I hadn't heard about the process of 'canonization' until today when I saw on TV that sister Alphanso from India was to elevated to sainthood by the Pope. She had died in 1946 at the age of 36. This made me curious. I didn't know that it takes so many years before being raised to sainthood. First of all I didn't know what sainthood was. Believe me this still one of the shortest periods [1946-2008] where a person has been called as saint. It takes number of decades or even centuries to be proven that a person is a saint [in Roman Catholic culture].
A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed a high level of holiness and sanctity in an exemplary life of virtuous behaviour. A saint is therefore not simply a believer but one who has been transformed by virtue presents an example other human beings striving to conform their lives to God. In short saint's a mini/secondary god...
The concept of sainthood developed in the Christian tradition. However, there are parallel concepts in other religions that recognize certain individuals as having particular holiness.
In Roman Catholic tradition, a person who's seen as exceptionally holy can be declared as saint by a formal process called 'canonization'. This particular form of recognition formally allows the person so canonized to be listed in the official Litany of the saints during Mass. This process of canonization is a tedious process taking many years, even centuries. The first step in the process is detailed investigation about the person's [candidate for sainthood] life undertaken by an expert. Report's given to the bishop of the area ans further studying is done. It is then sent to congregation of causes of saints in Rome for approval. If its through then the candidate will be given the title 'venerable'. Further investigation may lead to beatification and the title 'blessed'. Now comes the toughest and interesting process. After beatification, at least a minimum of two miracles are to be formally declared for the candidate to be pronounced a saint. Miracles like curing of a disease or a curse or getting out of penurious condition or something/anything dats considered a miracle that would happened after praying the candidate. It has been claimed that these miracles are to verified scientifically. oh oh oh.... hold on now..
That which is scientifically proven can't be a miracle, can it be? Miracles are called miracles for the reason that they cannot be proved. Something that is scientifically proven is a fact. And it can be repeated. Suppose say I pray one of the sainthood candidates to cure my illness and it miraculously gets cured. This cure is to be scientifically proven before the candidate is conferred 'saint' title. Suppose say, its proved scientifically now. This means that this is repeatable, i.e. any one with the disease who prays the candidate will be cured.. Sounds nonsense? It does to me..
Its not one miracle that has to proved its minimum two that are to be proved before being given sainthood..
Since the 16th Century, when the modern saint-making process began, there have been approximately 300 saints declared. But Pope John Paul II has declared more saints in the 25 years of his papacy than all 264 popes before him combined. This's quite surprising. Did we have more humans with holy spirits in them in the last last century than any other previous centuries combined?
I don't want to comment or hurt anyone's sentiments about the process, but its not really scientific, its just blind faith, I would say. Billions of us believe it, I don't and won't unless its proved to me.. :-)
A saint (from the Latin sanctus) is a human being to whom has been attributed a high level of holiness and sanctity in an exemplary life of virtuous behaviour. A saint is therefore not simply a believer but one who has been transformed by virtue presents an example other human beings striving to conform their lives to God. In short saint's a mini/secondary god...
The concept of sainthood developed in the Christian tradition. However, there are parallel concepts in other religions that recognize certain individuals as having particular holiness.
In Roman Catholic tradition, a person who's seen as exceptionally holy can be declared as saint by a formal process called 'canonization'. This particular form of recognition formally allows the person so canonized to be listed in the official Litany of the saints during Mass. This process of canonization is a tedious process taking many years, even centuries. The first step in the process is detailed investigation about the person's [candidate for sainthood] life undertaken by an expert. Report's given to the bishop of the area ans further studying is done. It is then sent to congregation of causes of saints in Rome for approval. If its through then the candidate will be given the title 'venerable'. Further investigation may lead to beatification and the title 'blessed'. Now comes the toughest and interesting process. After beatification, at least a minimum of two miracles are to be formally declared for the candidate to be pronounced a saint. Miracles like curing of a disease or a curse or getting out of penurious condition or something/anything dats considered a miracle that would happened after praying the candidate. It has been claimed that these miracles are to verified scientifically. oh oh oh.... hold on now..
That which is scientifically proven can't be a miracle, can it be? Miracles are called miracles for the reason that they cannot be proved. Something that is scientifically proven is a fact. And it can be repeated. Suppose say I pray one of the sainthood candidates to cure my illness and it miraculously gets cured. This cure is to be scientifically proven before the candidate is conferred 'saint' title. Suppose say, its proved scientifically now. This means that this is repeatable, i.e. any one with the disease who prays the candidate will be cured.. Sounds nonsense? It does to me..
Its not one miracle that has to proved its minimum two that are to be proved before being given sainthood..
Since the 16th Century, when the modern saint-making process began, there have been approximately 300 saints declared. But Pope John Paul II has declared more saints in the 25 years of his papacy than all 264 popes before him combined. This's quite surprising. Did we have more humans with holy spirits in them in the last last century than any other previous centuries combined?
I don't want to comment or hurt anyone's sentiments about the process, but its not really scientific, its just blind faith, I would say. Billions of us believe it, I don't and won't unless its proved to me.. :-)
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