Editorial: Saint-maker Pope

Sydney
10 March 2002

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Editorial: Saint-maker Pope

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Editorial: Saint-maker Pope

Among other titles, Pope John Paul could be called the saint-maker Pope. Last year he beatified 233 martyrs persecuted for their religion in 1930s Spain. He also, quite memorably, beatified an “ordinary” married couple, too – Luigi and Maria Quattrocchi. And last week he approved the canonisation of nine new saints – seven men and two women.

They include three major figures – Padre Pio, the Italian priest beloved by so many and who confounded us all in this modern age by developing the stigmata. These are bleeding wounds like those Jesus bore on the cross – the picture of Padre Pio on page 3 shows his stigmata with one of his hands bleeding profusely. Not surprisingly, it is to the padre that many Catholics turn for intercession on behalf of the sick and suffering. Padre Pio was also known for his work with sick and the poor. He died in 1968.

Another new saint in a similar mould is Blessed Juan Diego, a legendary figure and indigenous man to whom Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in 1531. He is another saint who cared for the poor and to whom today’s poor turn in time of need.

The third major figure to be made a saint later this year is the Blessed Josemaria Escriva, the Spanish founder of Opus Dei, the highly spiritual but controversial modern Catholic movement that focuses on lay people achieving holiness through their daily work and life.

All three are known for their connection with people – all are saints of the people, albeit in different ways. Perhaps it is a question of people finding in these new saints, a saint who ‘speaks to them’ in a way that is close to their heart and particular way of being.

Saints are meant to be examples of the best of us, of what, in our humanity, we can hope to achieve in terms of human goodness in this world. But we respond to different examples of goodness according to our nature, so, naturally, different saints appeal to different people.

It is serendipitous that, as we ponder the news of these new saints, another saint is with us: the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux touring Australia. St Thérèse, who died at 24, was also a saint of the people with her ‘Little Way’ – her call to ordinary people to work for goodness through the little acts and tasks that make up our daily lives.

She is one of the world’s favourite saints. She is often called St Thérèse of the Roses, a flower she loved. Roses are a beautiful symbol – flowers for the home, but perfect flowers, they speak of an everyday kind of perfection.