That Mother Teresa is to be canonised soon is truly joyous news for the whole Church. Moreover, given that the canonisation is likely to happen this coming September, the Year of Mercy has just received what promises to be its crowning moment. Some three hundred thousand turned up to see Mother beatified by St John Paul II in 2003; the coming canonisation is likely to be huge, and not just in the number of people it will attract, but also the attention it will draw to the Church and to the new Saint. Mother Teresa was, in her lifetime, and is, since her birthday into heaven, one of the best advertisements for Catholicism. While we can expect in the months leading up to her canonisation a renewal of the criticisms made by Christopher Hitchens and others, this should not bother us overmuch; indeed it is to be welcomed. Hitchens and others disliked Mother Teresa for the simple reason that she was a Catholic. Any renewal of criticism will only serve to remind people of this important point. Consider this, for example, as reported by the Crux website...