Pope John Paul II to Be Beatified May 1
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: January 13, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/01/13/world/europe/AP-EU-Vatican-John-Paul-II.html?_r=1&hp
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
I don't understand the rush to beatify Pope John Paul II. If the miracle of the nun's recovery from Parkinson's is now under question", why is the Vatican moving ahead anyway? Why hasn't the Vatican named Dorothy Day, the women martyred in El Slavador, Oscar Romero as role models for their prophetic witness to justice as constitutive to the Gospel? They certainly had had plenty of time to investigate and reflect on their lives.
In addition, there are many "unnamed" saints, some we know in our families and faith communities, who live lives of heroic service and virtue. They are unrecognized by officaldom, but real saints nonetheless. Let's look around and be inspired by our sisters and brothers goodness, compassion and selfless service and heroic action, and find a way as the people of God to recognize them. In early centuries of the church's history saints were declared by the people. One example is St. Brigit of Kildare and the Celtic saints. Maybe it is time to go back to that process, and skip this whole expensive canonization process! Let's put saint-making back into the local communities and in the hands of the people where it belongs. Just think how much money that would save! Do you think God might be laughing at the whole process anyway?
Bridget Mary Meehan, RCWP
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now
No Bridget Mary, I don't think God is laughing at all. If indeed the miracle took place, God was the one who did it through JP's intercession, so why would God be laughing at the process?
ReplyDeleteYou are right of course, there are many people who are saints but are not cannonized. Perhaps some of your ancenstors are saints. I certainly hope some of mine are.
A saint is not simply someone who is in heaven, but someone whom God officially reveals is in heaven in which the Church allows public veneration.
Your ancestors, my ancestors might be saints but, God has not revealed that through signs, and therefore the Church has not cannonized them for public veneration in the Church.