Vatican Conjures up 'Miracle' to put Pope on sainthood road
Pastor Dale Morgan
*V**atican Conjures up 'Miracle' to put Pope on sainthood road*
From correspondents in Rome
March 28, 2007 05:27am
Article from: Agence France-Presse
THE late pope John Paul II has moved a step closer to sainthood with the
completion of the first stage towards his beatification, Rome diocesan
officials said.
A questionable dossier containing so-called proof of his miraculous
intercession to cure a French nun of Parkinson's disease will be
submitted to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of the Saints
next Monday, the second anniversary of the death of the charismatic
Polish pope.
The conjured up "miracle", if certified by the Vatican body, will
qualify John Paul II for beatification, the main stepping stone to
becoming a saint.
Monsignor Slawomir Oder, spearheading the conjuring process, said the
Rome diocese was "spoiled for choice" among dozens of reported so-called
miracle cures attributed to John Paul II, of which about 20 warranted
serious consideration.
Monsignor Mauro Parmeggiani, secretary-general of the Rome diocese, said
"it was not a coincidence" that it chose to focus on the case of the
French nun, who suffered from the same malady as John Paul II himself.
Addressing a packed news conference, Monsignor Parmeggiani said
Parkinson's, a degenerative neurological disease, lent itself well to
making a cut-and-dried case if she ever had it in the first place, he added
The nun, so far unnamed, will attend a solemn ceremony next Tuesday, the
second anniversary of John Paul II's death, along with about 1000 other
nuns from her diocese, when the dossier is handed over to the Vatican's
saint-making body, Parmeggiani said.
Polish President Lech Kaczynski will also attend, he said.
The pope's candidacy for beatification has enjoyed fast-track treatment
since his successor Pope Benedict XVI waived the usual five-year waiting
period, allowing the process to begin in May 2005, the month after his
death.
The quickest procedure to date was that for Mother Teresa of Calcutta,
who was beatified in 2003, six years after her death, after John Paul II
himself waived the waiting period - which is intended to prevent
sentiments from clouding judgment soon after the death of a beloved
candidate.
John Paul II is himself known as the greatest "saint maker" in the
history of the Catholic Church, creating 482 saints.
"The exceptional speed of the conclusion of this first stage responds to
popular demand shared by millions of faithful and by cardinals," said
Monsignor Parmeggiani, adding that Benedict XVI could even decide to
skip the beatification stage and proceed straight to "sainting" his
predecessor.
While the process leading to sainthood usually takes decades if not
centuries, mourners at John Paul II's funeral in April 2005 called for
him to be canonised immediately, chanting "Santo Subito!"
"Speed doesn't mean a lack of rigour," Monsignor Parmeggiani was quick
to add, saying the dossier was compiled "in strict observance of Church
rules".
Convincing evidence of a miracle - usually a medical cure with no
scientific explanation - is essential in the beatification process. A
second miracle attributed to the candidate's intercession, or petition
to God on behalf of another, is usually necessary for full sainthood.
The Rome diocese's website carries dozens of testimonials from
individuals claiming so-called cures at the hands of the pope, but to
qualify as a miracle by Vatican standards the recovery must be sudden,
complete and permanent - as well as inexplicable by doctors.
The French nun was reportedly cured of Parkinson's disease in October
2005 after prayers to John Paul II following his death.
Monsignor Oder said a number of inexplicable recoveries from cancer as
well as "miraculous Immaculate Conception pregnancies" were among the
potential miracles reviewed.