The Sisters of the Josephite Order founded by Mary MacKillop have appointed Sydney-based Harvest Pilgrimages as official tour-operator for people wanting to attend Mother Mary’s canonisation at Rome on October 17.

Philip Ryall, manager of Harvest, says he anticipates flying 7000 to 8000 Australians out – starting today.

Local organisers also expect 10,000 people at St Patrick’s Cathedral and Melbourne’s Exhibition Building on that night – with thousands more visiting Penola in South Australia, where Mother MacKillop began her work.

That all adds up to a lot of people — arguably a good thing.

But what it is all about?

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What does it mean to say that Mary MacKillop – or any other historical person – is a Saint?

A Saint is somebody to whom the Church encourages us to address prayers.

Knockers may object, saying, “Why not pray direct to God?”

Come on. Isn’t praying to a recognised Saint a gift from God himself to ensure that our prayers do, in fact, reach him?

There is a human instinct to ask others to pray with us and for us about important matters — a good instinct which the Church supports.

Other critics might say, “You can’t pray to Saints because they are dead.”

That would be a silly thing to say.

The Saints in heaven are very alive – much more alive than us poor earth-bound humans are during this mere worldly existence.

* * *

The Bible describes how, in his vision of heaven, Saint John saw, “Twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb having, every one of them, golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints . . .

“And another angel came and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar before the throne of God”  (Book of the Apocalypse, chapters 5 and 8)    

Pope Benedict XVI. He will lead the canonisation ceremony in Rome.