Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ya-ta Boy]

I'm not Catholic and I know that is detrimental to my newest ambition, so I thought I'd ask about the official rules.

The reason I'm asking is because early last winter my teacup started bleeding. That was pretty inspirational, although a bit messy. Sticky fingers. But today I made French toast and Caspar the Friendly Ghost appeared on one slice. What are the odds of one person experiencing two miracles? Pretty high I'd bet unless yours truly is some kind of blessed being.

I think I'm hot on the trail of sainthood and thought I'd better check up on the rules. I have a sneaking suspicion that you have to be dead first--I hate that about immortal people having to die before they get to be called immortal. There is something fundamentally wrong with it. Anyway.

With two miracles under my belt, am I in the running?

[The Chewbacca Defense]

I think you need 3

[Boodleheimer]

do you mean completely canonized or just given that blessed status?

edit: i think they actually lowered it to two.

[anjucat]

Father Guido Sarducci's take on it -- "It's all-a politics!" -- (couldn't find the actual video clip):



"You know, you don't have-a a patron saint for the United States, but there are some American saints. Just the last couple of years they made-a some. The first was-a about-a two years ago. Her name was-a Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Mother Seton-is-a what they call her. And she's got-a these nuns of her own order who lobby-they're real heavy-they came to Rome and everything. And it's amazing, you see. To be made a saint in-a the catholic church, you have to have-a four miracles. That's-a the rules, you know. It's-a always been that-a. Four miracles, and-a to prove it. Well, this-a Mother Seton-now they could only prove-a three miracles. But the Pope-he just waved the fourth one. He just waved it! And do you know why? It's-a because she was American. It's all-a politics. We got-a some Italian-a people, they got-a forty, fifty, sixty miracles to their name. They can't-a get in just cause they say there's already too many Italian saints, and this woman comes along with-a three lousy miracles. I understand that-a two of them was-a card tricks. Next thing you know, they're gonna be making Kreskin a saint. Saint Kreskin-they'll probably call him. It's a good one."

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Boodleheimer]

found this at

Becoming a Saint

By Ryan Piech

Perhaps one of the most controversial and misunderstood aspects of Catholicism is the subject of saints. There have been many questions raised, including the following: "What exactly is a saint?�" "Why do Catholics have/believe in/worship saints?"; and perhaps the most common question: "How does one become a saint?" Hopefully the passage below will be able to answer some of the questions you may have regarding exactly what a saint "is" all about.

Canonization, the process the Church uses to name a saint, has only been used since the tenth century. For hundreds of years, starting with the first martyrs of the early Church, saints were chosen by public acclaim. Though this was a more democratic way to recognize saints, some saints� stories were distorted by legend and some supposed saints never existed. Gradually, the bishops and finally the Vatican took over authority for "approving" saints.

In 1983, Pope John Paul II made sweeping changes in the canonization procedure. The process begins after the death of a Catholic whom people regard as holy. Often, the process starts many years after death in order give perspective on the candidate. The local bishop investigates the candidate�s life and writings for heroic virtue (or martyrdom) and orthodoxy of doctrine. Then a panel of theologians at the Vatican evaluates the candidate. Upon the recommendation of the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate "venerable."

The next step, beatification, requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate�s death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate. When the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or "blessed," the person can be venerated by a particular region or group of people for whom the person holds special importance.

After one more miracle the pope will canonize the saint (this includes martyrs as well). The title of saint tells us that the person lived a holy life, is in heaven, and is to be honored by the universal Church. Canonization does not "make" a person a saint; it recognizes what God has already done.

Though canonization is infallible and irrevocable, it takes a long time and a lot of effort. So while every person who is canonized is a saint, not every holy person has been canonized. You have probably known many "saints" in your life, and you are called by God to be one yourself. (Some Information courtesy of Catholic-On-Line.)

[Boodleheimer]

sorry, i got that at http://www.procopius.org/

so John Paul II (wolf in pope's clothing) made it 2.

[Ya-ta Boy]

Thanks for that.

It appears I need to find a loophole or my plan to have streams of pilgrims crawling on their hands and knees up 5 flights of stairs to make a generous donation to view my miracles (and finance my winter vacation) is in trouble.