Sainthood for Teresa not possible before 2000, says postulator

CALCUTTA, MARCH 11: Mother Teresa's canonisation by the end of the millennium to mark the 2000 years of the birth of Jesus Christ is virt...

CALCUTTA, MARCH 11: Mother Teresa8217;s canonisation by the end of the millennium to mark the 2000 years of the birth of Jesus Christ is virtually impossible owing to the churches and time-consuming process of conferring sainthood.

8220;In reality it is not possible to hasten Mother Teresa8217;s sainthood by the year 2000,8221; Father Brian, the postulator appointed by the Missionaries of Charity MC to petition and argue her case, told a press conference on Wednesday. Father Brian Kolodijchuk arrived here on Tuesday from Rome to start the process of Mother Teresa8217;s canonisation.

Even though in a departure the Vatican8217;s five-year mandatory waiting period for starting the canonisation process has been waived by Pope John Paul II in view of strong public opinion, the mere strictures of canonisation are time-consuming and according to Father Brian normally it takes about seven to eight years to complete the canonisation process.

Father Brian said he will make a formal petition in two months time to Arch-Bishop ofCalcutta, Henry D8217;Souza, who in turn will start the inquiry process to verify whether the Mother is the right person to be canonised.

Formal process of Mother Teresa8217;s canonisation begins only after the arch-bishop makes the petition of the postulator Father Brian public.

Father Brian said that since the life of Mother Teresa spanned so many years and her works were so vast her case was bound to take some time. Moreover, he said, witnesses for her extraordinary works and miracles were to be called from all over the world. 8220;Since things are done one by one normally and over the centuries the church has been following these rules, it is difficult to say the process will take this many years or that many years,8221; he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Sister Nirmala, superior general of MoC, said: 8220;I expect the canonisation of Mother to happen when it happens and I am not expecting it to happen by 2000. Let it take time and let the real Mother come out.8221;

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She said the canonisation of Mother Teresa willnot only benefit the MoC but the entire church and the entire world and inspire others to follow her path.

Asked on the reports of miracles of Mother Teresa to hasten her canonisation, Sister Nirmala said she had received about a hundred of them so far from all over the world. A miracle as per church norms may be one of physical healing of a disease after praying in the name of the Mother when the doctors have failed, but Sister Nirmala feels that in the case of Mother Teresa the miracle may be of a different sort. Her miracle might be one of inspiring someone to embark on working for the poorest of the poor, she hinted.

Each case of canonisation is unique, said Father Brian Kolodijchuk who lives in Rome for the past few years though originally hailing from Canada.