Legacy

The problem with religion in the West is that it has been over-intellectualied. As a systematic views they must incorprate the mystical also.This is by definition terrestrillly impossible, as such creative space is needed, which can be done by subsuming and conquering evil, something which there has been ample opportunity for in the last century.We cannot terrestrialy adjudicate what is not of this Earth. If we try and do this our Popes and potentates neccesarily become Fuheurs.

It is no surprise that in undergraduate biblical studies John's Gospel is almost universaly totally ignored. It doesn't really matter who wrote the gospels. What matters is what is said in them. During a recent trip to the Holy Land I was astonished to hear not only theYouth but other members of the Pilgrimage getting hung up on the exact geographical location of the sights involved. Given that it was the only matching site in the area the cell in which Ye'shua bin Joseph was held after Gethsemine was most proably accurate. Attempts to explain this fell on deaf ears.  Due to lack of interest at one of the best Theological faculties in the Western Hemisphere a class on The Classics of Western Spirituality was cancelled.

All too often we have tried to apply rationlistic, post enlightenment thinking to concepts which transcend our 'small selves.'

 The saints speak to personal Truths in different cultural contexts.  As the family teaches the saints true self, their I is neccesarity connected with individuated we's. The most 'in touch' Saints were not generally canonised until long after their deaths.Greater Saints go even further, speaking to the world as a whole.

It was a pleasure to be near Rome for the beloved John Paul II's funeral. Right at the eye of the needle the longest serving Pontif is a unique case. The dust must neccesarily settle first, until it is universally acknowledged how far we are brought on by a saints example, unless there is considerable influence at the Vatican. Only then does the church cach up. Although one is never alone at such great times I qued for 12 hours throughout the Roman night to see the Polish Pope lying in state. Afterwards I waited with baited breath to see if the church would acknowledge the Polish cries of, "Sainto Subito (Saint Immediatly)."

Although possible according to Holy Tradition I guess we erred on the side of caution even here. Ultimately tags don't really matter as most Carthusians and house wifes go unnoticed anyway.

John Paul II was a multifaceted individual who courted everyone from Irish Protestantism to Islam to "Our older brothers and sisters in the faith," the Jews. We're often told that despite obvious post enlightenment,religous objections Mary of Nazareth is a spiritual force for genuine ecumenism. JP II was such a figure. However during my intership with the World Youth Alliance in New York I was informed that our evangelical breathren were, "Put Off" by the phrase, "Culture of Life." Coined by the Late Great caretaker of the church this was an excellent  up beat way of summarising the culture that we should ALL be aiming for. Secular thinking friends from all walks of life were otherwise fascinated by it, yet even here, with something that should have united there was division.