I love the way Catholic representatives talk about things like the beatification and canonisation of Cardinal Newman and slip in totally barmy phrases in sincere, deep vocal tones; it's all down to the music, isn't it?

It reminds me of one of my heroes and the origin of my name - Dean Jonathan Swift... "the reasons for war are that one race cracks their boiled eggs at the sharp end and the other army of killers at the blunt end"...

but of course if you actually believe in God and his love for the human race it all makes total sense.

Makes sense to me.

Celebrating the life of someone important and praying for them is also not crazy in my view.

We are spiritual people - creative - capable of great love and great hate. I do believe that our spiritual life is just as important as our physical existence and probably more so because we all die physically.

The music is good though - agree with you there !

Yes. Counting angels on the tip of a pin. It was like when the Pope actually invited young people to try to become saints. How does that work? Is there a brochure, like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards? Do they get badges like the scouts?

Prunella Minge wrote:
It was like when the Pope actually invited young people to try to become saints. How does that work? Is there a brochure, like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards? Do they get badges like the scouts?

No, Prunella, there is no manual !
It's all about living your life by principles and treating others as you would like to be treated yourself.

Would we have gone into Iraq if we had used Christian principles? I doubt it. Lies, deceit (and dodgy, dossiers) have no place in Christianity.

I saw some protestors (on TV) yesterday. What sad bitter people they were. The anger and the vitriol ! If I am not "into" something I just ignore it ... I am not brought into a rage because others find it comforting and supporting. It just shows how insecure these people really are .... they believe they have made "choices" but are unsure and unsteady, which is why they try and dismiss any contrary view (totally unwilling to give the other side the choice which they themselves have already made).

What sad lives they must lead .... and for what?
They don't actually believe in anything - so what is the point of their existence ?
The fact is they know this ... which is why there is such anger.

In The Know wrote:
Prunella Minge wrote:
It was like when the Pope actually invited young people to try to become saints. How does that work? Is there a brochure, like the Duke of Edinburgh Awards? Do they get badges like the scouts?

No, Prunella, there is no manual !
It's all about living your life by principles and treating others as you would like to be treated yourself.



Yes, but... Isn't that, sort of, what everyone is supposed to do? Surely the Sainthood Club is a bit more exclusive than that? That's why I found Widdy's documentary a bit baffling. The Puritans exhausted themeselves trying to do the right thing - Cromwell, for example, never just had a chat with God, he always 'wrestled' or 'strained' or 'fought' to grasp providence. So surely it's not even doing the right thing with a furrowed brow and a bit of a sweat. What's the Nigel Tufnel 'number 11' that cranks up very, very, goodness to saintliness?

Not sure what the "final hurdle" is, Prunella - I'll let you know when I get there (which cannot be long now, surely ?)