According to this piece by ZENIT, a Catholic news service, on May 13, the feast of the Virgin of Fatima, the Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, waived the waiting period for His Holiness Pope John Paul II, of venerated memory.
The last time a part of the waiting period was waived was with the case of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. However, as the article points out, His Holiness Pope John Paul II waived only two years of the customary five-year waiting period. In contrast, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI waived all five years so the case of sainthood for His Holiness Pope John Paul II may proceed immediately.
So are they making some sort of case yet? Has anyone speculated on what miracles he’ll be found to have performed? Honestly, what did he do to make him worthy of sainthood? He seems a decent guy, but I don’t quite understand the depth of a lot of Catholics’ love for him.
You do understand that the miracles in question are not likely to be miracles performed during his lifetime, but posthumous miracles as a result of intercessory prayers - right?
This webpage gives a nice overview of the canonization process, from beginning to end.
It is interesting, and Catholics have noticed this, that the Holy Father already speaks as if His Holiness Pope John Paul II is in Heaven. According to Catholic practice and doctrine, one cannot be sure of another’s presence in Heaven until he or she is canonized. (Nevertheless, it is said that more are in Heaven than are canonized. The canonized are those about whom the Church is sure are in Heaven.) The Holy Father already calls him “Servant of God.”
WRS - Pray for us, Servant of God Pope John Paul the Great.
As far as the Cause for His Holiness John Paul II is concerned, the preliminary parts should go through easily, swiftly, and without any trouble. This is determining whether the candidate lived heroic virtues (as defined by Catholicism). The other qualification is martyrdom: since the candidate in question was not martyred, the Cause will concern itself with his heroic virtues. I do not think there is any doubt whatsoever that the candidate did, indeed, live and personify heroic virtues.
From the second website linked above, it is written that the candidate’s bishop would submit the Cause. Since the current candidate was the bishop of Rome, the current bishop of Rome would lead his cause, which makes for an interesting situation. I believe this is resolved by the vicar of the Roman diocese (Camillo Cardinal Ruini), who, if I remember correctly, fills in for the Holy Father as bishop of Rome when he is occupied as Supreme Pontiff.
The miracles will take some time, although perhaps not too much time. From the moment he died, Catholics have been praying for the intercession of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. With so much praying, there’s bound to be some miracles happening.
Of course, being the Supreme Pontiff, the Pope can at any time dispense with the formalities, as it were, and declare him a saint. It would be within his prerogative and I don’t think he would be opposed. Certain Vatican people might be quite upset: I don’t think the Curia likes for the Pope - whoever he may be - to go around rather than through them.
There’s been talk about adding the Magnus since right before his death. Even if WRS is jumping the gun, he’s just following the trends of Catholic gossipry. As for just what WRS is, I seem to remember a mention of Byzantine Rite Catholic (or Greek Orthodox…can’t remember which) way back when he first started posting.
I loathe using titles, but even I would not insist on asking someone else not to use their title of choice in all but the most extreme of circumstances. In another thread you put me down for my refuring to certain beliefs as being negative things, and you claimed that I should not do so. By doing this, aren’t you doing the same thing you aked me not to do only hours ago?
I’m not sure what you’re referring to - your description is rather to vague for me to understand at the moment. It’s just a reaction to the current hagiography of Mr. Wojtyla - it seems imprudent to decide upon his greatness so quickly, and a couple days of over-the-top praise when he’d just died aside, “the Great” is generally a title conferred by history after a significantly longer period of time.
Of course. What I meant is not that miracles will happen but with so many people so actively interested in seeing the candidate canonized, cases will certainly come forth that will be determined to be miracles. The more “miracles” are reported, the higher the chance one will be found a miracle, yes? A matter of statistics, yes? This, of course, is from an academic perspective.
From a popular Catholic perspective, this is all formality. He’s already in Heaven, which the Holy Father has basically hinted at. He cannot declare it outright in respect for due process. (Nevertheless, he basically said so when he said that His Holiness Pope John Paul II is looking from the window of the Heavenly palace.) But I doubt any devout Catholic doubts that he is in Heaven.
Excalibre - what am I and what am I not? I do not think I’m jumping the gun: the title of “Great” is not proclaimed by some tribunal - like being declared a saint - but by the voice of the people. The people have begun speaking.
jayjay - You might be thinking of yBeayf, who is Russian Orthodox.
I do not think I’m jumping the gun: the title of “Great” is not proclaimed by some tribunal - like being declared a saint - but by the voice of the people. The people have begun speaking. 