>
>I think the spelling is right.
No, he is Maximilian Kolbe
Can anyone tell me if this man, whose
>feast day is today and who died during WWII
14 August 1941. Died in Auschwitz in place of another *hostage* who
was a family man. Max was priest, and a religious, Oblates of Mary
Immaculate
was the last person to be
>canonised in recent years. I'm sure the cause of others is being
>considered at the moment but I am only interested in those who now
>hold the title of saint.
No, canonisation is comparatively recent - the last was only a few
weeks ago, but without looking up Osservatore Romano I can't say
who, or when. Probably May, if I remember. Try the Vatican site (I do
not have the URL handy)
>
>I would also be interested to know if any of you know the process by
>which a person becomes a saint. I know in the MA a community could
>decide that a dead person had been so good that their feast day
>should be observed, and have the word sanctus applied to them. Which
>I know is not a title and therefore calls into question the actual
>meaning of sainthood. The process of canonisation is now a little
>more involved and I seem to remember reading somewhere that three
>miracles have to be attributed to the deceased. Any thoughts?
Rather than write it out, may I point you at that admirable work, the
New Catholic Encyclopedia? It covers most of what you want to know,
and a lot else besides (keep a volume by your bed...)
The basis of the canonisation process is a very thorough enquiry, the
establishement of two authenticated miracles (cures or whatever),
and a fairly elaborate Papal ceremony (but not necessarily in Rome:
some recent canonisations have been on Papal visits) which formally
states that the Church recognoses the worthiness of this person as
an example of holiness such that the Lord will have welcomed such a
person into the Kingdom already. (whereas the rest of us just get
welcomed in the usual way)
Hope this is some help. It is failry accurate...
a.c.
Anselm Cramer OSB
Ampleforth Abbey, York
GB - YO6 4EN
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