American Catholic Saints, Pope Sets Oct. 21 Date For Canonization

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI has set Oct. 21 as the date to make two U.S. saints: Kateri Tekakwitha, a Mohawk Indian who spent most of her life in what is now upstate New York, and Mother Marianne Cope, who began religious life in the same area but moved to Hawaii to care for leprosy patients.

Benedict had already approved miracles attributed to the two, the final step toward sainthood. At the end of a ceremony Saturday to make 22 new cardinals – including New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan – Benedict announced the date for canonization of the two women and five others.

Dolan marveled that his first official act as a cardinal was to formally OK the New York-area saints. He quipped: "As grateful as I am for being a cardinal, I really want to be a saint."

(This version CORRECTS Corrects date to Oct. 21. APNewsNow.)

Click through to see a slideshow of Americans who have been canonized as saints:

Comments

[YeOldeSnark]

12:43 PM on 03/23/2012

I"m wondering how much loot New York Catholics are going to be paying into the papal treasury for these saints. The knavish and greedy clergy won't make a move without a pay-off.

[KenInd]

04:40 PM on 03/05/2012

Good grief, that photo of the Pope is frightening. Cannot he look kind and non-threatening?

[KenInd]

04:29 PM on 03/05/2012

I will be otherwise engaged that day.

[TheLadyOphelia]

08:35 PM on 02/22/2012

More pomp and circumstance that means nothing. ( And Timmy Dolan, with the way you handled the pedophile problem in Milwaukee I'm sure the pope has got you on the sainthood list at this very moment. The vatican loves yes-men just like any other corporation.) Since there are no such things as miracles, these are empty titles. A waste of precious time.

[accelerando]

11:44 AM on 02/22/2012

Wow, they found someone who is not a monk or nun to canonize. Not something that has happened much in modern times. It speaks of both a disrespect for the laity (and a professionalization of religious practice) and a lack of understanding among the laity of how to recognize persons living an outstanding Christian life as a lay person.

[Billy Fritts]

11:40 AM on 02/22/2012

There is now never nor shall ever be-any way that a human being can make any one a saint--The Catholics think they have the power to make saints out of some one--You better read your Bible-You become a Saint unto GOD when you are born again--It is automatic through your faith in The Lord Jesus Christ when you get saved--The only way you can get saved is through the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ with what he did on the Cross--Thank you Lord Jesus Christ we Love You--

[davesny302]

03:05 PM on 03/16/2012

AMEN!!!!!!

[lobstur]

01:27 AM on 02/22/2012

Frauds. Not the potential candidates for saints, but the Pope and his Church.

Worship God, do not worship people. I am certain every saint every canonized would have been disgusted by the act, that they were revered as though they were a Higher Human.

You do disgrace to their humble souls by canonization!

[One more Thing]

07:33 AM on 02/22/2012

The Pope and the Church use humble souls as tools to keep their artificial mystery alive!

fanned

[accelerando]

11:41 AM on 02/22/2012

Speaking as someone who is not a Christian, as I understand it, you are not "worshiping" these people (unless of course your are using "worship" in the older English sense that they were people of worth) but asking a member of your congregation to pray for you even though they have advanced beyond the mortal plane. Lighten up--it seems to me the extreme protestant movements threw the baby out with the bath water.

[lobstur]

05:10 PM on 02/22/2012

pray directly to God Himself

the belief that the saints can direct your words to god in a holier or more profitable manner is... blasphemous. I do not blame the saints, who were mortal men and women of incredible strength and wisdom,

[theawfultruth]

11:44 PM on 02/21/2012

canonization of saints!!!! its all about politics and money. they made josemaria escriva founder of the Opus Dei a saint in no time. greed, corruption, deceit and politics. thank god the pope does not run for president of this country he may win.
this is what I think of the pope, and i'm being kind

http://theawfultruthblog.tumblr.com/post/17861620875

[CSNC]

11:42 PM on 02/21/2012

"Pope Sets Date For Canonization Of American Saints"

Another one that should be in jail.

H

[AngryMonkey]

04:53 PM on 02/21/2012

I'm on pins and needles here folks.

[aurora59]

07:11 PM on 02/21/2012

HA!:)

[iLdoRight]

05:53 AM on 02/21/2012

I would be more inclined to believe it if "Canonization" meant to shoot someone out of a big canon into a big bowl of jello.

[aurora59]

07:12 PM on 02/21/2012

Jello made with Holy Water?

[GracieGiraffe]

09:54 PM on 02/20/2012

Catholic by birth, agnostic by choice.... I find the concept of "saint" intriguing, as well as most of the people beatified or canonized. The one I find most intriguing in modern times is Emil Kapuan, a priest from Kansas. I am sorry to see he's not on this roster.

[Asmondius]

10:42 AM on 02/21/2012

Thanks for bringing up his story - what an ideal of brotherhood and priesthood he lived.

[npw350]

09:43 AM on 02/20/2012

What a cynical move. Business is bad in America, better print a few saints.

[cminca]

06:50 PM on 02/20/2012

Absolutely.

[thecreeksedge]

08:35 AM on 02/20/2012

I haven't seen the list. Is Drew Brees on it?

[iLdoRight]

01:30 AM on 02/20/2012

Anyone who has read or listened to the Bible all the way through several times think he has the right to declare someone to be a saint?

[Asmondius]

08:33 AM on 02/20/2012

Do you think the Blessed Virgin was not a Saint?

[TGOH]

10:04 AM on 02/20/2012

Concerning your reply to my post yesterday: as for starting"off on the wrong foot", my walk with the Lord Jesus is rooted in His pure Word not in the traditions of man. Jesus began building His church in Mathew 16:18 KJV when Simon Peter received the revelation as to who Jesus was, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Since then all who believe in Him (Jesus Christ) become members of the church. Jesus did not make Peter the first "Pope" and put a beanie on him. As I stated, there are true believers within the Catholic church, I know some; but they are in a corrupt religious system. We are living in an age where we need to speak the truth concerning the Lord Jesus. He clearly stated that He is the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6 KJV). http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0071/0071_01.asp Concerning the blessed virgin being a saint, the New Testament clearly says that all believers are saints. To worship Mary is wrong and is found nowhere in God's word; also there is nowhere in God's word stating that she bodily ascended into heaven as taught by the Catholic church, just another fable. Adhere to God's word, the Bible KJV, you will be blessed. God bless! Todd

[aurora59]

07:13 PM on 02/21/2012

Do you really believe she was a virgin?