Some web browsing...........

Some web articles which you might want to have a look at starting off with articles about the beatification of Pope John Paul II:

John Allen's Beatification Q&A's:

• #1 What is the rush?;
• #2 What's the deal with the miracles?;
• #3 Why make saints out of Popes?;
• #4 What's the Divine Mercy connection?;
• #5 Is it the pope or the papacy?

Other articles about the beatification:

• Holy Confusion - Beatification and canonisation are different
• Sainthood explained: Understanding John Paul II's beatification
• Pope John Paul II: Thinking outside the Church - This Sunday, May 1, Pope John Paul II will be beatified in Rome. Tont McCaffry traces the life story of the pope who travelled more than any other, and engaged on many levels with civil society and other faith groups. How were Karol Wojtyla's early years instrumental in shaping the thinking of a pope who "saw the importance of being present to the world" and prayed side by side with the world's faith leaders?
• The John Paul II Generation grows up
• Vatican announces Masses; October 22nd feast day for Blessed John Paul
• Newsweek - Fast track saint: Why is the Vatican rushing the beatification of a pope who oversaw its worst scandal in centuries?
• Rome, World prepare for beatification of Pope John Paul II.
• Dare to be saints!  Why John Paul II invited his ‘dear young friends’ to be holy.
• George Weigel slams critics of John Paul II's fast track to sainthood.
• The unusual relic that will be used for the new Blessed.
• Influential Italian Cardinal Camillio Ruini says inside the secret Conclave to elect John Paul's successor, he was given a signed petition from his brother Cardinals to push for fast-track sainthood for the recently deceased pontiff.
• Is it time to fast track sainthood for Blessed John XXIII?
• John Paul II and the end of the Cold War
• From the NYT - A Pope’s Beatification Stirs Excitement and Dissension

Rome Reports has many short video reports about various aspects of the beatification process which we woud suggest you go across and have a look at. This short one gives an insight into the process behind the beatification.



Other pieces that caught our eye over the last few days:

• In Zimbabwe, Catholic Bishops are among Mugabe's toughest critics.
• What saints can't you stand?
• Chinese Christians persecuted for trying to celebrating Easter
• Easter in a time of scandal.
• Bless this House - The days after Easter bring a spate of house-blessings -- a spark of newness, and "extra shot of grace." Who couldn't use that?
• In a world of make believe, I still believe in Easter.
• The Men in grey flannels soutanes - The Church's clerical leadership has surrendered a large share of its credibility, and layfolk are pounding on the gates of the palace, pikes in hand. Given human nature, will we eventually come to appreciate the clericalism we now decry?