Before The Canonizations

Something to think about. I know that a lot of folks are spending their time analyzing whether or not the act of canonization is infallible. I'd like to shift the discussion to what we should be considering in light of the fact that it's these two popes who are the ones being canonized. In doing so, specifically, I'm focusing on the most important part of the pope's job. It isn't to look good for the camera. It isn't to visit with secular leaders or any other such thing. It's to safeguard the deposit of faith. With that being said up front and with events stirring as they are today, what should we take away from this canonization?

First, let's look at John Paul II. If you were to think about JPII's magisterium, what would stand out the most? I suggest that it would be the focus on the immutability of the moral law and the unchanging nature of marriage and the marital act. These are precisely the items for which Pope Francis is currently being praised by the secular media because he is viewed, for whatever reason, as being decidedly non-Catholic on these issues.

Why would Pope Francis proceed with the canonization of a guy so opposed to his own alleged views? When you hear people say the Holy Father is going to abolish sin or sanction homosexual relationships, does that really seem likely after granting the Church's highest honor to this particular predecessor? Women priests, abortion, or divorced/remarried Catholics receiving Holy Communion, you name the "Pope Francis will change that issue" and it's going to be something that was in JPII's wheelhouse for special condemnation. It would seem kind of hypocritical, no?

With regards to Pope John, this is an opportunity to re-present his magisterium to the world. Not the fabricated person that he's portrayed by heretics and schismatics. I'm talking about the stuff he actually wrote and believed in.

Whether it's liturgical Latin, the need for non-Catholics to convert, his stance on imposing ecclesiastical penalties for political views at odds with the Church, the authority of the Pope, the (lack of) authority of Vatican II, most people have no idea what this man actually stood for. A huge numbers of Catholics and non-Catholics would be utterly shocked if they read a JXXIII encyclical or apostolic constitution or whatever. You should do just that and encourage others to do so as well.

Here is our series of posts on John XXIII and our article about him at Unam Sanctam as places to start.

If you are disturbed by these events, pray more. Fast more. Stop reading the news.