Associated Press – March 31, 2008
VATICAN CITY – The church official spearheading the cause to make Pope John Paul II a saint said Monday he has finished a roughly 2,000-page draft of a report supporting the late pontiff’s canonization.
Two days before the Vatican marks the third anniversary of John Paul’s death, Monsignor Slawomir Oder told Vatican Radio that he has turned over the report to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The report summarizes and analyzes all the documentation about John Paul’s life and virtues that had been gathered since his 2005 death, including testimony from witnesses and his own writings.
“In the past days I have submitted a semifinal version,” Oder said. “It’s about 2,000 pages that need further technical and editing adjustments, but we can say that in its entirety, the report is complete.”
Now, an independent Vatican official, the Rev. Daniel Ols, must review Oder’s report and give it the final go-ahead for an official presentation to the Congregation, which must then gather committees of cardinals and bishops to discuss the merits of the case.
Oder declined to give a timetable for that, or say when the Vatican might decide to beatify John Paul.
The Vatican’s complicated saint-making procedures – which can include the weighing of favorable and unfavorable information – require that a miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession be confirmed before beatification. A second miracle is necessary for canonization.
Pope Benedict XVI put John Paul on the fast track to possible sainthood just weeks after his death on April 2, 2005, waiving the customary five-year waiting period.
Such a waiver had only been granted once before, to Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 and was beatified in 2003.
John Paul’s sainthood process is progressing quickly, with milestones reached at nearly every anniversary of his death.
Last year, the investigation into John Paul’s life and virtues was officially closed, and French church officials turned over to the Vatican documentation about a purported miracle attributed to his intercession.
Benedict will preside over a Mass on Wednesday marking John Paul’s death.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted March 31, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Does anyone here seriously think there’s any chance this won’t slide through?
posted March 31, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Gotta know this thrills me! I’m sure no one really cares except the RCC.
posted March 31, 2008 at 6:13 pm
All that is left is to make the souvenir tea cups, clip the JP2 fob onto the rosary beads, and screen the official t-shirts. I can’t say I am breathless inanticipation – nor am I really surprised. I guess it will look good on JP2′s college application or next job resume.
posted March 31, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Ther are some 61 verses in the NT that recognise the Christian believers as “Saints”. I have always wondered why the Catholic church feels it needs to MAKE some one a saint by vote of men, can some one help me understand this?
posted March 31, 2008 at 6:28 pm
Gotta have some one else to pray to for special stuff, I guess, Lou, incase the “Big Guy” Or “Gal” is busy and can’t handle the request.
posted March 31, 2008 at 11:39 pm
I am reminded of a conversation with an old friend when the news media were gushing over Mother Theresa during a visit here and some pundit speculated that she would be declared a saint as soon as she died. My friend, who was pastor emeritus of a parish on the northwest side of Chicago, opined that the Church would be wise to wait at least 100 years to canonize a saint, so that there would be no living person with memories of him or her. He told me a story about his time in the minor (that is, high-school level) seminary in Chicago when Mother Cabrini was to be the first American citizen canonized. He had a classmate who was an enthusiastic Italian-American who was very proud of Mother Cabrini’s impending sainthood. At that time, there was an old Italian monsignior who taught one day a week at the seminary, and who as a young priest fresh from Italy had worked on the Near West Side with Mother Cabrini. My pal’s young friend saw the old monsignior walking down the hall one day, and rushed up to him saying, “Oh, Monsignior, isn’t it wonderful that Mother Cabrini is going to be the first American Citizen to be canonized?” My friend said that the monsignior made a face, shrugged, and then said, “Mother Cabrini, she’sa no saint, she owesa me money.” Perhaps the fast track’s not such a good idea.
posted April 1, 2008 at 12:12 am
Ther are some 61 verses in the NT that recognise the Christian believers as “Saints”. I have always wondered why the Catholic church feels it needs to MAKE some one a saint by vote of men, can some one help me understand this?
Posted by: Lou | March 31, 2008 6:24 PM
Lou,
I couldn’t agree more. When we receive Christ, we also receive sainthood. It’s right out of the New Testament, as you say . . . It’s not based on behavior—what we do, but rather what Christ did for us!
I’ll never get voted a saint, but God’s word says I am one, and that’s all I need . . .
Mark
posted April 1, 2008 at 12:38 am
Sounds like sainthood’s pretty meaningless then. Of course the way the RCC uses it, it doesn’t seem to mean much there either.
posted April 1, 2008 at 5:00 am
Mark, Lou,
Lou, you’re right…the NT does recognize all those who live a holy life a “saint”. Coming from the Greek “agios” (or “hagios” with the accent mark), a saint is someone who is holy. That being said, you are right in that Jesus did call his followers to live a saintly life.
On the making of a saint, the RCC does not MAKE anyone a Saint (capital S). The RCC recognizes the NT passages that everyone is a saint, but a Saint is one who is worthy of being recognized as a model of holy life as prescribed by Christ. Think of it this way…many Americans consider Pres. George Washington as a patriot, but it is not the American public that makes him a patriot. What makes him a patriot is the testimony of his life and actions.
Mark, you are correct as well. We are all bestowed the title “saint” by virtue of following Christ. We are also bestowed the title “priest” and “king” as well as prescribed in the NT. As such, if we are called “holy”, the appropriate response then is to act in a holy manner. To be a saint is to not to be content in knowing that we are called “saint” but to make that title mean something. Let me put it this way…if loving parents tell you and show you that they love you, should you not act to them in the same loving way? Would it be hypocritical to be told that you are loved and act in an unlovable manner? For a person to be truly a saint, Jesus has already called you “saint”…he even has called you “friend”. Jesus’ own challenge for his saintly friends is to act like it. Of course, we all know THAT is the hard part.
That’s why it is difficult to be recognized a Saint.
-Randy
posted April 1, 2008 at 5:23 am
I am a Roman Catholic but I too have never understood the need to declare a particular person a “saint.” There are many “saintly” people who, because they never shared the limelight, will never be beatified or elevated to sainthood. I have to say, though, that if anyone deserves it, it truly is His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. I have never loved or been so impressed with a man in all my life. At the same time, was He Christ on earth? No! Neither is Benedict XVI or the some 260 something popes before them.
posted April 1, 2008 at 12:27 pm
It’s for publicity of course. That and to give little girls and boys someone to look up to besides Britney Spears and Marilyn Manson.
There are worse things to bash on Catholics than this.
posted April 1, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Making someone a “Saint” makes them an example to be looked up to in Christian life. John Paul II definitely led a magnificent example. But, it amazes me how many non-Christians are usually the fastest in proclaiming that they “don’t care.” A pretty emphatic reaction for someone who doesn’t care.
posted April 1, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Pope John Paul II is already a Saint.
posted April 1, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Another farce coming soon to a church in your neighborhood.
posted April 1, 2008 at 2:29 pm
When I taught in a RCC school, I was surprised how many “saints” there already are. I think every kid’s name had a saint connected to it…was amazing. 10 years in the school, and an average of 25 kids per class per year. Must be humdreds of the dead folks named Saint somebody. How special is someone if they are one of hundreds with the same title..in this case, saint? JP2 is just one of many being added to the list.
posted April 1, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Well GWB will seriously cheapen the title “Former President” soon, but not soon enough.
posted April 1, 2008 at 7:33 pm
That’s for sure, nnmns!
posted April 1, 2008 at 11:14 pm
At this point the other 25 letters are all making fun of “W”!
posted April 2, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Lou asked for help. Here’s your answer. The Catholic Church does not make anyone a saint. God does. The Church merely acknowledges what God has done, and thereby “declares” the person a saint. In other words, that person is already in heaven.
posted April 2, 2008 at 8:12 pm
If indeed there is a GOD! Let’s face it, men stick the label “saint” on people who are just that, people. The “saints” are dead and gone and have no power over anything…but I guess that is contrary to the opinion of others who believe in supernatural beings. That makes some folks happy and really does no harm…as long as the belief isn’t pushed on anyone.