We are required to call him “Saint Thomas More”? What sin are we committing if we leave out the “Saint”? How is sainthood proven and confirmed? In other words, what backs up the infallible statement? In this case, how was it determined that Thomas More is in heaven? Of course the only One who gets to pick and choose who goes to Heaven is God, but how does man know who goes to heaven? Who tells him? I don’t understand how God reveals the afterlife status of someone to others here who are still living.
I’ll give you, as an example, the closing paragraphs of the decree of canonization of our Holy Father Francis, the same spiritual father of Thomas More, who was also a Franciscan. The decree should help you understand how it works.
8. Therefore, since the wondrous events of his glorious life are quite well known to us because of the great familiarity he had with us while we still occupied a lower rank, and since we are fully convinced by reliable witnesses of the many brilliant miracles, we and the flock entrusted to us, by the mercy of God, are confident of being assisted at his intercession and of having in heaven a patron whose friendship we enjoyed on earth. With the consultation and approval of our Brothers, we have decreed that he be enrolled in the catalogue of saints worthy of veneration.
In this case, the pope did not ask for a lengthy study of Francis’ life, because they were very close friends. He acknowledges that he KNEW the holiness of the man.
He makes reference to the reliable reports on miracles, which is still the case today. The reports are studied for reliability.
In say, “we have decreed” he is now making a public statement to the Church. It’s an announcement or a proclamation, not to be taken lightly or as a choice. He is not giving the Church or the faithful a choice in the matter. He is the Law Giver who is making a decree.
9. We decree that his birth be celebrated worthily and solemnly by the universal Church on the fourth of October, the day on which he entered the kingdom of heaven, freed from the prison of the flesh.
He orders the entire Church, this includes the laity, to celebrate the saint’s feastday. Observe that he states, without hesitation or leaving room for discussion, that the saint entered heaven. He can do this, because he is infallible on matters of faith. This certainly is a matter of faith. It proclaims the greatness of God. Better said, it proclaims what God does for those who are faithful to him.
10. Hence, in the Lord we beg, admonish and exhort all of you, we command you by this apostolic letter, that on this day reserved to honor his memory, you dedicate yourselves more intensely to the divine praises, and humbly to implore his patronage, so that through his intercession and merits you might be found worthy of joining his company with the help of Him who is blessed forever. Amen.
Here the pope begins with beg and concludes with command. What is it that he commands? He commands honor for the saint. That’s why we refer to him as St. Francis, in this case, St. Thomas More. It’s a title of honor, just like other titles of honor.
He commands the we praise the merits of the saint and that we pray for his intercession. That’s why the universal Church celebrates a mass on the assigned feast day for the particular saint. The mass is not being offered by an isolated priest. Where or not you are physically there, the mass in memory of a saint is being celebrated in your name, if you are in communion with the Church. If you are in communion with the Church, you are in fact venerating the saint on his or her feast day. You are complying with the papal mandate.
Notice the use of the term apostolic. This is a very important point. This is used when the pope is acting as the Successor of Peter and he wants you to know it. He is not allow you wiggle room.
We either give assent or fall out of communion when given apostolic decrees. Do you see how it works? It’s all guided by the Holy Spirit.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
That’s like wanting objective information about Islam and just talking to the Imams in Tehran? 