Sunday, February 24, 2008

"Things Saint What They Used To Be"


While Mother Teresa, Pope John Paul II, and Sr. Lucia Dos Santos of Portugal
are on the fast-track to sainthood, Matt Talbot is not on such a list. Yet for those interested in or directly affected by alcoholism and know of him, Matt Talbot has been an example and inspiration since his death in 1925. (JB)



THINGS SAINT WHAT THEY USED TO BE


MICHELLE O'KEEFFE

A LEADING Irish theologian has accused the Pope of devaluing the process of canonisation by implementing a fast track route to sainthood.


Pope John Paul II has canonised 455 saints in his period in office - more than any other Pope. He has beatified more than 1,200 putting them on the road to early sainthood.


Theologian Gina Menzies said: "He has gone out of his way to ensure that nearly every time he visits a country he canonises a local holy person. This Pope seems to be a Pope who goes for volume.


"The process of canonisation is being undermined by the numbers and speed that people are becoming saints.


"There is a real danger of devaluing the status of saints.


"Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer will be made a saint this week and he is only dead 27 years - whereas Thomas Moore was dead 400 years before he was canonised."


Fr Tom Jordan agrees: "Speedy canonisation is undervaluing the process. If you have too much of anything it isn't as valued as a rare event."


Some theologians say they are concerned that becoming a saint has a lot to do with lobby groups and less to do with popular cult appeal.


Fr Jordan said: "Some people lead lives of faith, love and charity and should be saints but are not even recognised.


"It is an exclusive club and often people with certain support have a better chance of making it.


"Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer is the founder and head of OPUS DEI so he has some very influential support - perhaps contributing to his rapid canonisation."


If you want to be a saint you will be in with a better chance if you are an Italian or Polish unmarried male member of a religious order who has a strong lobby group.


One man whose canonisation is not progressing is Dubliner Matt Talbot who is revered by many. Matt Talbot led a holy life and also overcame his alcohol addiction.


Derek Warfield from the Wolfe Tones said: "I credit Talbot for helping me give up the drink.


"In the seventies my music meant that I was around alcohol a lot. Before I even realised I had a problem I found myself dependent.


"My mother-in-law had great devotion to Talbot but I never really took it seriously. I started to read about his life and then began to pray to him - he gave me the strength to deal with my drinking problem.


"In my eyes and in the eyes of a lot of Dubliners he will always be a saint - we don't need a church in Rome to tell us he is a saint, the community can pick them out very fast."



Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20020929/ai_n12848750/print