The Path to Sainthood
A Guide to the Catholic Canonization Process
Defining Sainthood
Canonization is not about making someone a saint, but rather about the Church officially recognizing a reality that already exists. It's a declaration for the faithful on Earth, providing models of holiness and powerful intercessors in heaven.
A Saint is, quite simply, someone who has died and is now in Heaven, in the presence of God. They are part of the "Church Triumphant" and can intercede, or pray, for those still on their earthly journey.
When the Church canonizes someone, it is making a definitive and infallible declaration that the person is certainly in Heaven. This act serves two main purposes:
- It confirms that the person lived a life of exemplary and heroic virtue, making them a worthy role model for all Christians to imitate.
- It formally proposes the Saint for public veneration, encouraging the faithful to seek their prayers and inspiration.
It's crucial to understand that canonization does not make someone a saint. If a person is in heaven, they are already a saint. The Church's process is a formal, public affirmation of that pre-existing reality. This means there are countless unrecognized saints in heaven. The process is more for the benefit of the people on Earth than for the saints themselves.
The Four-Step Journey to Sainthood
The modern canonization process is an incredibly rigorous and detailed investigation that unfolds in four distinct stages. It can only begin at least five years after a person's death, ensuring objectivity and a genuine, widespread reputation for holiness.
Step 1: Servant of God
The process begins at the diocesan level. A group or individual (the Petitioner) asks the local bishop to open a cause for canonization. They must appoint a Postulator, an expert in theology and canon law, to investigate the candidate's life. The Postulator gathers all writings, interviews witnesses (both favorable and critical), and compiles a comprehensive report demonstrating a widespread reputation for sanctity. If the bishop accepts this evidence and receives a "no obstacle" declaration from the Vatican, he formally opens the cause, and the candidate is officially named a Servant of God.
Step 2: Venerable
Once the diocesan investigation is complete, all evidence is sent to the Vatican's Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. A "Relator" is appointed to guide the Postulator in creating the Positio—a definitive, book-length summary of the candidate's life, virtues, and sanctity. This document is scrutinized by a panel of theologians and then by cardinals and bishops. If they conclude the person lived a life of "heroic virtue", the Pope approves their findings. A decree is published, and the candidate is declared Venerable. This title signifies they are a worthy role model, but public veneration is not yet permitted.
Step 3: Blessed (Beatification)
This step requires divine confirmation. The Church waits for a miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable. This is typically a medically inexplicable healing. The alleged miracle undergoes its own rigorous investigation by medical and theological experts. For a martyr (someone killed for their faith), a miracle is not required for beatification, as their martyrdom is considered the ultimate witness. Once a miracle is verified (or martyrdom is confirmed), the Pope approves the beatification. The person is declared Blessed, and limited public veneration is permitted, usually within their home diocese or religious community.
Step 4: Saint (Canonization)
To move from Blessed to Saint, a second miracle is required. This miracle must have occurred after the beatification ceremony. The investigation process for this second miracle is just as rigorous as the first. Once it is verified and approved by the Pope, a date is set for the canonization. In a formal ceremony, usually in St. Peter's Square in Rome, the Pope officially declares the person a Saint. This act inscribes their name in the universal "canon" of saints, and they can be publicly venerated by the entire Church worldwide.
The Role of Miracles: Heaven's Confirmation
The requirement for miracles is one of the most fascinating aspects of the canonization process. The Church sees a miracle as a sign from God Himself, confirming that the human judgment about a person's holiness is correct. It's a way of acknowledging that while humans investigate a life, only God can confirm a soul's place in heaven. Explore the case studies below to see how this works in practice.
What Constitutes a Miracle?
While any type of miracle could be considered, the vast majority are medical cures. The Church, using a board of independent medical experts, seeks to prove that a healing was:
- Instantaneous: The cure happened very quickly, not over a normal course of recovery.
- Lasting: The person remains cured, typically for at least a year after the event.
- Inexplicable: There is no possible scientific or medical explanation for the recovery.
Case Studies
The miracle for Mother Teresa's canonization involved Marcilio Andrino, a Brazilian engineer with a severe brain infection and multiple abscesses. In 2008, he was in a coma and near death. As he was taken to the operating room for emergency surgery, his wife prayed intensely to Mother Teresa. When the surgeon entered the room, he found Marcilio awake, without pain, and asking what was happening. Scans later showed that the abscesses and fluid in his brain had completely disappeared without a trace. Medical experts could find no scientific explanation for the rapid and complete cure.
The miracle for the beatification of Josemaría Escrivá involved Sister Concepción Boullón, a nun who, in the 1970s, was dying from multiple painful tumors, including one on her shoulder the size of an orange. After years of suffering, her condition was terminal. Her fellow sisters prayed daily to the then-Venerable Josemaría for her cure. One morning, after a night of intense pain where she thought she would die, she awoke feeling better. In the shower, she discovered the large tumor on her shoulder had vanished. Further examination by doctors revealed that every single one of her tumors had disappeared overnight without leaving any scar tissue or trace, and her other related illnesses were also gone.
Historical Evolution & Modern Reforms
The canonization process has not always been so structured. It evolved over centuries from an informal, local practice to the highly centralized, legalistic procedure of today. This section explores that history and the significant modern reforms that have reshaped how the Church recognizes its saints.
From Popular Acclaim to Papal Decree
In the early Church, saints (almost exclusively martyrs) were recognized by popular acclaim. There was no formal process. Over time, to prevent abuses, local bishops took control. By the 12th century, the Pope reserved the right of canonization for the Holy See to ensure a universal standard of rigor and to prevent the veneration of unworthy individuals. This centralized the process in Rome.
The "Saint Factory" Reforms
In 1983, Pope John Paul II radically streamlined the process. His reforms included reducing the waiting period from 50 years to 5, halving the number of required miracles, and changing the adversarial "Devil's Advocate" role to a more collaborative one. The goal was pastoral: to provide the modern, global Church with more role models. The result was a historic increase in canonizations, as the chart below illustrates.
Canonizations by Selected Popes (Approximate)