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I happen to think that John Paul II was one of the best Popes in recent history. His writings and other pronouncements are well worth studying. Now, the church wants to make him a saint. They're pushing his sainthood pretty hard.

The Church isn't actually pushing for canonization, the people are. Rome, per usual, will take its sweet time so as not to be in error. Furthermore, someone isn't canonized a "Saint" becuase they were a terrific person on earth. Take Thomas A. Kempis for example who wrote "Imitation of Christ" and everyone tought he was an amazingly holy man. When the Church later exhumed is body during the process of canonization, they found that the inside of the casket had gashes all through the top and his fingers were whittled down. It turns out, as was not uncommon during the middle ages, that he had been buried alive accidentally. So, despite an entire lifetime of perceived holiness, the Church was reluctant to canonize him because he might have despaired in his last moments before death - which is a big mortal sin.

That is why Thomas A. Kempis never became a Saint and that is why miracles after death become so important. A man condemned to hell cannot do any work for God here on earth.

I'd never heard that story about Thomas a Kempis. I'm not sure it follows though to assume he gave into despair. He might have tried to see if he could get out. He may have despaired of being able to go on living on earth, but I thought theological hope relates to our future life, which would not necessarily be affected by being buried alive. Anyways, poor guy!