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

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

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).

I think this is the most frustrating part of this. Not that I necessarily have a dog in the fight anymore, but I remember when Mother Teresa died a week after Princess Di, and my Catholic high school couldn't go a day for nearly a month bemoaning the fact that no one was paying attention to her. If I knew then what I know now?

[udoswald.livejournal.com]

I can't remember exactly what the reaction was in my little part of the Catholic world. She died on September 5th 1997 which means I had just started my freshman year of college (at a Catholic college). I don't remember caring all that much but I think at the time I was already on my way out, though I hadn't admitted it to myself yet. I do know the persecution complex is strong with the uber Catholics (my brother included), they love to read everything as a slight against them.