Kolkata: Pope Benedict XVI is unlikely to
accelerate the process of declaring Mother Teresa a saint by
waving the mandatory second miracle that can be attributed to
her, according to the former head of the Missionaries of
Charity.
"No, the Holy Father will not waive it," former MC
superior-general Sr Nirmala, who succeeded Mother Teresa to
the post, told PTI when asked whether Pope Benedict is likely
to do away with the requirement of a second miracle for a
person to be `canonised` (declared a saint).
As per the rules of the Roman Catholic church,
candidates for sainthood need to have at least one posthumous
miracle of a medical nature attributed to them for
beatification (declaration as `Blessed`).
One more miracle needs to be attributed to the
candidate after the beatification process for the person`s
canonisation.
After her death on September 5, 1997, Pope John
Paul-II initiated a fast track sainthood process for Teresa
and beatified her on October 19, 2003, over a North Bengal
tribal woman Monica Besra`s claim that she had been cured
of a tumour at the nun`s intercession.
While Besra`s claim was contested by rationalists and
some doctors, a section of the Catholic clergy questioned the
unusual speed of the beatification process, saying Besra`s
claim should have been examined more carefully.
Noting that it sometimes takes centuries for a
candidate to be canonised, Church sources said the Vatican`s
Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which examines claims
of sainthood, was treading cautiously over Teresa`s cause to
avoid any controversy like the the one during her
beatification.
According to Sr Nirmala, the process of documenting
evidence from all over the world to establish the claim of
Mother Teresa`s sainthood was on under Fr Brian Kolodeijchuk,
the chief postulator for her cause.
"She`s still not qualified (for sainthood). But, don`t
give up hope. Let`s wait and pray. The sainthood will come in
its own time," Nirmala said.
Earlier, speaking at the inauguration of `Twenty-20
Paintings,` an exhibition of 20 paintings each by M F Hussain
and Sunita Kumar, Sr Nirmala said Hussain was so moved after
his first meeting with Mother Teresa that he wept after coming
out of the room.
"On seeing Mother Teresa, Hussain was reminded of his own
mother whom he lost at a tender age," Nirmala said.
PTI
