The canonization of Vatican II continues: Paul VI beatification in October

WDTPRS ^ | 5/7/2014 | Fr John Zuhlsdorf

[markomalley]

I read today at Vatican Insider that the Congregation of the Causes of Saints has approved unanimously (what else) a miracle through the intercession of Ven. Paul VI.

I suppose now the only thing left to do is beatify the Pope everyone forgets to remember and the set will be complete… at least until the pool grows by one more.

This morning, cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints gave their final approval for the late Pope’s healing of an unborn child

ANDREA TORNIELLI
VATICAN CITY
Giovanni Battista Montini’s beatification is near: this morning cardinals and bishops of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints unanimously approved the miracle attributed to the intercession of the Italian Pope from Brescia, who died in August 1978. The year which marked the canonization of two Popes – John XXIII and John Paul II – will also be the year of Paul VI’s beatification. In the next few days Pope Francis will be promulgating the decree on the miracle attributed to the late Pope and the date suggested for the actual beatification is 19 October. The beatification is expected to take place in Rome on the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family: [HEY!  This is the canonization of HUMANAE VITAE too!] it was Paul VI himself who established the Synod in September 1965 in response to a request made by the Council fathers. [And what a day's work that was.] It should be noted that next August will mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Paul VI’s first big encyclical, the “Ecclesiam Suam”, which he wrote and edited entirely by himself.

The miracle attributed to the intercession of Paul VI was witnessed in the United States in 2001. It involved the healing of an unborn child, which was found to have serious problems and a high risk of brain damage: the foetus’ bladder was damaged and doctors reported ascites (presence of liquid in the abdomen) and anhydramnios (absence of fluid in the amniotic sac). All attempts to correct the problem proved futile and in the end the doctors said the child would either die in the womb or it would be born with severe renal impairment. Abortion was offered as an option but the mother refused. Instead, she took the advice given to her by a nun who was a friend of the family and had met Montini: she decided to pray for Paul VI’s intercession using a fragment of the Pope’s vestments which the nun had given her.

Ten weeks later the results of the medical tests showed a substantial improvement in the child’s health and it was born by Caesarean section in the 39th week of pregnancy. The case was presented to the former Postulator of the Cause, the Jesuit Paolo Molinari – who passed away last week – in Rome. Faith weekly Credere revealed that the diocesan inquiry was launched in 2003 and all witnesses agree that the case in question cannot be explained scientifically.

The child has made it to thirteen and his health is constantly monitored to ensure that his psychophysical state is normal. [Healing miracles have to be sudden, complete and lasting.] Doctors are especially keeping an eye on the child’s renal function. On 12 December last year the medical consultation of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints headed by Professor Patrizio Polisca, confirmed the impossibility of explaining the healing and the dicastery’s theologians gave their approval last 18 February. [Along with the doctors' and scientists' statement that the healing can't be explained, then theologians have to judge whether people were praying to Paul VI, and not, for example, to "Jesus, Mary, Joseph and all the saints and holy angels, and St. Rita and St. Jude, and Paul VI, and Fulton Sheen and Pauline Jaricot and....] Benedict XVI promulgated Paul VI’s heroic virtues on 20 December 2012.

In honor of Paul VI, Pope Francis should, at the beatification, bring back the sedia gestatoria, far humbler than the expensive Popemobile and far greener.

If it was good enough for St. John XXIII and Bl. Paul VI, it is good enough for any Pope!

[Arthur McGowan]

The worst Pope in the last 500 years, at least.

The Church is making itself ridiculous.

[Biggirl]

Look for more making blesseds to come for a few more popes.

[NTHockey]

What next, canonize Mohammed?

Montini did more damage to the Catholic Church than any man since Martin Luther.

[Verginius Rufus]

Worse than Leo X (1513-1521)? (Just barely within the last 500 years.)

[NKP_Vet]

http://the-american-catholic.com/2011/12/04/pope-paul-vi-and-the-smoke-of-satan/

Pope Paul VI and the “Smoke of Satan”.

[BlatherNaut]

Canonizing every single Council participant would not reconcile the peculiar contradictions between pre- and post-Vatican II beliefs and practices. By current papal standards, St. Isaac Jogues was engaged in “solemn nonsense” and St. Thomas More’s refusal to compromise with Henry VIII was a rejection of “mercy”. Post-VII faux ecumenism is at the root of these strange new perceptions.

[Salvation]

[HEY! This is the canonization of HUMANAE VITAE too!]

Father Z, I agree.

[Salvation]

[HEY! This is the canonization of HUMANAE VITAE too!]

[Mrs. Don-o]

Funny, Arthur, that you term Pope Paul VI the worst pope in 500 years, when he gave us Humanae Vitae, the most important Magisterial teaching since Trent, maybe since Nicaea --- and faced down the whole world, faced down every wayward human power, including wayward ecclesiastical powers, and all the citadels of demonic power-- in order to do it.

It's a paradox, isn't it?

Because if the world is still in existence 500 years from now --- and I mean an inhabited planet with human beings on it, who know they are human and not machines, animals, cyborgs or pure hellions --- they will have Paul VI to thank for it. Paul VI, Servus Servorum Dei.

[Mrs. Don-o]

" By current papal standards, St. Isaac Jogues was engaged in “solemn nonsense” and St. Thomas More’s refusal to compromise with Henry VIII was a rejection of “mercy”."

I know exactly the allusions you are making here, and I would argue nevertheless that your statement is unjust.

• The "solemn nonsense" allusion is to Eugenio Scalfari's dubious quote about what Pope Francis told him over the phone, in an interview which the 90-year-old atheist neither recorded and for which he took no written notes. (This is journalism?) In other words, whether Pope Francis ever said those words is in itself dicey.

  A different interpretation is demanded by the fact that Francis has forcefully and frequently written and spoken in favor of evangelization, the outreach to all nations with the Good News of Jesus Christ, the mission to disciple and baptize every soul for the Kingdom of God.

  To say that Pope Francis would object to the mission of St. Isaac Jogues is, I think, a frivolous rash judgment.

• As to the speculation that Pope Francis would reject St. Thomas More's defense of the King Henry VIII/ Queen Catherine marriage bond as a denial of 'mercy' --- again, this isn't even just sloppy casuistry, it's the most reckless kind of extrapolation.

  This argument does not demonstrate a diligent attention to accuracy and a fair evaluation of evidence.

  I believe you could make your point in a stronger and more effective way if you paid more attention to exact quotes and closely related context.

  St. Thomas More was a stickler about exact words, and silences, and how to fairly construe them. His life depended on it. In such matters, he said he would even treat the Devil fairly. I think you owe that much to the pope.

A Few Words from St. Thomas More (LINK)

[Arthur McGowan]

Even counting HV, he’s still the worst Pope in centuries.

He should never have appointed the commission on contraception. During the time they were operating, millions of couples started using the Pill.

Destroyed the Roman Rite. Appointed WRETCHED bishops. Sent Jean Jadot to America, who recommended the absolute scum of the priesthood to be made bishops. Weakland, Clark, Hubbard, Bernardin, Roach, Malone, Hickey. On and on and on. All of them vicious enemies of the pro-life movement.

The only American bishop who unambiguously upheld HV was Patrick A. O’Boyle, Archbishop of Washington. Paul VI allowed the homosexual John Cardinal Wright to cut O’Boyle off at the knees. Wright’s homosexual secretary, Donald Wuerl, became a bishop, and has devoted himself for decades to coddling Dignity and defending pro-aborts’ right to receive Communion.

I don’t think Paul VI or any modern Pope is in hell! But I am opposed to canonizing Popes who were a disaster for the Church. The Papacy was their “state in life,” and official sainthood should be reserved for those who fulfilled the duties of their state in life, no matter how humble or exalted, not those who botched one thing after another.

[Arthur McGowan]

Wait a minute!!!

We’ve been told that canonization DOES NOT CONCERN a Pope’s PAPACY—just his personal holiness!

[Mrs. Don-o]

Surely "Humanae Vitae" demonstrated in most dramatic fashion that the Holy Spirit would preserve the Church from the formal promulgation of error. In this matter it was Paul VI (and the Holy Spirit) contra mundum.

I agree that canonizations recently have been too many, too fast and too casually vetted. You should still need two rigorously well-attested post-mortem miracles, and 50 years after the fellow's in the grave --- in my opinion.

But if it were not for Humanae Vitae, there would scarcely be a faithful Catholic left anywhere in the Church.

IMVVHHO.

So I give my profound respect --- notwithstanding all your serious points --- to Pope Paul VI. To me, Humanae Vitae was the practical equivalent of raising the dead.

[piusv]

And his promulgation of Vatican II more than cancels out any positive that came from HV.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"And his promulgation of Vatican II more than cancels out any positive that came from HV [Humanae Vitae]."

Pio, I am amazed at your curt, smack-down confidence in your own sweeping negative judgments. Who told you this revelation that the sin/crime of having convened the Second Vatican Council "cancels" the positives of Humanae Vitae? Are you a clairvoyant --- or a prosecutor --- in the sifting of souls? You sound more like "the Accuser of our Brothers" than a son/daughter of the Church.

I would not dare to anathematize you or Arthur or anyonew else --- let alone Pope Paul VI--- in this manner. If I thought my failures --- and they are many --- "cancelled" the work of the Holy Spirit in me, I would despair. I would not dare --- I would be terrified --- to measure by such a measure.

[ebb tide]

Paul VI to be Canonized? The Triumph of Wayward Sentiment

[ebb tide]

Paul VI beatified?

[ebb tide]

To me, Humanae Vitae was the practical equivalent of raising the dead.

That statement is absolute hogwash. Will you say the same thing when Pope Francis finally comes to his senses and stops entertaining giving Holy Communion to adulterers?

[NTHockey]

Even a broken clock tells the correct time twice a day.