[vc_row type=”vc_default”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Recently, there has been much discussion about blesseds and saints, as the first cause for beatification in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Estonia has been opened in the Apostolic Administration of Estonia – the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich SJ. Therefore, it is justified to explain some terms of canonization and clarify its essence.
The goal of all Christians is holiness – striving towards holiness. However, some of those who have departed from us have already become saints or blesseds. Generally, these individuals have lived with Christ in great charity and according to virtues, and are currently in heaven with Jesus Christ.
In official ecclesiastical procedures, there are three steps to being declared a saint: the candidate becomes “Venerable”, then “Blessed”, and then “Saint”. “Venerable” is a title given to a deceased person whom the Pope has officially recognized as having lived a life of heroic virtue. For beatification, in addition to heroic virtue or martyrdom, one miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession is also required. Canonization requires a second miracle after beatification, although the Pope may dispense with these requirements.
An exception is made for martyrs. For the beatification of a martyr, a miracle is not required, but it is for canonization. The word ‘martyr’ means a ‘witness by blood’, referred to by the Greek word μάρτυς, mártys, ‘witness’. A martyr was already a witness to faith in Christ through their blood, which is comparable to a miracle.
Beatification and Canonization
Beatification and canonization are different concepts. Beatification is a stage in the process of canonization, which takes place after a thorough investigation by the diocese and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints into the person’s life and writings to determine whether they possessed heroic virtues or suffered martyrdom. A miracle attributed to the intercession of the holy person must be proven. This proof requires appropriate extraordinary commission work at the Holy See. ‘Blessed’ is a title given to a person who has been beatified and for whose veneration a limited right has been granted, i.e., within the local diocese. The act of beatification takes place during a Holy Mass in the diocese where the Servant of God, the future ‘Blessed’, lived. The Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints is responsible for beatification on behalf of the Pope.
Canonization is the official process by which the Church declares a person a saint, worthy of veneration throughout the universal Church. Canonization takes place by the Pope in Rome during Holy Mass in St. Peter’s Square (or St. Peter’s Basilica, as circumstances require).
History
The entire process, both beatification and canonization, is overseen by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The Congregation for the Causes of Saints is a dicastery of the Roman Curia, established by Pope Sixtus V in 1588, originally as the Congregation of Rites, and renamed by Pope Paul VI in 1969 as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Congregation’s statutes were renewed in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. Since then, canonization is a theological-historiographical investigation. When the investigation of a candidate for beatification or canonization under the direction of the Congregation is completed, a proposal is made to the Roman Pontiff regarding the declaration of the Servant of God as Blessed or a Saint. The Roman Pontiff either declares the candidate Blessed or a Saint or rejects the proposal for further investigation. The Congregation’s responsibilities also include the authentication and preservation of sacred relics.
In the history of the Church, there have been times when canonization occurred based on the principle of vox populi, or by the common acclamation of the people of the Church. This was based on the acts of martyrs from the early Church, as well as the growing reverence of the faithful for their spiritual shepherds. For example, Anthony of Padua was canonized at the insistent demand of the people by Pope Gregory IX on May 30, 1232, only eleven months after the death of Saint Anthony. To curb the uncontrolled cult of saints, ecclesiastical norms and procedures for canonization were developed. The first known official canonization, resulting from an investigation authorized by Pope John XV, concerned Bishop Ulrich of Augsburg in 993. In 1634, Pope Urban VIII demanded the involvement of the Vatican in all canonization processes.
The exact number of all those who have been canonized since the first centuries is not known. Even before the end of the 10th century, the ten-volume menologion compiled by Symeon Metaphrastes with acts of martyrs had been completed. In 1988, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints published its first Index ac Status Causarum. This Latin collection and its subsequent additions are considered a complete register of all processes that have been submitted to the Congregation since its establishment. The volumes of this index show that 3,464 processes are currently underway.
The Process of Canonization
Stage I – Investigation into the Life of the Candidate for Sainthood
Phase I: at the diocesan level
The process can begin when five years have passed since the candidate’s death. This rule allows for greater balance and objectivity in assessing the case and lets immediate emotions subside. The Pope can waive this waiting period (For example, in the case of 21st-century martyr, French priest Jacques Hamel, who was murdered by Islamic terrorists in 2016, the diocesan phase of the process concluded in March 2019, and all documents were sent to Rome already in April 2019).
The bishop of the diocese where the person died is responsible for initiating the investigation. A diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association requesting the opening of the process asks the postulator appointed by the bishop to initiate the investigation. The bishop can also initiate the process on his own initiative. After receiving the nihil obstat from the Holy See, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to speak about specific facts regarding the Christian virtues considered heroic (or the martyrdom of the Servant of God): these are the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude, as well as other virtues characterizing his life. In addition, all documents written by the candidate must be collected and reviewed.
The bishop also consults with the regional episcopal conference, or at least with the bishops of his region, to seek their opinion on the merits and timeliness of initiating the process. He also consults the general public, asking anyone aware of the candidate to come forward.
Additionally, all possible archival documents concerning the life of the Servant of God are collected.
Phase II: Congregation for the Causes of Saints
Once the diocesan investigation is completed, the documents are forwarded to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
Next, the Roman phase begins, and the project for beatification, or the Positio, is compiled.
The Positio is a comprehensive summary of all documents; in this context, there are two: one summarizes the investigation into the candidate’s life and heroic virtues or martyrdom, and the other concerns the part about alleged miracles, if a miracle is attributed to the Servant of God. The Positio is compiled by the postulator in Rome together with an expert from outside the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. All work on compiling the Positio in the Curia is overseen by a relator.
The Positio is reviewed by nine theologians who cast their vote on the Positio. If the majority of theologians are in favor, the process is forwarded for examination to the College of Cardinals and Bishops belonging to the Congregation. If their evaluation is positive, the Prefect of the Congregation presents the entire course of the process to the Pope, who gives his consent and authorizes the Congregation to draw up the relevant decree for the beatification or canonization of the Servant of God. The public reading and promulgation of the decree follows.
Stage II – Beatification
For the beatification of a Servant of God, a verified miracle attributed to his or her intercession after death is required. The miracle must be proven by an appropriate canonical inquiry, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This inquiry is also concluded with an appropriate decree. Once two decrees have been promulgated (concerning heroic virtues or martyrdom, and the miracle), the Holy Father decides on the beatification, which entails the granting of limited public veneration – usually only in the diocese, region, or religious community where the Servant of God lived. With beatification, the candidate receives the title ‘Blessed’.
Stage III – Canonization
For canonization, another miracle is required, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his or her beatification. The methods for confirming the miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the granting and requirement of public veneration by the universal Church. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title ‘Saint’.
Concepts related to Canonization.
Positio – a comprehensive summary of all documents; in this context, there are two: one summarizes the candidate’s life and the examination of heroic virtues or martyrdom, and the other concerns the alleged miracles.
Postulator – a person appointed to direct and supervise the process. One of them supervises the process at the diocesan level (Phase I); the other, a resident of Rome, appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, supervises all aspects of Phases II and III.
Prefect – the head of a papal congregation, usually a cardinal.
Relator – a person appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to collect historical documents concerning the candidate’s specific location and era.
Saint – a title given to someone who has been officially canonized by the Church and is therefore proposed for public veneration.
Servant of God – a title given to a candidate for sainthood whose process is still under investigation before beatification.
Venerable – another honorary title given to a candidate for sainthood whose process has not yet reached the stage of beatification, but whose heroic virtue has been recognized by the Pope.
Miracle – an event confirmed by the senses, but which has evidently occurred outside the laws of nature. The Church recognizes authentic miracles as divine providence in the perceptible world.
Compiled by Marge-Marie Paas
Sources:
• Angelo Amato. Libro di Testo dello Studium. Vatican, 2018.
• Robert Sarno. Saints. US Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://www.usccb.org/about/public-affairs/backgrounders/saints-backgrounder.cfm
• Sanctorum Mater. Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Instruction, 2007.
• Normae Servandae in Inquisitionibus ab. Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, 1983.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]