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JUBILEE YEAR for the CENTENNIAL of BLESSED
ROMERO, 2016 — 2017
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| Work continues at the San Salvador Cathedral. |
Movements in
the canonization cause of Salvadoran martyr Archbishop Oscar Romero continue at
an irreversible pace, albeit with a great deal of guardedness. (Super
Martyrio is preparing a summary of the hidden course of the cause that
will be published when the information is made known.)
The most
revealing glimpse was allowed by Cardinal Gregorio Rosa Chavez, who, in a recent interview, revealed various details:
(1) despite the lack of official news about Romero’s canonization, “the date is approaching very quickly”;
(2) the miracle under study is in the final stage — “everything has already been analyzed by the doctors”; *
(3) the dream of beatifying Fr. Rutilio Grande with Romero is fading, because “the process for Rutilio is going a bit slower”; and
(4) The goal of bringing the canonization to El Salvador has run into competition — from Rome — “the two options have a lot of followers”.
[* A Salvadoran newspaper is reporting that the miracle relates to a cancer cure. However, as it had already been revealed, the miracle relates to a pregnant woman who had serious problems in pregnancy and was about to lose her life. The newspaper bases its report on a misinterpretation of the words of the cardinal, without having taken the trouble to interview him.]
In fact, Vatican watcher Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis’ biographer, posted on Twitter on Saturday about the possibility that Romero could be canonized along with Paul VI in October — in Rome. Responding to a report on Pope Montini’s process, Ivereigh remarked, “I’m hearing that it could be late October, and possibly jointly with Romero. What a great moment that would be.”
In fact, Vatican watcher Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis’ biographer, posted on Twitter on Saturday about the possibility that Romero could be canonized along with Paul VI in October — in Rome. Responding to a report on Pope Montini’s process, Ivereigh remarked, “I’m hearing that it could be late October, and possibly jointly with Romero. What a great moment that would be.”
For a couple of
months, the rumor has been that Paul VI and Archbishop Romero could be
canonized together after the advances in the recognition of Montini’s miracle
were made known. The pattern of most processes that bear fruit at the beginning
of the year is that the canonization date is scheduled in a consistory of
cardinals convened for that purpose in the first months of the year — usually around
March and April — and the ceremony is given an October-ish date, which why the month
is called “canonization season”. This year, there will be a synod of bishops, a
special meeting on youth, in Rome in those days, which suggests that this would
be the ideal time to do it, perhaps even as the “grand finale” of the synod.
The coincidence
of the two saints seems very fitting. As Fr. Edwin Henriquez, vice-postulator
of the cause, recalled
on Twitter this Monday, “Montini was Blessed
Romero’s teacher in Rome” when the future martyr was a seminarian in the
Eternal City. Later, when Romero was archbishop and was being heavily
criticized by his colleagues, it was Paul VI who indicated his pontifical
support. Fr. Henriquez remarks, “A saint comforting another saint.”
Therefore, for the priest, “these two
servants of the church are also united in holiness.”
In San
Salvador, preparations are going forward. “The
canonization of Archbishop Romero could be very close to happening,” an
influential priest, Juan Vicente Chopin, posted
on Facebook this weekend. “The process is in the final stage. That was one of
the best news received in the context of the meeting between the academic
authorities of Archbishop Romero Major Seminary and Don Bosco University” — two
important institutions of the Salvadoran Church. In the Metropolitan Cathedral,
preparations to welcome the new saint continue apace, including the painting of
a large altarpiece (photo), the work of the painter Cristian Lopez, who created a
popular mural of Romero on a nearby wall that was recently vandalized, creating
a great outcry.
In Rome too,
although the Roman Curia is away for the spiritual exercises with the Pope all
week, important conversations continue to be held. This Friday, the Society of
Jesus (the Jesuit Order) will present an important seminar on the legacy of Fr.
Rutilio Grande at the Pontifical Gregorian University, one of the most
important in Rome. The occasion, which will feature great Jesuit figures and
Salvadoran diplomats, will be a logical scenario to assess the progress of the immiment
Salvadoran saints.
While October may
well be “canonization season”, we are certainly living now in a preparation season.
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