Obstacles to sainthood
Padre Gaetano Catanoso (1879-1963) experienced a relatively quick route to sainthood — about 25 years from the start of his cause to the canonization by Pope Benedict XVI in October 2005. This blog post regarding Father Nelson H. Baker (1842-1936) of Buffalo, N.Y., is a reminder of how long and difficult the path can be for many who are already deemed saints by their ardent followers.
An excerpt: “One of the most frustrating things about the process of establishing that someone is a saint, that someone is with God and can act as an intermediary between God and those still living, is proving miracles. In Father Baker’s case, over 20 healings have been investigated so far for his cause, and none of them have passed muster in Rome.
Tags: Buffalo, Calabria, Catanoso, Catholic, Communion of saints, Father Baker, Father Nelson H. Baker, Gaetano Catanoso, Italy, Justin Catanoso, miracles, Nelson Baker, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, priests, Saints, Vatican
August 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
Thanks for the link. Looks like a compelling book!
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Hello Heather — thanks, too, for your note and for following the cause of Father Nelson. My book has lots of elements to it, but a central issue is the long and involved process that was followed that ultimately led to Padre Gaetano Catanoso’s canonization. I was fortunate enough to interview three members of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints while in Rome for research. I think you’d enjoy those details, and the story as a whole.
Regards, Justin Catanoso