The Process of Canonization

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo attended the Opening of the Cause of Canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo. The president's husband, First Gentleman Miguel Arroyo happens to be a direct descendant of the candidate's parents and the couple's attendance was primarily as part of the family. Unfortunately, many critics have used this solemn occassion as an opportunity to let loose cannon fodder against the First Couple.

While this blog is not sympathetic at all to Mrs. Arroyo's falling out of grace from public opinion, it was very poor taste indeed, that a few people used the Cause of Canonization as another platform to launch their political assault. To give the benefit of the doubt, it might just be the result of ignorance regarding certain procedures and even teachings of the Catholic Church. Let this post be a little catechesis.

The process of declaring a deceased Christian to be saint was originally quite informal, but became increasingly regulated over the centuries and is now defined by canon law. The steps for becoming a saint are as follows:

1. Usually between 5 and 50 years after a would-be saint's death, a formal request made to consider person as saint. The group making the request, called the Actor Causae, consists of people from the candidate's church and community, and the request is directed to the bishop of the diocese where the person died. The request includes testimony of the person's exceptional virtue and dedication to God.

2. The bishop decides whether the evidence is compelling enough to take it to Rome. If so, he asks the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for permission to open the cause.

3. If permission is granted, the bishop opens a tribunal and calls witnesses to attest to the quality of the person's public life. The person must be shown to have been virtuous, devout, religious, and characterized by love, kindness, prudence and other virtues (concrete examples are required). Miracles are not necessary at this point, but they are recorded if mentioned. If the person passes this step, he or she is called a Servant of God.

4. The bishop sends a report to Rome, where it is translated into Italian. This step is called the Apostolic Process.

5. A summary called the Positio is presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

6. Nine theologians scrutinize the evidence and documentation. If majority pass it, goes to Congregation.

7. If they approve, the Prefect of the Congregation authorizes the person to be called Venerable.

8. If any miracles are reported (which qualify the person for beatification or canonization), the Prefect presents the cause to the pope to decide. Canonization is considered a function of papal infallibility, as it is important that believers venerate and pray to only those who are actually in heaven.

9. The pope declares beatification or canonization at a special Mass in the saint's honor.

Click the prayer card for a legible view.

Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion

The Cause Of Canonization of Mother Rosario Arroyo de la Visitacion was opened by the Most Rev. Angel Lagdameo, Archbishop of Jaro on October 7, 2009 at the church of St. Anne in Molo, Iloilo City.

Mother Rosario, was born on February 17, 1884 in Molo, Iloilo City, Philippines and died on June 14, 1957. She was baptized Maria Beatriz del Rosario Arroyo on February 20, 1884 by Fr. Agapito Buenaflor. She was the only daughter of Don Ignacio Arroyo and Doña Maria Pidal.

She made her profession to the religious life in the Beaterio de Sta. Catalina in Manila and on January 3, 1914 after which she taught at the Beaterio in Manila and in Lingayen, Pangasinan. Later on, Mother Rosario, with two other sisters from Sta. Catalina, founded a new foundation in Molo, Iloilo City the "Beaterio del Sto. Rosario".

She distinguished herself by a solid piety, love of prayer, life of poverty and strict religious observance.

Photo:My dear friend Jose Ma. Porta, poses beside Mother Rosario's portrait. (Pete is the grandson of Mother Rosario's brother; she had four, two of which died at infancy.) He proudly refers to her as his Nanay Sayong.

That September Rain

It was a Friday and my garage has just been transformed into a carpentry shop. My daughters were doing an exhibit for Instituto Cervantes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines on a very tight deadline. We had to parke my cars at the street to accomodate the materials and so many carpenters in the garage. At first, I was worried that the neighbors may complain as the work went through the night...

Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name Ketsana) hit land early next morning. It was September 27, 2009, a Saturday when Ondoy packed winds of 85 kilometers per hour as it moved across Northern Luzon towards China Sea. It brought so much rain that by late in the afternoon, the water started to flood the garage where the men were working. The hardware delivered some materials but failed to make a second trip. We managed to raise the lumber and plywood and keep it dry. Soon, water entered my house we had to raise the piano and other furniture. Towards midnight, it was knee deep in the house.




It was high tide and the water from the Pasig River started to come in. The cars were submerged up to the headlights. Part of the street suffered a power failure and we were lucky to have had electricity except for a few hours. Elsewhere, people were undergoing an ordeal, going to higher ground. In many cases, higher ground was the roof of their house. I heard Lito Atienza comment on the radio that the effects of global warming is starting to tell. The equivalent of one month worth of rain fell in less than one day, according to government weathermen. They also released water from Angat Dam as it reached critical levels.

The workers were not able to report for work that day. Public transport was in jeopardy and some of the streets were still flooded. We were worried about the deadline.

Benigno Aquino III

The election fever has turned to a new high as Senator Noynoy Aquino declares his running for the presidency. The underlying assumption for a Noynoy for President campaign is integrity and honesty in public office. Tita Cory has left such an impression on the public andwhile it does not follow that her son would exhibit the same virtues, it is only fair to presume that Noynoy would be forced to keep up with his mother's legacy.



What remains to be seen is whether or not the young Aquino will be able to steer away from the influence of those who help in the campaign period. People in high places are always hounded by Rasputins whose intentions are not always pure. The kind of PR programs that works for show business personality and younger sister Kris Aquino may not be desirable for an astute politician. In the final analysis, it is in Noynoy's choice of friends that will later on spell the success or failure in leading the nation.

Photo: Senator Aquino with Public Relations Practitioner Malou Caluma

Sr. Gervasia Cabel

Professor of Theology and Spanish Mauri Cabrido and I visited Sr. Gervasia Cabel at La Verna 16th Street in New Manila. She belonged to the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Holy Mother of God. I had the acquaintance of Sister when she was still the Vice President at Adamson University. Fr. Rolando Dela Goza was president at that time.

It wasn’t a planned visit. We both went to Ortigas Center that Saturday morning: me to see Dr. Victor Caparas at Medical City and Mauri to get his Life Member's identification card at Philhealth. Since it was the feast of the Assumption, we thought we could pay sister a visit. We found her at this Franciscan house at the back of St. Joseph’s College.

We talked about the students and faculty at Adamson University. Lino Estadilla who has entered the priesthood after his stint at the US Navy, Cory who was her faithful secretary, Alfred Paterno who is an administrator for the Diocese of Quezon City, Venus Quevedo who is now Adamson's Director for Research, Evaluation, and Continuing Education, and Dr. Rosario Alberto who was then Dean of Graduate School.

An American Buddhist in Korea

I met Mike last Sunday evening before his flight back to Korea. Mike grew up a Catholic in Detroit but later on turned to Buddhism and made his sojourn to Asia eventually settling in Korea. He takes pleasure in saying "I am a better Buddhist than I was as a Catholic" and I cannot recall what he says he does in Korea but it is Buddhism related.

It can be intellectual arrogance that some people dwell in discussing religions but my wife who suffered a stroke has received several suggestions on how the brain works, including Jill Bolte Taylor's talk on TED which I beiieve has some Buddhism if not Hinduism content. And so I allowed myself to get some education from Mike. He said the Buddha (I am not sure if the word "the" should be capitalized) lived at about 500 BC and insinuated and that Jesus Christ may have used some Buddhist techniques.

We started talking about meditation. I mentioned that some Catholic saints were said to levitate in prayer but Mike was talking about a different kind of meditation. To the Chritian, meditation is focused on a person which is God; Buddhist meditation is focused more on one's interaction with the environment. Of course, my impressions are just that: impressions.

When Mike started talking about the gospels, I thought he was quoting Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. It turns out that he was quoting the Vedas. I also learned that there are three practices of Buddhism but I was not paying attention to recall what they were.

In any case, my impression is that many of the Buddhist practices tend to creat a laid back attitude. Mike is an interesting fellow and he would have made a good Catholic if he kept the faith. Who knows.

Pit Stop

First published at SCENE CITY on February 1, 2008

This side of Paco Park opposite the Swiss Inn and Garden Plaza Hotel is a favorite pit stop of taxi drivers. I cannot recall if the stall was there during the time Doroy Valencia, vice chairman of National Park’s Development Committee. During his watch, Paco Park was very well maintained, and so was the Rizal Park. “Concert at the Park” and “Paco Park Presents” are some of the cultural events the Marcos regime has initiated that are worth keeping.

Today, the other side of this circular cemetery is often used as a parking lot by container vans and busses while vagrants sleep on the sidewalk outside the wall. Not to mention the deteriorating condition of the wall and the neglect of the greenery.