CANONISATIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 2 June 1925, Page 7

CANONISATIONS.

AN EXPLANATORY NOTE FOR LAYMEN. * *

(SPXCIALLY TOUTTiaT ros "VBX PMSS.")

(By Rev. F. S. Baktlet, £3.M., M.A.)

Tho past week has witnessed religious celebrations of a unique nature in two convents of Canterbury. Last Tuesday the Convent of tho Sacred Heart in Timaru was en fete on the occasion of the canonisation of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865), Foundress of the Order, -and on, Sunday last, at Mount Magdala, the Sisters of the Good Shepherd were rejoicing over the canonisation of their Founder, St. John Eades (1601-1680). This year of Grace, tWe Holy or Jubilee Year, has seen several such canonisations in St. Peter's Basilica in Kome, and so many lay minds are exercised as to tho exact meaning of the terms Canonisation, Beatification, and the Holy Year that it may be well to give an explanation which should clear away the confusion—understandable in tho circumstances—that prevails concerning these Catholic terms and usages. ''

The process by which a "Servant of God" passes from Venerable to Blessed to Saint is long, not to Bay tedious, bristling with technicalities. It is indeed so exhaustive in its investigation that one can give but a brief summary of tho course that, With a few unimportant changes, has been followed since the tenth centurv.

Technical Meaning of Saint. It is neither necessary nor desirable to enter into a discussion of the doctrine of the veneration of saints, but let it suffice to define a Saint in the technical sense as one who lived a life in which the theological virtues of Faith, Hope, aud Charity, and the cardinal virtues of Justice," Prudence, Fortitude, and Temperance were practised to a heroic de gree. The tribunal which "examines the evidence brought forward also demands that four miracles at least be shown to have taken place through the intercession of the Servant of God. ." A Searching' Examination. *' It may well be doubted whether in any court of law, or in any sifting of evidence,- there is any enquiry so searching; and let us be plain, sceptical to a degree. That life is under, the microscope. Sayings, actions, writings are minutely examined, and challenged by one whose sworn duty .it is to find fault wherever it is possible. This official is popularly known as the Devil's Advocate. Cures, happenings, etc., that are adduced as miracles are subjected .to the closest scrutiny by. experts. Anyone familiar with the ivork of the Medical Board at Lourdes—the Bureau des ConStatations—easily ■ credits this, but the proof is the more overwhelming when we. read the list of "rejected miracles" in Rome. ( .', > v . After preliminary'., enqßiry, when a prima facie caße has to'be made out, permission is. given by; the Roman 1 tribunal, known as the-Congregation of Rites, to introduce the "Cause of Beatification," and'.then the Servant of God is called "Venerable."

The next stage is' -the examination referred to above, ;and-the: Pope signs the Decree of Beatification when the; tribunal has found favourably on th<; heroism of .the virtuous life ; and pr6of -of two miracles. .Then, is conferred the, title of' Blessed. • ' '

At > the final stage, two further .miracles are proved and. Canonisation takes place, and there .is the title'-of Saint. 1

•Briefly, aifd-. perhaps-somewhat loose-ly,-it. may Bo stateS that the difference between blessed" and. "Saint." is this: the , cultus of the : former is permissive and local, that of the latter is preceptive and universal.

, The Holy Tear. Every twenty,-'five years a Jubilee or Holy Year Jta proclaimed, at Rome. This is _ reminiscent of the Mosaic J uDilce. "Thou shalt sanctify'the fiftieth year," we read in Leviticus. "At 'that season every .household should recover its 'absent members, the land should return to its former owners, the Hebrew slaves be set free, and debts be remitted. The same conception, spiritualised, forms the fundamental idea of the Christian Jubilee, though it is difficult to judge hpw far any continuity can liave existed between the two. Boniface VIII. instituted in 1300 the first Jubilee of which we' have any., .precise account. Dante refers to- the concourse, of pilgrims at this Jubilee. .

From Fifty to Twenty-five Years. From 1450 the -Holy Year has been held every twenty-five years. That year's celebration was 'marred by a terrible accident in which nearly two hundred persons were trampled to ■ death in a panic which occurred on the Sant' Angelo. This had its compensations in the pains taken afterwards to widen the thoroughfares and to provide for the entertainment and comfort of the pilgrims by numerous charitable organisations. The Jubilees of 1800, 1825, and 1875 were not held owing to political disturbances in Italy. This year marks the first organised Australasian pilgrimage, which left Melbourne by the Orsova in April. It is* estimated that during the year pilgrims to the number of a thousand from "the long wash of Australasian seas" will kneel at the fombs of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul.