Saint Cesar Chavez?
Bay Area Movement Investigates Possible Sainthood for Chavez
He improved working conditions for those who he felt worked without a voice.
That meant taking on those at the very top, like former Gov. Ronald Reagan.
In 1968, Reagan told a reporter, “Oh, the grape boycott? Well, I’ve classified it in the past as immoral. And I think it is.”
Throughout his crusade that lasted four decades, there was a theme in Chavez’s approach: sacrifice. Chavez fasted twice to draw attention to his nonviolent fight. And in his marches, always at the front of the line was Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Rev. Jon Pedigo, the pastor at St. Julie’s Parish in San Jose, said, “ He was a Mass communicant, meaning he went to Mass every day.”
Now there’s an anonymous Bay Area movement investigating the qualifications for Chavez to possibly become a saint.
The Bishop of Monterey, His Eminence Richard Garcia, is giving the idea his support.
Garcia told NBC11, “My listening support. I’m not going full guns because I want them to make a very clean and good investigation.”
Sainthood sometimes takes decades, and in the case of Joan of Arc, even centuries.
There has to be documentation the candidate performed at least three miracles.
And everything written about him or her has to be checked and cross checked.
But there may be strong opposition to a Chavez sainthood.
“I think there’s an awful lot of ranchers and farmers who remember the difficulties of that time,” said Bishop Garcia.
Many of those ranchers are powerful members of their Catholic communities and are sure to voice their opposition to church leaders.
“Because the context of his mission was laden with great controversy, I think those investigations are going to be key,” said Father Pedigo.
The Chavez movement can count on the support of Chavez’s sister, Rita Medina.
“It would be a great honor for the whole family. You know, your brother a saint. God, that would be something.”, said Medina
He gave up all luxuries to devote his life to farm workers.
He sacrificed. He fasted. Now, there are those who feel he could be St. Cesar Chavez.