The Catholic Message Board

Explain something to me, if you can.

Why is St. John Paul II's feast day on Oct. 22, the date of his inaugural Mass, when he was elected on Oct. 16?

Why is the date of his inaugural Mass somehow more important than the date of his election? Or, frankly, April 2, the date of his death, which is the usual feast day for saints?

It just seems odd to me; I know the inaugural Mass has a certain importance, as it represents a formal start to his ministry, but it doesn't "install" him as Pope, by Canon Law, as a bishop, he became Pope the moment he accepted his election.

October 16 was already taken by two other saints--St. Hedwig and St. Margaret Mary. The latter is fairly significant due to her connection with devotion to the Sacred Heart.

But I really don't understand why Blessed Fulton Sheen's feast day was placed on the same day as the feast of St. Juan Diego. It is the day +Sheen died, but there's a real cultural conflict there.

As far as April 2 goes, there's a concerted effort to keep feast days out of Lent.

Well, when you make thousands of new saints, it's difficult to fit them all in to the calendar

Don't the Saints, with God, make themselves? But I get what you are saying.