‘Saint of the Gutters’ to be officially declared a Saint

Pope Francis has reportedly approved the second miracle of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, clearing the way for the late missionary to become a saint, the Vatican announced. According to a report appearing in Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian Catholic bishops’ conference, Mother Teresa’s canonization would probably occur on Sept, 4.  

 The Catholic Church normally requires one so-called medical miracle before a deceased Catholic can be declared “blessed,” and another such miracle, occurring after that declaration, before he or she can be canonized as a saint. 

Saint John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa in 2003, after an expedited process that began only 18 months after her death. A 30-year-old woman in Kolkata said she was cured of a stomach tumor after praying to Mother Teresa. A Vatican committee said it could find no scientific explanation for her healing and declared it a miracle. The Vatican normally waits a minimum of five years after someone’s death before considering beatification. Beatification is formally an honor restricted to someone’s home diocese, whereas canonized saints are venerated by Catholics everywhere. But Mother Teresa has been the object of worldwide devotion since her death. India accorded her a state funeral. 

To qualify a person for sainthood, an attributed miracle must occur after his or her death. In this case, a Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors was reportedly healed after the loved ones prayed to Mother Teresa to heal him. This will indeed be a joyful moment for Indians and specially, for the people of Kolkota.