Call made for John Paul II to be patron saint of youth (Catholic Caucus)

cna ^ | May 1, 2011 | David Kerr

[NYer]

Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins

Vatican City, Apr 30, 2011 / 02:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope John Paul II should be declared a “patron saint of youth.” That’s the opinion of none other than the former Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins.

“I personally think that John Paul II should be made patron saint of youth,” Cardinal Martins told a gathering a Rome’s Santa Croce University on April 30. He even mapped out how that could be achieved.

“Some saints are patrons. If somebody wants to make a proposal to nominate somebody as a patron saint, though, then they must submit comprehensive documentation on their reasons and motivations.” 

It’s easy to understand Cardinal Martins thinking. Over the 27 years of his papacy, Pope John Paul II had a particular rapport with young people.  So much so that he was known to many as “the Pope of Youth.”

In 1984 he initiated a now-famous event, World Youth Day, to enable him to meet young people from around the globe every three years. The initiative proved to be such a success that the 1995 event in the capital city of the Philippines, Manila, brought over five million young pilgrims together with the Pope. It’s still estimated as the largest communal gathering in history.

His challenge to the young people on that occasion was typical of his pontificate. “Are you capable of giving yourselves, your time, your energy and your talent to the well-being of others? Are you capable of love? If you are, the Church and society can expect great things of each one of you.”

There is already a patron saint of youth, the 16th century Portuguese Jesuit St. Aloysius Gonzaga. It is not unheard of, though, for there to be more than one patron saint of a particular cause. Any proposal to make Pope John Paul II a fellow patron saint of youth would have to go before the Vatican body responsible, the Congregation for Divine Worship.

[NYer]

Pope John Paul II greeted young people in Los Angeles in September 1987. He actively turned his attention to the young, a group overlooked by many earlier popes and religious leaders.

[Yossarian]

(Yes, I know I posted this on your previous thread, but it seems especially apt here....)

Not to be a party pooper...

...and I love what JP2 did to the Communists...

...but I want someone to get to the bottom of JP2’s involvement with protecting Cardinal Bernard Law from prosecution, before I we rush him to into recognized Saint status.

This is ESPECIALLY true if the Church bureaucracy wants to make him a “patron saint of the youth”. IF (and only if) he played a critical role in protecting those who protected priests who ABUSED children, then such a designation would be a stain that would drive many away from the church, and hence Christ’s message.

[NYer]

This is a Catholic Caucus thread. Are you a catholic?

[Desdemona]

Given that the miracle that led to beatification was healing a Parkinson’s victim, I have a feeling that’s the way it’s going to go.

[Afterguard]

He should be known as the patron Saint of Liberty and free human Will.

[mlizzy]

I agree with you, but very much hope JPII is innocent of any wrongdoing across the board. Here's a list, however, of concerns some folks have. Link.

[Yossarian]

Thank you for this link, it speaks clearly to my great concern.

Just to clear up any misunderstanding, I also very much hope that JP2 is innocent of grave sin. The longer it takes for any investigation to commence, the lower the chances we'll ever get a true picture for just what happened.

While any worldly investigation means nothing to God's dispensation towards JP2, I'd hope He'd appreciate that we are willing to take unpopular steps to root out sin and give safe haven to those who love and protect their children. We must not justifiably scare people away from the Church delivering Christ's message.

[Biggirl]

Rather, a call for JPII to be patron saint of those who suffer from chronic or terminal illnesses or those folks who do friequient flying.

[mlizzy]

Yes, I agree again. I *do* realize you too wish for JPII to be innocent of grave sin. I don’t always know how to word my commentary well. We’ve got two strong Catholic friends (one was hooked up with LC/RC for quite some time), and I have to tell you, initially, when they voiced their concerns, it just took the wind out of me. How could JPII *not* know what was going on? He’s such a bright man, but then again, others had been horribly fooled as well.

[Biggirl]

If my memory is correct, after when the sex abuse scandels first exploded onto the scene about a decade ago, JPII I remember had a special meeting with most of the American Catholic bishops about the very grave matter at the time and I would not have been surprised if he was very, very upset bigtime.

[mware]

Seeing that JPII died right after our judiciary murdered Terry Schivo, I am inclinded towards paron saint of the terminally ill.

He showed us how to live and die.

[Biggirl]

World Youth Day also.

[Tax-chick]

Pope John Paul II, when he is canonized, should be the Saint of Human Life. He articulated the dignity of the human person, at every moment of existence, in a way that no person of good will can ignore.

[Yossarian]

Oh, no worries at all! Thank you for your informative and intelligent posts.

And, I've already shared that link with some of my friends who've been shouting out “Santo subito" from the rooftops. I at least wanted to give them food for thought. (And as I tend to hang out with a solidly orthodox Catholic crew, I think they'll take it seriously.)

Thanks again, and have a blessed Sunday!

[Religion Moderator]

This Religion Forum thread is labeled “Catholic Caucus” meaning if you are not currently, actively Catholic then do not post on this thread.

[fuzzybutt]

Sorry but I did not know the rules for that particular forum. I promise it will not happen again.