Process of Canonization

​Canonization

​ The formal process by which the Church declares a person to be a saint and worthy of universal veneration.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​The Official Process in the Church

​Congregation for the Causes of Saints

• A deparment of the Roman Curia, established originally as the Congregation of Rites by Pope Sixtus V in 1588

• Reorganized and renamed in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, and again in 1983 by Pope John Paul II

• Responsibilities of the Congregation include making recommendations to the pope on beatifications and canonizations, and the authentication and preservation of sacred relics.

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Petitioner

​

​

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

​Postulator

•  Person appointed to guide and oversee the cause

• One oversees the cause at the diocesan or eparchial level (Phase I)

• ​

• the Roman postulator, oversees all aspects of Phases II and III.

​Miracle

something that has occurred by the grace of God through the intercession of a Venerable, or Blessed which is scientifically inexplicable

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​The Official Process in the Church

​Servant of God

the title given to a candidate for sainthood whose cause is still under investigation, prior to being declared Venerable

​Venerable

 the title given to a candidate for sainthood whose cause has not yet reached the beatification stage but whose heroic virtue has been declared by the pope

​Beatification

​the second stage in the process of proclaiming a person a saint

​

occurs after a diocese or eparchy and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has conducted a rigorous investigation into the person's life and writings to determine whether he or she demonstrates a heroic level of virtue, offered their life or suffered martyrdom

​

A miracle attributed to the person's intercession must be proved the second stage in the process of proclaiming a person a saint; occurs after a diocese or eparchy and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints has conducted a rigorous investigation into the person's life and writings to determine whether he or she demonstrates a heroic level of virtue, offered their life or suffered martyrdom.

​

A miracle attributed to the person's intercession must be proved

Process of Canonization​

Some text here about the topic of discussion

​Canonization

• ​For canonization another miracle is needed for both Blessed martyrs and Blesseds who lived a virtuous life, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his or her beatification

• The methods for affirming the miracle are the same as those followed for beatification

• Canonization allows for the public veneration of the Saint by the Universal Church

• With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint

Process of Canonization​

Multiple Choice

Does the Church "make" saints?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

How many total, confirmed miracles are needed for the Church to officially declare a person may be canonized?

• 3

• 2

• 1