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

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Not likely, nearly all of them are appointees of John Paul II and Benedict. Progressives (e.g. bishops or cardinals) within the church are nearly gone. The change within the diocese I grew up in up through my college years is now so drastic. I had one of the most progressive bishops in USCC. He retired about eight years ago, and the change is so drastic. And when I moved to New York, the parishes here are so conservative. Even during the sign of peace, it's so matter of fact.

Such a change from the heady days of Vatican 2.

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

Such a change from the heady days of Vatican 2.

And to that all I can say is "Deo Gratias!"

[telemann.livejournal.com]

No thanks, I let the Anglicans have the high church silliness.

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

Ironically, Anglicans are "high church" to the extent they are faithful to traditional Catholic worship.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

That's ok. I'd never trade the opening procession of Vatican II with barefoot Ethiopian rite priests and deacons with ostrich feathers. But that's the thing, "traditional, Catholic with a big C" is rather hard to pin down when you look at it all historically, isn't it? Of course it is.

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

Not really. It's called the "Tridentine" Mass, but all Pope St. Pius V did was codify a rite that, in its essentials, had existed since the time of Pope St. Gregory the Great. It grew organically over the centuries, any changes being almost imperceptible to those who would have experienced them firsthand. Right from the start, the Novus Ordo always struck me as the product of a committee that believed itself to be expert in something in which no one can truly be expert.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Are you a Traditionalist?

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

Yes sir.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

And a priest candidate in one of the splinter groups? How old are you? I'm curious.

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

Nope. I'm studying for my home diocese. As you probably guessed, I butt heads quite a bit with priests between the ages of 65 and 80. I turned 30 last month.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Yeah I can see that.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

For what its worth, your use of "Novus Ordo" was the big tip off. It's a fun word with your crowd. You guys are like the Catholic Tea Party Crowd.

[kgbman.livejournal.com]

"Novus Ordo Missae" was the technical name for the Pauline missal in its preliminary stage. I know some Traditionalists use it as a pejorative, but I only use it since most Catholics, Traditionalist or not, are more familiar with it than with its new designation as the "Ordinary Form" of the Roman rite.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Understood.