The spectacle of Vatican II popes being canonized is...distinctly unedifying.
Recall that between Pius V and Pius X, a run of nearly four centuries, there was no other pope beatified, let alone canonized. Though Innocent XI was declared blessed in 1956 (following the canonization of Pius X) after an arduous process. That's probably where that eminent and holy pope will remain, officially.
And yet with this announcement, all four of the Vatican II era popes who have left this vale of tears will be at least beatified.
Neat.
Too bad about, well, you know...the bad training, ill-advised navigational plan, lack of safety equipment, stampeded and drowned passengers, etc. But at least the officers were smartly-dressed and clubbable?
However, I have the least trouble--indeed, none whatsoever--with Pope John Paul I.
A life of personal holiness unencumbered by governance failures for the Church Universal? That works for me.
Plus, his Illustrissimi is charming, if not always gifted with a flowing translation.
No argument from this quarter.
ReplyDeleteThe whole point of martyrs, and later saints, was to provide a witness to ordinary believers. Heroes, namesakes, people to admire and imitate. Since most of the Church consists of lay people, not founders and popes, you'd think a moratorium on clergy and religious might help. Only lay people, and married lay people who had sex: let's get a few centuries of those folks before inserting ex-popes into the annual Ordo.
I would issue a mandate that any religious order be required to advance lay candidates for canonization on a one-to-one basis for each of its own members who has a cause.
DeleteDitto diocesan advancement of clergy causes.
If nothing else, the laity do not have an institutional apparatus/memory for candidates. Share the wealth, so to speak.