September 10, 2022 Column Father De Celles
September 11, 2001. Lest we forget….Never forget. God bless America, and all her
warriors and others who protect our freedoms. May the Lord bless and protect us, and
save us from our foes.
Archbishop Cordileone. I hope to see you all at the talk given by the Most Reverend
Salvatore J. Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco, at St. Raymond’s tomorrow,
Monday, September 12, at 7:00 p.m., in the Church. His topic will be: “The Mass:
Essence and Foundation of Western Civilization.” Come out to hear and honor this
true Catholic hero.
FORMED.ORG Coordinator. Many thanks to Mike Burns for promoting and
coordinating the parish FORMED.ORG account and activities for the last few years.
Unfortunately, he needs to step down now and I need a volunteer to take his place. If you
are an active account user, you may be just the person I need for this apostolate. Contact
me at the office if you’re interested.
Kirsti Tyson. This last Friday was Kirsti’s last day working at St. Raymond’s. For 22
years she has been such a part of the parish, and for 9 years before that, working at St.
Agnes a part of the Diocese. I can’t thank her enough for all she’s done for us, and for
me. May the Lord Jesus bless her, the Blessed Mother Mary keep her, and St. Raymond
protect her as she enjoys a well earned retirement.
Blessed John Paul the First. Did you hear that Pope Francis just beatified Pope John
Paul I, who died in 1978 after only 33 days in office? It is kind of, what, strange,
interesting? I’m not sure exactly why he was canonized. Not that he wasn’t a holy man,
but he was not particularly famous for his personal holiness, and he did nothing historic
other than get elected pope and die quickly. No disrespect intended.
Makes me wonder: of the 4 popes have who reigned and died since the beginning
of Vatican II, 3 have been canonized (John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II) by Pope
Francis, and 2 of those were first beatified by Pope Francis. Counting John Paul I, he has
now beatified or canonized all 4 post-Vatican II deceased popes (the only other post-V2
popes are Benedict XVI and Francis who are both, obviously, still alive).
But consider: among all the popes who reigned during the almost 700 year period
between the year 1294 and 1958 (Pope John XXIII’s reign) only 2 popes are listed as
canonized saints, and only 1 other is listed as beatified. 3 saints/blessed in 700 years, but
then 5 straight in 56 years. Again, strange/interesting.
“Making of a Saint.” (Taken from an article by Msgr. Robert J. Sarno, found on several
websites). “The exact number of canonized Saints is unknown because not all recognized
as Saints have been officially canonized. For the first half of the Catholic Church’s
history, Saints were canonized in various ways. Today, the process of canonization is
very complex and thorough, A record number of Saints have been canonized in the past
thirty years, and about 2000 candidates are being evaluated today.
“The official process of canonization, called a Cause, does not begin until five
years after the death of the candidate. This period of time permits the Church to verify
whether the candidate enjoys a true and widespread reputation of holiness and of
intercessory prayer. When a Cause is officially begun the candidate receives the title
“Servant of God.”
“The first stage of the process begins with the official opening of the Cause by the
Bishop of the Diocese where the Servant of God died, and the appointment of a
Postulator, to assist in its promotion. The Bishop then nominates various Officials for a
Tribunal, to gather all the evidence for and against the Canonization. Two theologians
examine the Servant of God’s writings to make sure that there is nothing in them contrary
to the Faith and Moral teaching of the Church. Afterwards they proceed to taking the
testimony of witnesses who knew well the candidate.
“The second step toward canonization starts when all the evidence is studied by
the Congregation for Causes of Saints in Rome. If the evidence reveals true holiness
exercised by the Servant of God, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation informs the
Pope that the Servant of God either was a true Martyr or has lived a life of extraordinary
and heroic virtue. The Pope then orders the Congregation to issue the Decree either of
Martyrdom or of Heroic Virtue, and the Servant of God is given the title “Venerable.”
This means that the Servant of God either died as a true Martyr for Christ or led a life of
heroic virtue and, is worthy of imitation by the Faithful.
“When the Servant of God has been declared a Martyr he or she may be beatified,
that is, declared “Blessed.” If, on the other hand, the Servant of God has been declared
to have lived a life of heroic virtue, it must be proven that one miracle has been granted
by God through the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God. Then, he or she is
declared “Blessed.”
“For a healing to be considered a true miracle, a tribunal to gather all the
evidence is established in the Diocese where the event took place. It must be determined
that there is no scientific explanation for the cure and that the intercession of the
Venerable Servant of God is proven. The Congregation for Causes of Saints conducts its
study and judgment of the cure by the testimony of medical experts that no scientific
reason can explain the recovery, and of theological consultants to verify that the
intercession of the Venerable Servant of God was requested. Once again the conclusions
are presented to the Pope who alone can declare that the event is a true miracle. Then
the Venerable Servant of God may be beatified. When someone is declared “Blessed,”
public ecclesiastical veneration is permitted by the Pope but only in the Diocese or
Country, or Religious Community to which the Blessed belonged. Churches may be
dedicated to the Blessed but only with the permission of the Vatican Congregation for
Divine Worship.
“For all those beatified, both Martyrs and Confessors, to be canonized one
miracle is required. It must be proven that this event took place through the intercession
of the Blessed and after the date of his or her Beatification .
“When this has been proven, the Pope proceeds to the ceremony of Canonization,
which is an act of the infallible teaching authority of the Pope. By this act, the Church
declares that he or she is a Saint in heaven with God. It also means that the Saint is
worthy of public veneration by the universal Church, and held up as a model for
imitation and a powerful intercessor for all. Catholics do not “worship” the Saints but
rather venerate them. United in the Communion of Saints the faithful on earth ask the
faithful in heaven, who are their brothers and sisters in Christ, to join them in presenting
their needs humbly and prayerfully to God.”
Oremus pro invicem. Fr. De Celles