body lies and in Melbourne where she was born.

MacKillop is the only Australian to have been canonized.

She devoted her life to helping the sick and the needy, mainly through education.

Thousands of Australians traveled to Rome to celebrate St. Mary's new title.

Because this is the first Australian saint the country has been celebrating in every way possible.

A cafe in Penola, Southern Australia was serving up "Mary MacScallop."

An image of St. Mary was also projected on the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a nightly basis.

A musical about her life has been created and several merchandise celebrating her sainthood is on sale throughout the country.

Together with Father Julian Tenison Woods, MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and a number of schools and welfare institutions throughout Australasia with an emphasis on education for the poor, particularly in country areas.

Since her death she has attracted much veneration in Australia and internationally.

On 17 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI prayed at her tomb during his visit to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008.

On 19 December 2009, the pope approved the Roman Catholic Church's recognition of a second miracle attributed to her intercession.

Pope Benedict praised St Mary for the way "she dedicated herself as a young woman to the education of the poor in the difficult and demanding terrain of rural Australia".