KAPAA — A miracle is defined as an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and is said to be an act of God. “I believe in miracles. I haven’t come across any, but I’ve heard stories,” said
KAPAA — A miracle is defined as an event that appears inexplicable by the laws of nature and is said to be an act of God.
“I believe in miracles. I haven’t come across any, but I’ve heard stories,” said Rev. Anthony Rapozo, of St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Kapaa.
Miracles recognized by the Catholic church regarding the faithful who have prayed to Popes John Paul II and John XXIII led to the canonization into sainthood for both popes, set to be celebrated today.
“We’ll mention it in the homily but with the time change between here and Rome, the canonization will already have occurred,” Rapozo said.
Pope John Paul II led the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 to 2005. After the Polish pontiff’s death, two miracles involving the unexplainable disappearance of a Costa Rican woman’s brain aneurysm, and the healing of a French nun of Parkinson’s disease, qualified Pope John Paul for sainthood. The current pope, Pope Francis, approved Pope John Paul II’s second miracle in the summer of 2013.
“I’ve heard stories where people who tell me their doctor saw something on a CAT scan, exploratory surgery was done, they sewed the person up and the doctor told them the illness is not there,” Rapozo said.
In nearly three years as a priest, he has had other stories of faith that come to mind.
“People will tell me that during mass they saw a glow over the priest, or they saw Jesus,” Rapozo said. “I don’t question them. They had an experience. You can see by the expression on their face. I tell them to thank God for giving them that blessing.”
Pope John XXIII, who led the Roman Catholic Church from 1958 to 1963 and called for the historic Second Vatican Council, will also be declared a saint on Sunday.
He was known for his devotion to equality.
He, like Pope John Paul II, is being canonized after the confirmation of a miracle, when an ill woman who prayed to Pope John XXIII was cured of her illness. A second miracle was not required for his sainthood because of the profound changes to the church that occurred with the opening of the Second Vatican Council, according to reports.
“He was the pope who put the church in touch with the needs of the modern world,” Rapozo said. “Before the Second Vatican Council the mass was only said in Latin. It changed so it was said in the vernacular of the language of the people where the church is located. He also updated the liturgies. That change got everybody more involved, so the mass really comes alive and makes God present during the service.”
• Lisa Ann Capozzi, features and education reporter, can be reached at 245-0452 or lcapozzi@thegardenisland.com.
