My Cousin the Saint | Justin Catanoso » St. Peters Basilica

Pope gets knocked down in St. Peter’s

justin — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:50:20 +0000

VATICAN CITY (AP) — A woman jumped the barriers in St. Peter’s Basilica and knocked down Pope Benedict XVI as he walked down the main aisle to begin Christmas Eve Mass on Thursday, a Vatican spokesman said.

Story here.

Shipping June 16

justin — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:56:34 +0000

With the paperback version of My Cousin the Saint printed and being shipped to stores, I’m happy to provide this link on Amazon to where you can order your very own copy! Orders will ship in mid June. I would love to hear your thoughts on the new cover design and subtitle (posted below). Tell your friends!

Cloud 9

justin — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:29:59 +0000

The Vatican reports that nine Catholic heroes are closer to sainthood as the result of recent declarations by Pope Benedict XVI. The story is here. This is interesting insofar as Benedict was seen by many upon becoming pope in 2005 as dramatically slowing down the number of saints and blesseds named. This does not appear to be the case; at the very least, he seems to be looking favorably among those in the long pipeline filled by his predecessor (and prodigious saint maker) Pope John Paul II.

Now the big question is: when will JPII make the list? A miracle has been credited to him, which would clear the way for beatification, but it has not yet been approved. What’s the status?

Photo by Len Catanoso Jr. during the canonization of Padre Gaetano Catanoso

New video: Making a Saint

justin — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:11:31 +0000

The process of making this video came in two parts. First, Micheael Frierson, a film maker at UNC-Greensboro, filmed me doing a stand up in front of the cathedral in Reggio. I had to just about shout over the noise of the traffic rushing by on the street. There’s a short transition related to the canonization and then, presto, there I am in Rome! This segment was shot on the last night of our stay in Italy last March. It was filmed around midnight and St. Peter’s Square was all but deserted. Laurelyn and Martha, Michael’s wife, were holding a light reflector and boom mic. We were all gibby from a late, wine-soaked dinner and tired from a long train ride that day from Reggio to Rome. We must’ve done 50 takes, laughing through most of them. Somehow, Michael found a take that worked well enough to use.

Not a saint?

justin — Wed, 28 May 2008 18:11:51 +0000

Despite his enduring popularity, there are Catholics who would, if they could, deny sainthood to Pope John Paul II, the pope who approved all levels of veneration for Padre Gaetano Catanoso. The story is here.

UPDATE: This Austrailian blogger offers thoughtful commentary on the issue of canonization for Pope John Paul II.

UPDATE II: This photo was taken by Len Catanoso of the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome during the canonization of St. Gaetano Catanoso on Oct. 23, 2005.