Posted on 04/10/2005 1:51:12 PM PDT by NYer
VATICAN CITY - The private secretary of the late Pope John Paul II saw the pontiff perform what could be claimed as a miracle, one of the key stages to becoming a saint, Italy’s La Stampa newspaper reported Sunday.
It quoted Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz as relating how an American who was seriously ill received communion from the pope, and was cured.
The incident happened in 1998, but Dziwisz, who was John Paul II’s closest confidant for 40 years, spoke of the incident three years ago to reporters, who revealed it Sunday.
According to the report, Dziwisz told how an acquaintance had asked him if an American friend who was very ill with a brain tumor could meet the pope.
The acquaintance said the dying man had only three wishes: to see John Paul II, go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and return to the United States to die.
“I remember him very well, his face showed he was ill,” Dziwisz said. “I also remember that he had no hair, which was clearly due to the chemotherapy (treatment) he was having.”
The pope, at the time at his Castelgandolfo retreat outside Rome, led a private mass at which the sick man received communion, the holiest part of the Roman Catholic ritual.
Later, Dziwisz’s acquaintance rang him to say that the man had been cured, “his tumor completely disappeared in just a few hours.”
In his account of the incident, Dziwisz did not speak of a miracle but of a sign of “the supreme power of God” which surpassed human understanding.
La Stampa, however, pointed to the clamour at John Paul II’s funeral Friday for him to be made a saint, and said it could be interpreted as a miracle.
If he were to be canonised -- he made more saints than all his predecessors combined -- his case must pass three hurdles.
First is a ruling that he has led an exemplary life. Next is beatification following proof of a miracle as a result of his intercession.
The final stage, canonisation, requires at least one more miracle.
Earlier this week, a Mexican teenager claimed the late pope had performed a “miracle” on him 15 years ago that cured his leukemia, while a nun in Colombia has said he cured her of an illness affecting her balance.
On Saturday, Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls pointed out in answer to a question on sainthood that it was up to the next pope to decide.
He said any such decision lay “in the sole competency” of the next pope.
One way in which saints used to become saints was by acclamation of the common people. To some extent, that happened with Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and I expect it will happen with PJP II. It's still necessary to follow the process nowadays, but enough popular acclaim can make the process go quickly.
I don't know about this personal miracle kind of stuff at the hands of the Pope, but as a non-Catholic, I would say he should be canonized as a saint because the fall of communism took place without war -- that indeed, my friends, is a miracle in my book!
If these events are true and verifiable, they are certainly miracles, and they will unquestionably merit sainthood for the Pope.
EWTN's Raymond Arroyo is hosting a daily program - Live From The Vatican, while in Italy to cover the Conclave. One of his guests today is the Communications Director at the Vatican. He asked her how the Cardinals had reacted to the turnout. She said they were overwhelmed by it and this has brought them much encouragement and confidence. It has given them much to ponder as they prepare for the Conclave. They recognize that whatever JPII did, he did it well and that they must select another to continue where he left off.
Catholic Ping
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Interestingly enough, that is the same method once used to select the new pope! (Caught this on a program the other night on EWTN).
I have no doubt that over the next few weeks and months, more of these 'miracle stories' will surface. JPII's writings amount to 18 million words - the equivalent of 3 bibles. Now that he is gone, these writings will be reread and studied as we all gain a greater understanding of him.
Santo Subito!
Rodger that!
Saint John Paul II
Saint Ronald Reagan
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami (center row R), Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (rear 3rd L) and Israeli President Moshe Katsav (center row L) stand among other dignitaries during the funeral of Pope John Paul II, in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 8, 2005. Afghan President Hamid Karzai is at far left, just behind the coffin. Photo by Yves Herman/Reuters
During the 'Sign of Peace' in the Latin Mass, the Iranian and Israeli Presidents shook hands. This had to be JPII's 2nd greatest miracle ;-D
I know the church scrupilously looks into any proclaimed miracles. Do they require some sort of doctors proof (ie, proof the person had, say, a brain tumor, and then proof that it disappeared?) I am curious how the process works.
I am ever the skeptic, but as a Christian, I have to believe in miracles.
susie
I respect and admire JPII.
However, please show us the CT scan demonstrating regression of the man's tumor. Surely, the beneficiary of this miracle would be willing to document this incredible claim. It would be a powerful testament to the Pope and Christianity if this miracle can be objectively documented. Until then I would classify this anectdotal claim as more myth than miracle.
There are many blesseds and saints in the Catholic Church. At one time, in the early church, sainthood was a process of public acclamation. The devoted would show up at the grave on a regular basis and, after a time, it was acknowledged that this individual was indeed a saint. Martyrs for the faith are automatically recognized as saints. However, the process that will be followed for JPII is as follows:
VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1997 (VIS) - Today the Holy See Press Office made public the following note on canonical procedure for causes of beatification and canonization:
"1. Canon norms regarding the procedure to be followed for causes of saints are contained in the Apostolic Constitution 'Divinus Perfectionis Magister,' promulgated by John Paul II on January 25, 1983.
"2. To begin a cause it is necessary for at least 5 years to have passed since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.
"3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person whose beatification is being requested died is responsible for beginning the investigation. The promoter group ('Actor Causae'): diocese, parish, religious congregation, association, asks the bishop through the postulator for the opening of the investigation. The bishop, once the 'nulla osta' of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount concrete facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his state in life. In addition, all documents regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.
"4. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy used for further work is put together here. The postulator, resident in Rome, follows the preparation of the 'Positio', or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of a relator of the Congregation. The 'Positio' undergoes an examination (theological) by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favour, the cause is passed on for examination by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favourable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results of the entire course of the cause to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows.
"5. For the beatification of a confessor a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed.
"6. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint."
Well, nobody is likely to ask me, but I think he's a saint. I don't think there's any doubt about it.
As far as I know, in this day and age, miracles are verified by expert witnesses.
Then shouldn't Ronald Reagan be made a saint?
Things that make you want to say, "hum?" The pope had a private secretary for 40 years and there seemed to be institutional unwillingness of the Vatican to deal with the pediphile eruptions within its ranks of priests?
Flame away....
THat's what I thought. I remember reading a novel (yeah, yeah, I know!) about a guy whose job was to look at miracles and see if the church was going to accept them as miracles. He was a priest, but he was like a detective. It was interesting (if true). Kind of a cool job, I think.
susie
RR was not a Catholic, however. (Maybe they don't have to be, but I thought they did).
susie
I imagine the Pope kept the secretary because he was POLISH; if I had to accept ruling the Church in a foreign country, I would want someone by my side who could speak English as a native tongue. The same with the Pope...he wanted someone who spoke POLISH.
It is my understanding that medical cures must be substantiated through medical records and the witness of physicians who have been treating the cured individual. All concepts of a cure through normal means or through previous medical treatment must be eliminated, so that the only explanation for the cure is a "miracle." A miracle would be a cure which happened coincidental with a specific spiritual event; in this case in proximity to Pope John Paul II and his ministry to the cured person.
Projection....
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