Making Saints, by Kenneth L. Woodward. 1990. Simon and Schuster
"How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn't, and Why" this is the subtitle of this very informative book. Since Pope John Paul 11 has canonized so many persons during his reign, more than any of his predecessors, Woodward undertook the task of finding out why. He was curious about which churchmen have the task of deciding who gets canonized and who doesn't. Somehow he had access to these "saint makers" who are theologians, historians, physicians, and/or cardinals, and he often visited them to get personal stories.
Woodward discovered that the position of "Devil's Advocate " has been abolished, along with the previous process that had been used for 800 years. He discovered how the lives of mystics, martyrs, popes, and laypersons were scrutinized; how miracles were judged; how politics play a role in the process; how controversies were discussed; what constitutes a genuine miracle; and whose lives are simply placed on the back burner for the present. He studied why so few intellectuals were chosen to be named saint, how sexuality enters into the process of married couples, why more religious are canonized than lay persons, and why it is not wise to rush into the process so quickly after the person's death.
Woodard studied the cost of the process, why visionaries are treated with kid gloves, who may be next on the list, why some saints are relegated to a single country or area of the world, and why the Vatican steers clear of imagination in the canonization process.
Woodard's book ends in 1990 and hence does not give information which is available in 2013. With the help of Monsignor Brian Moore of Wichita, Kansas, I am able to update today's new saints, blessed, and wann-a-be's:
1. Oscar Romero---case is closer than in 1990
2. Edith Stein canonized in 1999
3. John XX111---beatified in 2000
4. Pius 1X---beatified in 2000
5.
Pius X11---declared Venerable by Benedict XV1
6. Cardinal Cooke---cause not introduced
7. Dorothy Day---cause not introduced but there are positive signs on the horizon
8.
Mother Katherine Drexel---canonized in 2000
9. Matt Talbot---declared Venerable by Paul VI in 1975
10. Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin---beatified in 2008---parents of the Little Flower
11.
Padre Pio ---canonized in 2002
12. Miguel Pro---beatified in 1988
13. Titus Brandsma --- beatified in 1988
14.
Anne Catherine Ememerich---beatified in 2004
15. Pier Georgia Frassiti---beatified in 1990
16. Mother Theresa of Calcutta---beatified in 2003
17. John Henry Newman ---beatified in 2010
(Thanks to Sr. Irene Hartman OP for this review.)
