A Strange Link Between Two Very Different Men Continues Unto Heaven

Maybe some dysfunctional relationships are made in heaven and maybe for God's inscrutable purposes.

I read early this morning in the National Catholic Reporter a John Allen story about 'unblocking' the canonization process for Oscar Romero.  While not really surprised, because this was expected under Pope Francis, I was none the less happy.  Here's the first part of the story:

Francis 'unblocks' Romero beatification, official says

A Vatican official responsible for the sainthood cause of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador announced Sunday that the cause has been "unblocked" by Pope Francis, suggesting that beatification of the assassinated prelate could come swiftly.

Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia spoke Sunday in the Italian city of Molfetta at a Mass honoring the 20th anniversary of the death of Bishop Antonio "Tonino" Bello, known as one of Italy's premier "peace bishops."
In addition to being the president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Family, Paglia also serves as the postulator for Romero's sainthood cause.

The Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints has been studying the Romero case since 1996, after the church in El Salvador formally opened the procedure in 1990.
At the end of his 20-minute homily Sunday dedicated to the memory of Bello, Paglia said: "Just today, the day of the death of Don Tonino, the cause of the beatification of Monsignor Romero has been unblocked."


Happy that the cause for AB Romero has been 'unblocked',  I clicked over to Vatican Insider and learned about another Canonization process.   This one not being blocked, but fast tracked at the speed of light as far as these things usually go.

The Vatican doctors approve the miracle to make Wojtyla a saint 

"A saint now!" The canonisation of Wojtyla is getting closer quickly and it could be celebrated next October. In fact, in the past few days, the medical council of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has recognized as inexplicable one healing attributed to the blessed John Paul II. A supposed "miracle" that, if it is also approved by theologians and the cardinals (as it is very likely), will bring the Polish Pope, who died in 2005, the halo of sainthood in record time, just eight years after his death.

It all happened in great secrecy, with maximum confidentiality. In January, the postulator of the cause, Mgr. Slawomir Oder, submitted a presumed miraculous healing to the Vatican Congregation for the Saints for a preliminary opinion. As it is known, after the approval of a miracle for the proclamation of a blessed, the canonical procedures include the recognition of a second miracle that must have occurred after the beatification ceremony.


Two doctors of the Vatican council had previously examined this new case, and both gave a favourable opinion. The dossier with the medical records and the testimonies was then officially presented to the Congregation, which immediately included the examination in its agenda. In the past few days it was discussed by a committee of seven doctors, the council (presided over by Dr. Patrick Polisca, Pope John Paul II's cardiologist), Pope Benedict XVI's personal physicians and now Pope Francis's. The medical council also gave a favourable opinion, the first official go-ahead by the Vatican, by defining as inexplicable the healing attributed to the intercession of the blessed Karol Wojtyla.

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So once again these two men are linked with major events announced with in the same 24 hour time frame.  The last such day was when AB Romero was assasinated and JPII signed the document which would have removed Romero from his position as Archbishop of San Salvador.  Pretty amazing coincidences I have to think.

JPII was always going to be declared a saint.  He himself set the process in motion that would see that he would be fast tracked when he removed the position of Devil's Advocate.  That particular task is now in the hands of his official promoter.  One might think that would be a conflict of interest, but I guess it's much easier to move saints through the process without someone trying their best to 'block' said process.  Unlike Romero whose process has somehow managed to be 'blocked' for over thirty years.  He must not have gotten a very good promoter or his promoter didn't find the necessary doors to sainthood nearly as wide open as did JPII's promoter.  In any event, Romero could be canonized in the same time frame as JPII because if Pope Francis determines Romero is a true martyr -which he is - than the miracle business isn't necessary.  It is distinctly possible both men could share the same Canonization day.  Pope Francis could save the Vatican some money and the entire Church could try to sort through the all the mixed messages.