www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News JPII and his interceding

Woops! I meant three Piuses (Pii?) and forgot Leo's reign extended into last century.

Logos Teen

As it is JPII we are discussing. I found this article by his former chaplain on his successor and 'himself'.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,18658281^7583,00.html

ICXC
NIKA

"As much as I respect your postings and opinions I have to disagree. Sts. Francis and Clare of Assisi, Anthony of Padua, and Thomas Beckett were all "fast tracked" to name a few! "

Actually, they were canonized before the present day form of canonization. In the new process promulgated after the Council of Trent, there are steps to Canonization: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed and finally Saint.

Dear Alex,

I believe that in the Greek Orthodox Church, any saint that is canonized within 25 years is being fast tracked. I know that Saint Nektarios was canonized very quickly because of all the miracles and demands of the populous.

It is also common for bodies in Greece to be dug up after three years, so the practice on Mt. Athos is not unique. (Land is scarce in Greece). If the body is incorrupt, then I think they are reburied for a certain amount of years and checked again.

Now I'm not sure, so someone would have to verify this, but I believe they are buried a third time, and then if incorrupt, considered for sainthood.

Also, I have heard that the bodies of grave sinners could also be incurrupt. Satan works miracles too...or rather magic. Also, if someone was given certain medications, or if the ground contains certain minerals, that would also preserve the body. I think that's why the bodies are reburied again.

All in all, it's the Holy Spirit working through the people that establishes sanctity. That holds true for the RCC too. There have been times when the people had to bypass the local priest and bishop and go directly to the Pope for a saint to become acknowledged.

Zenovia

St. Pius V and St. Pius X were the last two Popes to reach sainthood. Bl. Pius IX and Bl. John XXIII are on their way, and hopefully Pius XII will get there one day too.

Dear Friends,

I just got back from New York City that was my birthday long weekend!

The weather was really warm there - everything was in bloom!!

My birthday gift was an antique icon of the Holy Protection - really very nice . . . and expensive.

But I'm worth it (or so my wife keeps telling me . . .) )

Rummaging through some of the "antique" dealers downtown, I came upon a small First Class Reliquary of . . . Pope Pius X! (A small metal container with a fragment of a relic bone).

But the title indicated "Blessed Pope Piux X" and so its provenance was sometime between June 3, 1951 when Pope St Pius X was beatified and May 29, 1954 when he was canonized . . . I just love it and am very lucky to have it!

On Sunday, April 2, my wife and I attended a 4:30 commemoration of Pope John Paul II at St Patrick's Cathedral.

In addition to the beautiful organ music, actor Jon Voight was there reading some quotes from the Pope whom he portrayed in a recent movie.

Mr Voight read the material in his "Pope John Paul II" voice and he sounded JUST like the late Holy Father.

He said that making the movie had changed him etc.

There is also a side chapel with a beautiful icon of the Black Madonna of Poland (and also once of Kyiv-Belz ) that was blessed by Pope John Paul II about five months before his death. They have statues of two Polish saints installed with four more on the way.

We got there early and the Cathedral was packed with many standing. There is a bust of the Pope in the back and I saw many people putting flowers there, some put little hand-written notes under it, and others touched the bust with all piety and respect (I placed a newly-bought antique rosary on it too).

The Polish Consul General to New York City was there and greeted everyone - he was the one who organized the event.

A very inspiring event!

(As the throngs moved out of the Cathedral at about 5:20 pm, the priest at the front quickly said that Mass would be celebrated in ten minutes and if anyone hadn't had a chance to attend Mass that Sunday morning, they were welcome to stay for it now - I simply HAD to take that opportunity to say out loud, in the midst of the crowds, "I guess this means that all these people attended Mass this morning . . . as they're not staying . . ."

One lady laughed and said, "Well, I really DID attend Mass this morning . . ."

Alex

Did you go to St. George's?

Dear UC,

I didn't know he lived in New York . . . does he have a loft or a brownstone perhaps?

Alex

Alex,

Now I need to do some form of penance...for my envy... :rolleyes:

james

Dear Jakub,

Well, I wished I play the organ like that fellow from Gdansk!

For me, it was "organ-piece envy!"

Alex