Pope John Paul exhumation and blood in vials a very strange business

Posted on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 10:26 AM

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Is it just me or is this idea of exhuming the former pope's coffin and putting it on display a little creepy?

How about showcasing vials of his blood so the faithful can gaze at them?

This beatification business is just that -- those who can pressure the hardest get their way.

The notion that we can somehow decide someone is in heaven by dint of 'miracles' is weird to begin with.

Pope John Paul was great man who deserves whatever accolade his church can give him.

He doesn't need to have performed miracles to prove that.

He played a huge role in helping free his people from the yoke of Communism.

He was flawed like all men but I'd have to say he is a great candidate for the church hall of fame which is essentially what beatification and sainthood is.

We dress it up in ritual like a royal wedding and everyone gets very excited but there is a lot of medieval superstition mixed in too.

Such as exhuming a body and keeping blood in vials.

The church should do away with that stuff it is just too weird and means nothing.

Unless you believe in ghosts and witchcraft that is.

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Monsoonman | May 01, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT

From a tweet in my box: "Regretfully, none of the myriads of abused children under his watch were able to make the "beatification" ceremony" Amen to that.

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aidanwalsh | May 01, 2011, 12:54 PM EDT

they say ali was the greatest but this pope was 'the greatest' man who ever lived...i am very grateful i grew up during his time as pope...i learned so much from this person...i was always stuck to the t.v. when he was on and was very saddened when he pa sincerely aidan walshssed away...there will never 'ever' be a better pope than him...polish people should be all very proud of this man r.i.p.

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Gearoid4 | May 01, 2011, 12:31 AM EDT

The vials of blood in this case are known as first degree relics which can be an object or body part e.g finger-bone, piece of hair, which belonged to the Saint or Blessed. In the Western environment of secular, materialism the spiritual side of this age-old practice can be lost. The practice goes right back to the earliest Christian centuries and denotes a direct link to the person of the venerated Saint for the devotee. This in turn is a reminder of the Divine presence of God in the World through the relic. It is similar to a loved one retaining an object e.g a lock of hair which reminds them of a loved one who is far away or deceased

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seanomelbourne | May 01, 2011, 12:17 AM EDT

falconfash may I borrow your well used soapbox. You do not know if I'm a liberal or not I haven't made a political statement as yet,but I need not make a statement your omniscient. Are you God in disguise? or just a religious freak.

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mayoman | Apr 30, 2011, 10:47 PM EDT

If could very well be that the urgency to canonize Pope John Paul is simply an effort by Pope Benedict to satisfy his desire to see his close friend made a saint in his lifetime.

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falconflash | Apr 30, 2011, 09:28 PM EDT

i guess you never read the book called the incorruptibles, liberals like you can't handle the truth, and jesus and his church are the truth....

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seanomelbourne | Apr 30, 2011, 07:38 PM EDT

We seem to have a production line of prospective saints lately,I will put my name forward ,You never know your luck.

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r.pavlick | Apr 30, 2011, 01:22 PM EDT

I believe Pope John Paul was a significant human being. His heart and soul were dedicated to the survival of human people. I don't think he had a mean bone in his body. If Michael Jackson is considered the best human being ever by so many people, than John Paul should indeed be a saint.

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ellenfromcork | Apr 30, 2011, 01:08 PM EDT

This beatification was rammed through to accomplish the present Pope's own agenda. Any other person considered for saint would have to got through a 5-10 year process. This is just wrong on so many levels. Another misstep on the Church's part.

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