The Process of CanonizationThe Process of Canonization

Mr. Pablo CuadraReligion Class

What is Canonization?What is Canonization?

1. Canonization is a 1. Canonization is a process process used byused by the the Church to Church to determine determine whether a person is whether a person is worthy of being worthy of being declared a declared a saintsaint..

The Servant of God The Servant of God (candidate for Sainthood)(candidate for Sainthood)

Someone considered to Someone considered to have lived a have lived a holy lifeholy life

The process begins The process begins five five yearsyears after a person’s after a person’s death. (sooner with death. (sooner with permission of the Pope).permission of the Pope).

In the In the 1010thth Century Century the the process was established process was established by by Pope John XVPope John XV

How does the process of How does the process of Canonization begin?Canonization begin?

1.The process begins at 1.The process begins at diocesan leveldiocesan level..

2. A person or a 2. A person or a group peoplegroup people approach their bishop (ordinary) approach their bishop (ordinary) and and suggest a candidate for suggest a candidate for sainthoodsainthood. . A petition is made to A petition is made to open the cause for this person’s open the cause for this person’s canonization.canonization.

The candidate is given the title The candidate is given the title servant of Godservant of God, , while his or her while his or her cause is being investigated.cause is being investigated.

3. A committee creates a report 3. A committee creates a report on the candidate.on the candidate.

4.The report is sent to the 4.The report is sent to the Congregation for the causes of Congregation for the causes of saints in Rome.saints in Rome.

What does the What does the Congregation do with the Congregation do with the report?report?

1. 1. The congregation The congregation researchesresearches the life of the life of the candidatethe candidate to make to make sure he or she practiced sure he or she practiced heroic virtueheroic virtue..

2. 2. The congregation for The congregation for the causes of saints is the causes of saints is made up of made up of theologianstheologians and and cardinalscardinals..

What happens after the What happens after the congregation finish its congregation finish its report?report?

1. The 1. The report is sent report is sent to the to the PopePope..

2. If he accepts the 2. If he accepts the report report the servant of the servant of God is termed God is termed VenerableVenerable..

3. This is the 3. This is the first first step.step.

What happens during the What happens during the second process of second process of canonization?canonization?

A A postulatorpostulator (promoter) (promoter) of the of the cause is authorized to cause is authorized to examine examine the person’sthe person’s

LifeLife WritingsWritings ReputationReputation MiraclesMiracles

*A *A miraclemiracle is is required required for for the process to continue to the the process to continue to the next step known as next step known as BeatificationBeatification..

What happens after a first miracle has What happens after a first miracle has been verified?been verified?

The venerable The venerable candidate is then candidate is then beatifiedbeatified by the Pope and given by the Pope and given the title the title BlessedBlessed..

The Blessed person can now be The Blessed person can now be veneratedvenerated by a group or region. by a group or region.

Beatification Beatification does notdoes not have a have a universal characteruniversal character like like canonizationcanonization..

The The requirementrequirement of a miracle is of a miracle is not necessary in the case of not necessary in the case of martyrs.martyrs.

A A second miraclesecond miracle is required for is required for the process to continue to the the process to continue to the next step known as next step known as CanonizationCanonization..

How is the process How is the process concluded?concluded?

With With a a solemnsolemn (great) declaration (great) declaration by the pope that the candidate is a by the pope that the candidate is a saint (holy). saint (holy).

This declaration This declaration requiresrequires one one more verified miracle.more verified miracle.

Canonization has a Canonization has a universal universal character. character.

The Holy person can be venerated The Holy person can be venerated by the universal Church.by the universal Church.

This declaration does not make a This declaration does not make a person a saint, the person is person a saint, the person is already a saint as a result of already a saint as a result of heroic virtue and cooperation with heroic virtue and cooperation with God’s grace. God’s grace.

Canonization ProcessCanonization Process(in a nutshell)(in a nutshell)

1. First Step A petition is made to open a cause for canonization for a

servant of God.

2. Second Step The servant of God is declared “Venerable”

3. Third Step Beatification *One miracle is required

4. Fourth Step Canonization *Second miracle is required

The Blessed is declared a saint in a solemn, public mass at the Vatican by the Pope.

Prayer of St. FrancisPrayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, Where there is hatred, let me sow love;Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;where there is injury, pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;where there is darkness, light;

where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I where there is sadness, joy; O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The EndThe End