PM visits MacKillop's resting place

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a surprise visit on Sunday morning to the memorial chapel dedicated to Mother Mary MacKillop, whose sainthood could be imminent.

Mr Rudd, a practising Anglican, took time out to attend mass at the North Sydney chapel, where Mother Mary is interred.

News Ltd newspapers report that Vatican sources have suggested that the Blessed Mary could be made Australia's first saint before Christmas.

In July this year, Mr Rudd visited Pope Benedict XVI in Rome and the pair reportedly discussed Mother Mary.

But a spokesman for the prime minister would not reveal if Mr Rudd's chapel visit on Sunday had anything to do with reports that Mother Mary's second miracle had been decreed, paving the way for her canonisation.

"He certainly did go to church in North Sydney," the spokesman told AAP.

"It was St Joseph's Mary MacKillop church.

"It was a private visit - I'm not going to get into the details of what went on at the church," the spokesman said.

"He (Mr Rudd) attended a (Sunday) service, the prime minister attends church regularly on Sundays and he was in Sydney this morning."

Mother Mary's second miracle has yet to be officially decreed, but it has been reported that Australia could expect the next milestone towards her anticipated sainthood by Christmas.

A spokeswoman for the Sisters of St Joseph, the congregation founded by Mother Mary, says excitement and expectations are running high in Rome and in Australia.

"The sisters are very excited and they're waiting on an announcement sometime, hopefully, before Christmas," the spokeswoman told AAP.

For a person to be canonised, or declared a saint by the Pope, the Vatican must decree the person was responsible for two miracles.

Mother Mary was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995, meaning the Vatican verified her first miracle of healing a woman with terminal leukaemia.

A second miracle said to been performed by Mother Mary which would confirm sainthood is being investigated by the Vatican.

The Sisters of St Joseph anticipate the second miracle will be decreed by Pope Benedict XVI, which would then pave the way for canonisation.

"The excitement is building that news should come through before Christmas about the possible confirmation about the second miracle," the spokeswoman said.

Media reports have already surfaced that the second miracle has been decreed.

"No, no that's not true," the spokeswoman said.

"That meeting hasn't taken place yet."

News Ltd says it understands Mother Mary's second miracle has been cleared by a team of cardinals and bishops, and the final assent from Pope Benedict XVI is just days away.