Saint John Paul II

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Let's divert the dark passions away from the horrible news that came from Arizona, just for a while.

See, I learned a new word today: 'beatification'.

So, the Vatican has suddenly found out that John Paul II had helped a nun with Parkinson to live. It's beyond any doubt that God had guided his hand in saving her life, and since "there's no scientific explanation for this", it's definitely a Miracle.

And those who do miracles are subject to 'beatification'. It's the first step to proclaiming a new Saint, post-mortum. (Except if you're a witch who also does miracles, that's called evil black magic but I digress. We're talking about John Paul II here, right?)

So, let's welcome our new Saint, then. No doubt he'll be granted this status soon. And probably he'll deserve it. Because he looked like a sincere guy who really believed in goodness. And more importantly, because the Catholic church is in a dire need of good news these days, after all the scandals that have been rocking it for years. Would that solve their problems? Probably not. But if Faith was measured in ergs, let's say John Paul II's 'beatification' adds a couple more trillion ergs into the positive side of the Good vs Evil equation. ;-)

Hallelujah.

Comments

[paedraggaidin.livejournal.com]

Amen. :)

Although I am admittedly not the world's biggest JPII fanboy (story for another day, but I doubt anyone is interested :P) I do believe he did more for the Church than any pope in the last couple of centuries, especially with regard to diplomacy, and I think this is a good step.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

You're wrong. I'm interested about that story and this is the place to spit it out. Go ahead, me knows you wants it!

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

JPII's numerous attempts to roll back the Vatican II improvements did more to harm the church than help it, IMO. He's certainly no Pius XIII, but I can't see praising him at all.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Yeah, he had a major role in the roll back of the Iron Curtain.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Ratzinger is a proof that not everyone could be as brilliant as Wojtyla.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

It's not the least bit surprising that the Pope who made such a mockery of the beatification process is himself going to become a saint. I'm not the least bit shocked they rushed it through for him as they did for Mother Teresa. Neither of which were deserving, but both of which made for excellent PR.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

PR is a powerful tool nowadays. That's at least one thing from the modern world which the Church seems to have grasped. It's not much, I know, and it could be too late for them.

[udoswald.livejournal.com]

Ok, if you don't stop this I'm going to have to agree with you and that's not good for anyone...

You're right though, can't believe I said that, JPII and "Mother" Teresa were both guaranteed sainthood long before they died (I'm surprised the cults of personality around those two didn't demand beatification before they died).

They both were far more flawed and human than their followers would admit (JPII was a bitter old misogynist who opposed birth control and then opposed the abortions that his opposition to birth control made necessary. Teresa granted legitimacy to horrible dictators and some say she didn't do much to help the sick other than nurse them into death).

Pretty much the only difference between Ratzinger and JPII is that JPII was better at projecting the grandfatherly image than Ratzinger. Otherwise they were extremists of the same type, similar on almost every issue, and dangerous on a world scale due to their power. JPII was just better at looking friendly and peaceful while Ratzinger looks like any second he could take a bite out of your head.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

I'm-a go with Udoswald's view here.

[montanaisaleg.livejournal.com]

As a non-religious person, I have a hard time seeing beatification as anything other than a PR move.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

Don't resist to the temptation. Embrace it.

[anadinboy.livejournal.com]

youve only just discovered beatification? you havnt lived till youve read 'The big book of martyrs' graphic novel by paradox press

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

I tried to officially get canonized but I was so ugly that the beautification process never took.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

AHAHAHA! This one made my day.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

I was in a bad need of a post like this. :D

[yes-justice.livejournal.com]

It's beyond any doubt that God had guided his hand in saving her life

Uh. The supernatural claims of religion are bunk and this is no exception.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Thanks for noting that to me, serious one. Without you how would I have known?

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

IMHO John Paul II's qualities as Pope have been heavily distorted in his favor. The only difference between him and Ratzinger is he understood PR where Ratzinger doesn't realize the concept exists.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

It may not be such a miracle after all:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/nun-cured-pope-parkinsons-ill

But according to the Polish daily newspaper Rzeczpospolita, one of the doctors charged with scrutinising the nun's case believed she might have been suffering from a similar nervous disease, not Parkinson's, which could go into sudden remission. A report on the paper's website went further, saying that the 49-year-old nun had become sick again with the same illness.

Go science!

...That Guardian and their secular librul agenda...

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

You and your secular agenda. Please don't put my Faith to test, the church said it's a miracle so it's obviously a miracle, period. Duh.

Back in the day...

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

When JPII kicked the bucket, I asked people on which side of Satan will JPII be seated, the left hand or the right, now that he has finally made to the final bad place. One of people said, "the middle seat." Now, that could be taken to a number of ways. For example, JPII may have said, "Move over, Satan, you're in my seat." On the other hand, Satan could have said, "Come on over, Popie, and give us a lap dance."

Where do you see him in the after-death?

BTW, I'm reminded of the story of JPI and his brief tenure as pope. Evidently, some sinister agent at the Vatican did not appreciate his house cleaning over the Propaganda Due (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_Due) affair.

Re: Back in the day...

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Where do you see him in the after-death?

I see him split into his most basic ingredients. You know, quarks, gluons, X- and Z-bosons, protons, neutrons, electrons, atoms, and the occasional molecule.

[anadinboy.livejournal.com]

well something that doesnt seem to get a mention is jp2s dislike of racist white south africa, how he said he would never visit the place until it was free, and was fumeing angry (well, as he could be) at having to land there the once, and made a point of not kissing the ground.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

So? Guy was anti-racist, is that bad? My dad is a white Afrikaner and he smuggled weapons for the ANC, then fled SA when things got rough for him, and continued sponsoring the black movement from abroad. Should I feel ashamed that a white man defended a cause that the blacks defended? I think the example you're giving is one of the things for which I'd congratulate JP2 rather than criticize him.

[a-new-machine.livejournal.com]

JPII wasn't the worst pope, but he has all the same failings as any other Catholic leader - condemnation of homosexuality, anti-condom stance, and overseeing a large period of time in which abuser priests and those who sheltered them were not defrocked or stopped, but hidden and supported.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

I sense sarcasm, and I don't have a cool picture to ask if you're serious.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Yes, mostly Anglican. You must've heard of Desmond Tutu.

[jlc20thmaine.livejournal.com]

I just love reading the hatred, ignornace and intolerance of the far left.

[mahnmut.livejournal.com]

Please elaborate?