This is in from Zenit:
Postulator Named to Sister Lucia’s Cause
COIMBRA, Portugal, APRIL 2, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Spanish Father Ildefonso Moriones was named the postulator of the cause of beatification of Sister Lucia, one of the three Fatima visionaries.
Father Moriones was named by Bishop Albino Cleto of Coimbra, the general postulator for the Order of Discalced Carmelites. According to the diocesan news service, the Vatican has already approved the appointment.
In February, on the third anniversary of Sister Lucia’s death, Benedict XVI dispensed the five-year waiting period established by Canon Law to open her cause of beatification.
A vice postulator is still to be named.
The dispensation of the five-year waiting period has only been given in two other cases: Pope John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.
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Father, Can you explain the reason that these reductions in the 5 year waiting period have happened? I am a bit confused about the benefits of so doing. Thanks!
It will be interesting to see how the investigation into Sr. Lucia’s mystical life progresses. She was open about many things from “behind the veil”, but I believe many new revelations will be discovered – things that will flesh out the message of Fatima as it pertains to the present age.
How interesting it is that three giants of the Catholic Church, John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and Sr. Lucia are being fast tracked at the same time. I believe we will also find that these three saints are very much intertwined.
Sr. Lucia, please pray for our world that so desperately needs our Blessed Mother’s
assistance – now more than ever.
Jamie, wouldn’t it be a lot easier to run a search for old articles about Mother Teresa and Pope JPII’s causes, and find out for yourself? Actual quotes from the Pope and the folks in charge of the causes. Good stuff like that.
Dan Soderlund said: “How interesting it is that three giants of the Catholic Church, John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and Sr. Lucia are being fast tracked at the same time. I believe we will also find that these three saints are very much intertwined.”
Very well said! There are no mere coincidences!
Maureen: it may well be if I knew that such documents existed – clearly I didn’t or I wouldn’t have posted that question. It might perhaps have been more useful for you to point me to such a document by naming it or giving me something to search on google – because I still remain in the dark and have no idea what I should search for.
Jamie,
Here is a link to the Diocese of Rome and office for the Cause of JPII. http://www.vicariatusurbis.org/Beatificazione/
As to your question, I don’t know for certain but I believe that the 5 year wait is normally imposed to allow for the immeadiate “feelings” and even hysteria after a holy person’s death to die down. However, the relaxation of this rule in the cases of JPII, Mother Teresa, and now Sr. Lucia is simply an awareness that the whole world is aware of the “Holiness” of these great people and that there is no hysteria here. In a way it hreminds us of the historical situations of centuries gone by when saints were proclaimed by a sort of general acknowledgment of their holy lives. In these cases that is being recognized; but, the Church will still do all the investigations and require the testimony in the form of miracles before proclaiming each of these “saint” as SAINTS. It might be recalled that Canonization is seen as an infallible teaching of the pope based on then Cardinal Ratzinger’s statement as Prefect of the CDF. Hope this helps.
Thank you, Michael Christopher, that was very helpful.
Jamie,
In addition to Michael Christopher’s comments, I’ll add a historian’s perspective. Since part of the investigative process involves gathering the testimony of those who knew a person, the passage of time is an issue, especially in the case of those who, like John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and now Sr. Lucia, lived to an advanced age.
I understand that recent instructions from the Congregation stress the need for a genuine local veneration to have developed, and miracles come along when they come. But for the historian, the sooner the collection of evidence and memories begins, the better. Witnesses die, memories fade … Obviously, people could collect such testimony before a cause is formally opened, but it helps to have someone in charge, some structure and guidelines.
Jamie:
I think it also has to do with the extent of their cults. All three are revered the world-over and not only in their local communities as is usually the case. John Paul the Great was petitioned by many throughout the world to open Blessed Theresa’s cause early, including bishops. Pope Benedict XVI himself was a witness to the “Santo Subito” signs and shouts at JPII’s funeral. Devotion on the part of the faithful can “move up” the timetable.
Michael, Katherine, and Geoffrey have all made really good points. In days of yore, saints cults just sprung up among the people who knew them. If the saint was especially powerful, or somehow well-known, he or she could make the official calendar. I think there are many, many saints that were only recognized on a local level.
Sometimes, I admit, I wonder if we don’t just assume that *every* well-known Catholic ought to be cannonized. Do we assume they’re really holy because they’re more famous? Or, are they famous because of their holiness?
I do think that JPII, Mother Theresa, and Sister Lucia are extraordinary cases.
It must also be remembered that Sr Lucia had a personal preference for the vernacular liturgy, which was offered in her convent in Coimbra.
Does this mean that what Fr Z and others are doing on this site is wrong? Quite the contrary.
But it should give pause to the the Pharisaic element among traditionalists, who even take John Paul to task for the shape of the crucifix in his pastoral staff. (I didn’t like that either, but have this on my rosary, and I am not throwing my blessed rosary beads away because of the shape of a crucifix!)
He has also been fast tracked to sainthood, in addition to a miracle also being examined by the Holy See, which looks like it was obtained through his intercession.
“Save the Liturgy, Save The World” repeating Fr Z’s mantra, but as he also says, this should be done in a spirit of charity, and with full regard to the goodness that obviously exists outside the Latin Mass world.