Pope Benedict XVI’s approval of the canonization of Pedro Calungsod about 12 years after he was beatified by Pope John Paul II is providential in many ways.
For the Catholic hierarchy in the archdiocese of Cebu, it is a feather in the cap of Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal who is the chief promoter of the cause for sainthood of the 17th century Visayan martyr.
Calungsod’s pending canonization, slated Oct. 21, also bodes well for the causes for sainthood of other Cebuanos like the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot.
Msgr. Ildebrando Leyson, who did the bulk of the work of reconstructing the life and times of Calungsod, establishing him as a person of heroic faith, hope and charity and later on as an intercessor with God for miracles and other favors for devotees here on earth, has blazed a trail in hagiography, the study of the lives of the holy ones.
Who knows, another like the good monsignor may one day be instrumental in elevating to universal honor at the altar another son or daughter of Cebu.
It is a good time for the Catholic Church in the Philippines and especially in Cebu.
The addition of a product of the Diocese of Cebu in the list of Catholic people worth emulating should have a lasting impact in inspiring Cebuanos, Visayans and Filipinos in general to strive to live the best of their virtues.
The Church would be the first to admit, as it does in its catechism, that it is no impeccable institution. It will, because of what it calls the “mystery of iniquity” live for a long time the yin-yang situation of being “holy and sinful” at the same time.
Evidence of the blot in the channel of grace can be gleaned in the situation of the main parish of Minglanilla town in south Cebu, where priests have been accused of lascivious acts with at least one woman and one altar boy in cases that are being probed by Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma.
Yet it is for situations like these that the adherents of the Catholic faith call upon patrons who can help them, and as the archdiocese pulls all the stops to reintroduce Calungsod yet again, we are certain that the teenage martyr in heaven will be invoked not only to plead with Divine Providence for solutions to the woes of the hierarchy.
The people will also look to Calungsod for help especially in the situations he was familiar with as a friend, student, catechist, missionary and migrant.