Saints The process of Canonisation

Why are saints important to the Catholic faith?

How can one become a saint?
Historical overview
• The Roman Catholic religion has a long tradition of having many saints
within it, and that tradition has even passed over into the secular world,
and into other religions.

• Roman Catholic saints are actually people who were alive, although many
of them have long ago passed. Since that time, they have been honoured.

• These individuals usually had a special interest or were particularly

talented in one specific area, such as healing the sick or helping with
matters of the heart.

• Roman Catholic saints are also considered to have the “ear of God” and
praying to the saints, who can then pray to Jesus or God on behalf of the
person, is thought in the Roman Catholic religion to be much more
powerful than a mere human praying to God on their own.
 Historical overview
• The official process for declaring someone a
saint is called canonisation.

• Prior to the year 1234, the Church did not

have a formal process as such. Usually martyrs
and those recognised as holy were declared
saints by the Church at the time of their
deaths.

• Pope Gregory IX established procedures to

investigate the life of a candidate saint and any
attributed miracles

• Before the legalisation of Christianity in the

year 313 by Emperor Constantine, the tombs
of martyrs, like St. Peter, were marked and
kept as places for homage. The anniversaries
of their deaths were remembered and placed
on the local Church calendar. After legalisation,
oftentimes basilicas or shrines were built over
these tombs.
 Process of
Canonisation

STEP 1 – Investigation
This begins when the local bishop gives his
approval for the investigation to be started.
Normally the investigation can not take place
until five years after the death of the candidate.
1. ‘the opening of the cause’ – the bishop
launches an investigation.

2. an advocate is appointed – called a

postulator.

3. The postulator examines the candidate’s:

life 

writings

teachings

acts of holiness

heroic acts

other virtues that showed this person is
truly worthy of the title of ‘saint’.

4. with the process started, the candidate is

now referred to as: ‘Servant of God.’
STEP 1 – Investigation
(continued)

• The Postulator presents the

information gathered to a
special Vatican panel of
theologians and cardinals
known as ‘the Congregation
for the Causes of Saints’. If
decided that the case has
merit, the then reigning Pope
will proclaim the candidate as: 

‘VENERABLE’

(meaning that the candidate is a
role model of Catholic virtue) 

Step 2: Beatification

Beatification is a declaration by the Pope that a deceased person lived a

holy life, is now in heaven and is worthy of public veneration on a limited
basis within the Church.

• The ‘Congregation for the Causes of Saints’ must verify a posthumous

miracle has taken place – a miracle that has been attributed to the
person’s intercession after his or her death to assist the living.


• Once beatified the candidate is referred to as: ‘BLESSED’.



Step 3: Canonisation

Canonisation is the declaration by the Pope that a person is a saint, and is now worthy
of veneration by all the faithful.
• A second posthumous miracle must be verified by the ‘the Congregation for
the Causes of Saints’.
• Once canonised the candidate is given the title of: ‘SAINT’.
 Examples of Miracles
Phenomena investigated as miracles after a would-be saint's death
include the following:



Healings attributed to intercession of the saint or contact with relics.



Incorruptibility – the saint's body does not decay after a long period
in the grave.

Liquefaction – the dried blood of the saint liquefies every year on the
day of his or her death.

Odor of sanctity – body exudes a sweet aroma instead of the normal

stench of decay.

- Levitation – the saint floats in the air. St. Joseph of Cupertino

(1603-63) often levitated during prayer.



- Stigmata – the saint's body exhibits five wounds of Christ, which
usually bleed during Mass.



- Bilocation – the saint reportedly appeared in two places at once.
Task time!
• Option 1: Find a saint which
has an approved example of
the miracles on the previous
slide and create a poster which
advertises the miracles that
have been attributed to them.

• Option 2: Write a journal entry

as if you witnessed the
account. Extension - Translate
into another language from the
identified geographical area of
the miracle sighting.