Sainthood Process and Terms

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What is Beatification?

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The second stage in the process of proclaiming a person a saint; it occurs after a diocese and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints have conducted a rigorous investigation into the person’s life and writings to determine whether he or she demonstrates a heroic level of virtue or suffered martyrdom. A miracle attributed to the person’s intercession must be proven.

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What does the title 'Blessed' signify?

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The title bestowed on a person who has been beatified and accorded limited veneration.

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What is canonization?

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The formal process by which the church declares a person to be a saint and worthy of veneration universally.

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What is the Congregation for the Causes of Saints?

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A department of the Roman Curia, established originally as the Congregation of Rites by Pope Sixtus V in 1588. It was reorganized and renamed in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, and again in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. It makes recommendations to the pope on beatifications and canonizations and is responsible for the authentication and preservation of sacred relics.

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What is a miracle in the context of sainthood?

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An event that can be witnessed by the senses but is in apparent contradiction to the laws of nature. The Church recognizes authentic miracles as a divine intervention in the sensible world.

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Who is a petitioner in canon law?

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The party initiating action in canon law. In the case of a sainthood cause, the petitioner is the one who asks the bishop to begin the investigation, which could ultimately lead to canonization. A bishop may also begin a cause on his own initiative.

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What is a Positio?

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A comprehensive summary of all documentation; in this context, there are two: one summarizing the investigation of a candidate’s life and heroic virtues or martyrdom, and a second for any alleged miracles. The positio is prepared by the postulator with the assistance of someone from outside the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

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Who is a Postulator?

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A person appointed to guide and oversee the cause. One oversees the cause at the diocesan level (Phase I); the second, resident in Rome and appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, oversees all aspects of Phases II and III.

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What is the role of a Prefect?

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The head of any of the pontifical congregations, usually a cardinal.

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Who is a Relator?

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A person appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to assemble the historical documentation of the particular location and era of the candidate.