‘Mother could be the patron saint of travellers’

‘POPE WAIVED OFF WAIT PERIOD FOR MOTHER’S CANONISATION’

Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, who was appointed the postulator for Mother Theresa’s canonisation — to record her life and examine the acts of miracles attributed to her — is a happy man. “Typically, the documentation of life starts only five years after the person’s death. But in Mother’s case the Pope waived off three years,” says Father Brian, in a telephonic interview from Rome.

NEW DELHI: Mother Teresa, the founder of Missionaries of Charity, who dedicated her life to the care of the “poorest of the poor”, will be canonised by the Vatican on September 4. Ahead of her canonisation, Father Brian Kolodiejchuk, who has been the postulator for Mother’s canonisation cause speaks to Poulomi

Banerjee from Rome. Excerpts from a telephonic interview. Journalist Christopher Hitchens and physician Aroup Chatterjee have criticised Mother and the kind of care offered at the Missionaries of Charity centres. Were these criticisms considered while documenting Mother’s life for the beatification and canonisation? Oh yes. In fact, both were called as witnesses, the first in the US and the second in London. We had to consider what they said and then either prove that it was factually incorrect or that they had misunderstood the situation and how. For example, the allegation about her taking money from people of questionable characters. That’s not factually true. In fact, there are many instances when she refused to accept a donation if she felt the money was ill-gotten. What do you think Mother Teresa should be a patron saint of? Oh, she could be patron saint of women who are having trouble conceiving. Even during her life, couples who were having trouble having a baby would come to her. And she would take a medallion of Mother Mary and tell them to pray to Mother Mary saying, “Mary, Mother of Jesus, give us a child.” And their prayer would be answered. She could also be a patron saint of travellers, she did so much travelling herself. In fact, ever since her death, I have always prayed to her to take care of my luggage whenever I have travelled and I have never had any trouble with luggage. It hasn’t ever been lost or delayed or anything. moreonweb For full interview, go to http://read.ht/BKIF