While the canonization process has seen significant development over time, the work of St. John Paul II (r. 1978-2005) produced not only the most beatified and canonized individuals of any pope in history, but also appropriately was the source of the most recent transformation (streamlining) of the canonization process.
Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, [1] specifically, the official act of a Christian communion declaring a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon catalogue of saints, [2] or authorized list of that communion's recognized saints. [3][4]
Canonization is the official act, mainly in the Roman Catholic Church but also the Eastern Orthodox Church, of declaring a deceased person a ‘Saint.’ The full process involves three stages: examining the life of the candidate for sainthood, beatification, and canonization.
Beatification permits limited veneration of a “Blessed,” while canonization declares a saint in heaven and worthy of veneration by the Catholic Church.
How does someone officially become a Catholic saint? FOCUS walks through the canonization steps and looks at how everyone can become a saint.
The History of Canonization F or many, even in the Church, the Catholic practice of beatifying and canonizing is an enigma. Why does the Church do it? How does the Church do it? What are the implications of being beatified, and of the further step of canonization? Scripturally
What are the steps for canonization? Saints are canonized in stages. What are these stages, and what does a saint have to “do” in order to progress?
A Guide to the Catholic Canonization Process 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 […]