Posted on 03/10/2007 6:30:11 AM PST by NYer
The Rome diocese has wrapped up its examination of Pope John Paul II's virtues and life, an important step in the Catholic Church's process that could lead to sainthood for the late pontiff.
Rome Cardinal Camillo Ruini said Saturday he had been informed that completion of work by the diocese on the cause for beatification and sainthood will be marked with a ceremony in St. John's Lateran Basilica on April 2 in the capital. The date is the second anniversary of John Paul's death.
All pontiffs serve as bishop of Rome, and so the diocese examined "the life, virtues and reputation for holiness" of the late pope.
Now the Vatican must take up its own examination of the same characteristics, a process which can take years.
Shortly after John Paul's death, with faithful clamoring for quick canonization, Pope Benedict XVI, the pontiff's successor, waived the customary five-year waiting period to open the case for possible sainthood.
Beatification is the last formal step in the process before possible sainthood, and as part of the process, church officials must certify that a miracle attributed to John Paul's intercession has occurred. After beatification, another miracle is required for sainthood.
Diocesan level work was also being conducted in Krakow, Poland, where John Paul served as cardinal before becoming pope in 1978.
During the diocesan inquiry, church officials interviewed those who knew the pope and examined documentation.
Benedict will preside at a Mass in memory of John Paul in the late afternoon of April 2 in St. Peter's Basilica.
Given the antipathy of the SSPX towards Pope JPII, I wonder to what extent, if any, his beatification and eventual canonization will impact future re-unification.
I would think the events at Assisi would flunk his examination for sainthood...hundu's, buddhists, muslims? Not exactly Pius X here....
I'm glad Pope Benedict waived the waiting period. I remember the inspiring example of Pope John Paul II thoughout his life, but particularly during the last year or so with regard to his illness.
What has me puzzled is the waive of the waiting period. Why is everybody "a special case" these days? Obviously the notion behind the waiting period is to avoid a rush to judgment, and is a prudent attempt to lessen the inevitable politicization of a person's life. So why rush?
Are we sitting on pins and needles?
From your keyboard to God's ears!
That is easily overcome by his excommunication of LeFebvre, et al., and his declaration that SSPX is in schism. Hindus, buddhists and muslims don't go around pretending to be Catholic. Peter dined with actual gentiles, BTW.
If it isn't this, it will be something else.
It always is.
As with Lefebvre, so with Fellay and all the rest.
No bishop who has been his own Pope for close to 20 years is about to summon forth the humility and obedience it would take to go back to being a bishop.
There will ALWAYS be ONE MORE REASON WHY NOT.
Period.
From the wording of the headline I keep seeing poor John Paul II sitting on a stool on a cloud, clutching a pencil and nervously watching some Heavenly Mother Superior pacing by with a Golden Ruler. "Karol! Quit fusing with your halo and pay attention! You knew all this was going to be on the quiz, so I expect your very best! That means good penmanship too! And remember, no fair praying for answers!"
I have a strange sense of humor.
"if at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you."
Speaking of humility, I recall reading the story of an event that occured during the late pontificate of JPII. (sorry for not bookmarking the link!) It seems that on one of his visits to a Church in Rome, JPII recognized a dissheveled man in the crowd. He was a fallen priest (missing these details :-( Upon his return to the Vatican, JPII asked one of his aides to track down the priest and extend an invitation to dinner in his private chambers. The person was found, assisted in getting cleaned up and attended the private dinner. At the conclusion of the dinner, JPII expressed the need for priests, to the man. He then asked him to hear his confession! Now that's humility!
I've probably messed up the actual status of this priest but not the humility of JPII.
:)
*************
Wow. What a story! It certainly is.
Wish I could find the original article. As you can see, it left quite an impression.
I'm not Catholic, but in my book that rates some extreme respect.
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