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Daily Feed Beatification and Canonization: The Process of Naming Saints Introduction This article will attempt to simplify what is really a very complex process: the naming of saints in the Catholic Church. But before we speak of this naming of saints through the process of beatification and canonization, let us not forget that there are countless many blesseds and saints in heaven who are not named as some are, but are just as equally gifted by God with His beatific vision and glory. The feast in the Church which honors all the saints, whether named or not named, occurs every year on November 1 - the feast of All Saints. This solemnity of All Saints is a way for the Church to say that there are countless many holy people and faithful in heaven included in the roster of those who were named as blesseds and saints. Naming of saints at the local level The official process of determining who is to be named a saint is often a very long process. This is because the Church must be extremely careful when investigating a candidate for sainthood. This process begins first at the local level: where facts on the person can be collected - where he was born, lived, died, and to what diocese he belonged. The process is really done five years after the person's death although this can be dispensed with for special cases [such as in the case of Mother Teresa of Calcutta]. As for those regular cases, when the five years have passed, if the bishop of the diocese accepts the known facts of a person's holiness, the person then is declared "venerable" and a formal process of examination of his life begins. [In the case of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Pope John Paul II waived the five-year waiting period after her death in September 1997 and let the process of her beatification begin on July 1999]. Proof of a miracle As the investigation on the life of a candidate is processed and the proof of his holiness has been established, a miracle must be attributed to the holy person's intercession to God. This is often the area where a group or a team of doctors, theologians, and scientists, often consult each other and determine that the miracle is really authentic. When after a thorough and comprehensive study has been made and there is no more reason to doubt of the authenticity of the miracle, the stage of beatification begins. This stage of beatification takes place through the pope or at the local level through a bishop. When the beatification is celebrated, the person is named "blessed", and the person is venerated at the level of the local Church. A second miracle needed for sainthood When the person has already been declared "blessed", a second miracle is needed so that the person can be named "saint". At this stage of examination, a lot of scientists are often called to more indepth study of the miracle. After their scientific research of such a second miracle proves a positive conclusion that it really is "of God", the pope can now canonize the candidate for sainthood, to be a saint for all times and venerated at the universal level of the Church. The gift of martyrdom An exception to the lengthy process of beatification and canonization is the special case of the martyrs - those persons who have witnessed to the faith and died (sometimes violently) for Christ. Since martyrdom is a sign of great fidelity and love for God, no lengthy investigations and miracles are required for canonization. The only requirement for martyrs is that they have died for the faith and not for any other reason - be it political, racial, ethnic, etc. The canonizing pope The past pontificate of John Paul II has made it clear to us that he is "the canonizing pope". This is because of the large numbers of beatifications and canonizations he has approved and celebrated in many parts of the world. He is the pope who has beatified and canonized more than any other pope in the history of our Catholic faith. Many believe that his objective and aim in these naming of saints is no doubt to point to the spiritual fecundity of the Church - a Church fluorishing and teeming with many blessed and saintly role models. Famous among the saintly role models John Paul II established were: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Edith Stein, and St. Josemaria Escriva. Related books and resources:
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