From Servant to Saint The Journey of Canonization

he canonization process is the formal procedure by which the Roman Catholic Church recognizes and declares a person as a saint. It is a lengthy and rigorous process that involves several stages and criteria. Here is a summary of the canonization process:

Servant of God: The process begins at the diocesan level, where a local bishop or ordinary initiates the cause for canonization. The individual is then referred to as a "Servant of God." An official investigation is conducted to gather evidence of the person's life, virtues, and holiness.

Congregation for the Causes of Saints: If the local investigation yields positive results, the documentation is sent to the Vatican's Congregation for the Causes of Saints. This congregation oversees the entire process of canonization and evaluates the evidence.

Venerable: After a positive review by the congregation, the person is declared "Venerable." This signifies that they lived a life of heroic virtue and can serve as a model of Christian faith and virtue.

Beatification: To proceed further, a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable person must be verified. Once a miracle is confirmed, the Pope can beatify the individual, granting them the title of "Blessed." Beatification allows limited public veneration in specific regions or religious communities.

Canonization: A second miracle, also attributed to the intercession of the Blessed person, is required for canonization. Once this miracle is confirmed, the Pope can officially declare the person a saint. Canonization grants universal recognition and allows the person to be venerated by the entire Catholic Church.

Feast Day: A feast day is assigned to the newly canonized saint, and their name is added to the Roman Martyrology, which is a list of saints and martyrs celebrated by the Church.

The canonization process is a complex and time-consuming one, often taking many years or even centuries. The careful examination of a person's life, virtues, and miracles is essential to ensure that only those who truly exemplify holiness and sanctity are recognized as saints in the Catholic Church.