3/16/03


Thinking about that.... can't help but like the smooching behind the flag. :)

Have a good one, all you Irish, and Irish-for-a-day!

Life is more than a series of moments.

Here's a little breakdown of who St. Pat was, according to the Catholic Church. (I’ve mentioned my fascination with saints a number of times in my journal over the years. They've got some of the more interesting stories told about them, and are probably the closest thing to superheroes in most churches. Prophets are the big guns... Jesus, Moses... Superman and the Spectre... still in the service of a greater power (or a part of it, depending on who you ask / who's doing the writing.) Saints are known to have performed miracles. Now, there are a few types of miracles... but the ones that drew my interest as a kid were the flashy, cool ones. Being in two different places at once, flying, setting an army of his enemies on fire with just a look. See St' Pats... Shapeshifting, Telekinesis, Keeping the sun from setting.... all pretty cool compared to scaring off the snakes, if taken literally.



In the Catholic tradition, every once in a rare while a human being will lead a life of such incredible virtue that they are deemed to be closer to God than the rest of us, so close they can even bring about miracles. Such a person, man or woman, of any race of nationality, is declared after their death to be a saint.

Saints play an important role in Catholicism, providing a human model of perfect virtue. It is also widely believed that a saint in heaven can speak directly to God on behalf of a desperate or ill human being. Thus, for example, many Catholics pray to St. Jude when they are in trouble.

The best known saints are ancient – St. Jude, St. Augustine, St. Francis, St. Anne, etc. – but new saints are named in every generation (Pope John Paul II has canonized some 280) and undoubtedly there are people living today who will one day be sainted.

So what does one have to do to become a saint?

It's not easy. In fact the process of canonization may well be the world's most complex legal process. A person can only become a saint after their death and the long, arduous, sometimes political, process of sainthood can take years, decades, sometimes even centuries. The Church never accepts some candidates, though their cause is believed by many laypersons.

Most saints have been European and to date, there are only four American saints (another 29 American nominees are currently undergoing examination). Only one, Elizabeth Seton, a widowed 19th century New York mother of five who converted to Catholicism then selflessly worked on behalf of the poor and sick for the rest of her life, was born in the United States.

The following are the basic steps to becoming a saint:

1. The candidate must be deceased for a minimum of five years



2. Even in our modern, fast-paced society, the candidate must have lived a life of extraordinary asceticism, self-denial, faith, good works and inspirational virtue, often helping the poor and sick



3. The candidate must be recognized for two posthumous miracles (when The Third Miracle was written, three were required) verified by a scientific board appointed by the Vatican



4. Once it is determined that the candidate has led a life of holiness, he or she is declared a Servant of God and the investigation of their candidacy begins



5. A postulator is appointed on the candidate's behalf, undertaking an exhaustive investigation into his or her life, works, writings, sayings, family life, early history, etc. – digging for any small thing that might be inconsistent with tireless faith and Church teachings



6. Witnesses (if still alive) are called to appear before a church tribunal and further evidence is gathered



7. A positioning paper presenting the case of the saint is handed to the Bishop



8. If the Bishop agrees with the evidence, he passes on the report to the Vatican's Congregation of Saints



9. If the Congregation and the Pope agree that the person lived a virtuous life, the candidate is named a "Venerable."



10. This completes the investigation of the candidate's earthly life. Now, the Congregation undertakes the investigation of the two posthumous miracles, if they have occurred. If not, they wait. The first miracle earns the candidate beatification, the second assures sainthood.



11. Miracles are intensively scrutinized by both religious and scientific authorities. A board of five doctors who must unequivocally determine that no other possible explanation for a cure exists examines medical miracles.



12. All cures must be instantaneous and complete (One potential candidate's miracle – restoring the sight of a blind man – was rejected because the sight was only 90% restored). In the case of cancer, a ten year waiting period must assure that the patient doesn't come out of remission



13. If the high standards for miracles are met, the Pope bestows the title of saint on the candidate.