[vc_row type=”vc_default”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the Blessed and the Saints, as the first case of
\nbeatification in the history of the Roman Catholic Church in Estonia has been opened in the
\nEstonian Apostolic Administration – the beatification of Archbishop Eduard Profittlich, S.J. It
\nis therefore reasonable to clarify some of the terms of canonization and explain its nature.
\nThe goal of all Christians is holiness – the pursuit of holiness. But some of those who have
\nleft us have already become saint or blessed. In general, these people have lived with Christ
\nin great charity and virtue and are currently in heaven with Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n
In formal ecclesiastical procedures, there are three steps to declaring a saint: the candidate
\nbecomes "venerable," then "blessed," and then "saint." "Venerable" is the title given to a
\nperson who has left us and for whom the Pope has officially acknowledged that he had lived
\nvirtuously. To be declared a blessed, a miracle performed under the intercession of the
\ncandidate is necessary in addition to the characteristics of heroic virtue or martyrdom.
\nCanonization also requires another miracle after the beatification, although the Pope may
\nwaive these requirements.
\nThere is an exception for martyrs. No miracles are expected for the beatification of a martyr,
\nbut for canonization. The word \u2018martyr\u2019 means a blood witness referred to by the Greek\u00a0word \u03bc\u03ac\u03c1\u03c4\u03c5\u03c2, m\u00e1rtys, \u2018witness\u2019. Martyr was already with his blood a witness of faith in\u00a0Christ, which is like a miracle.<\/p>\n
Beatification and canonization are different concepts. Beatification is a stage in the process
\nof canonization that takes place after a thorough investigation by the diocese and the
\nCongregation for the Causes of Saints of the person's life and writings to determine whether
\nhe possessed heroic virtues or suffered martyrdom. The miracle attributed to the
\nintercession of the holy person must be proved. This proving presupposes the\u00a0corresponding extraordinary commission work at the Holy See. \u2018Blessed\u2019 is the title given to\u00a0a person who has been declared blessed and has the limited right to be honored, i.e., within\u00a0the local diocese. The act of beatification takes place during Holy Mass in the diocese where\u00a0the Servant of God, the future 'blessed', lived. The Prefect of the Congregation for the\u00a0Causes of Saints is responsible for the beatification on behalf of the Pope.
\nCanonization is the official process by which the Church declares a person a saint who
\ndeserves reverence throughout the worldwide Church. The beatification takes place by the
\nPope in Rome during Holy Mass in St. Peter's Square (or St. Peter's Basilica, as the case may\u00a0be).<\/p>\n
The whole process, both beatification and canonization, is led by the Congregation for the
\nCauses of Saints.
\nThe Congregation for the Causes of Saints is an institution of the Roman Curia, established
\nby Pope Sixtus V in 1588, originally as the Congregation for the Rites, and renamed the
\nCongregation for the Causes of Saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI. The congregation's statutes
\nwere renewed in 1983 by Pope John Paul II. Since then, canonization has been a theological-
\nhistoriographical study. When the investigation of the candidate for the beatification or
\ncanonization under the leadership of the congregation is completed, it is proposed to the
\nPope of Rome to declare the Servant of God saint or blessed. The Pope of Rome either
\ndeclares the candidate blessed and saint or rejects him for further investigation. The
\nCongregation is also responsible for the authentication and preservation of sacred relics.
\nThere have been times in the history of the Church when the canonization was born on the
\nprinciple of vox populi, i.e., with the common acclamation of the church people. It was
\nbased on the acts of martyrs during the early church, as well as the growing respect of
\nbelievers for their pastors. For example, Antonius of Padua was canonized by Pope Gregory<\/p>\n
IX on May 30, 1232, at the urging of the people, only eleven months after the death of St.
\nAnthony. To curb the uncontrolled cult of saints, ecclesiastical norms and procedures for
\nconsecration were developed. The first known official canonization as a result of an\u00a0investigation commissioned by Pope John XV was in 993 in connection with Bishop Ulrich of
\nAusbrug. In 1634, Pope Urban VIII called for the involvement of the Vatican in all processes
\nof consecration.
\nThe exact number of all who have been canonized since the first centuries is unknown. Even
\nbefore the end of the 10th century, the ten-volume menology of Simeon Metafrastes with
\nacts of martyrdom had been completed. In 1988, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints
\npublished its first Index ac Status Causarum. This Latin collection and its subsequent
\nsupplements are considered a complete register of all causes submitted to the Congregation
\nsince its establishment. Volumes of this index indicate that there are 3,464 processes
\npending.<\/p>\n
Stage 1 \u2013 investigation of the life of the candidate of the saint
\nPhase 1: at the diocesan level
\nThe process can start five years after the candidate's death. This rule makes it possible to
\nachieve greater balance and objectivity in the assessment of the case and to allow the
\nemotions of the moment to dissipate. The Pope may waive this waiting period (For example,
\nthe case of the martyr of the 21st century, the French priest Jacques Hamel, executed by
\nIslamic terrorists in 2016, the diocesan phase of the process ended in March 2019 and all
\ndocuments were sent to Rome as early as April 2019).
\nThe bishop of the diocese where the person died is responsible for initiating the
\ninvestigation. The diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association requesting the
\nopening of the process asks the postulator appointed by the bishop to begin the
\ninvestigation. The bishop may also begin the process on his own initiative. After receiving
\nnihil obstat of the Holy See, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses
\nare invited to speak to the tribunal about specific facts about Christian virtues considered
\nheroic (or the martyrdom of a Servant of God): it means the theological virtues of faith,
\nhope, and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance,
\nand the other virtues of his life. In addition, all documents written by the candidate must be
\ncollected and reviewed.
\nThe bishop also consults with the regional bishops' conference, or at least the bishops of his\u00a0area, to seek their views on the merits and timeliness of starting the process. He also
\nconsults the public, asking all those who are aware of the candidate to make themselves
\nknown.\u00a0In addition, all possible archival documents concerning the life of a Servant of God are
\ncollected.
\nPhase 2: Congregation for the Causes of Saints
\nWhen the diocesan investigation is completed, the documents are forwarded to the
\nCongregation for the Causes of Saints.
\nThen the Roman phase begins and the project of the beatification, or Positio, is written.
\nPositio is a comprehensive summary of all documents; in this context, there are two: one
\nsummarizes the investigation of the candidate's life and heroic virtues or martyrdom, and\u00a0the other the part of alleged miracles when a miracle is attributed to the Servant of God.
\nPositio is compiled by the postulator in Rome with an expert from outside the Congregation
\nfor the Causes of Saints. All Positio compilation work in the curia is controlled by the relator.
\nPositio is reviewed by nine theologians who cast their votes for Positio. If most theologians
\nare in favor, the process is referred to the Board of Cardinals and Bishops of the\u00a0Congregation for investigation. If their assessment is positive, the prefect of the\u00a0Congregation will present the whole process to the Pope, who will give his consent and\u00a0authorize the Congregation to draw up a decree declaring the Servant of God blessed or\u00a0saint. This is followed by a public reading and announcement of the decree.
\nStage 2 \u2013 beatification
\nThe beatification of the Servant of God requires a miracle attributed to his intercession after
\nhis death, which has been verified. The miracle must be proved by appropriate canon
\ninvestigation, following a procedure analogous to that of heroic virtues. This investigation
\nwill also be terminated by an appropriate decree. When two decrees have been\u00a0promulgated (in connection with heroic virtues or martyrdom and miracle), the Holy Father\u00a0decides on the beatification, which means a limited concession of public reverence \u2014\u00a0usually only in the diocese, region, or religious community where the Servant of God lived.\u00a0By beatification, the candidate receives the title of \u2018blessed\u2019.
\nStage 3 \u2013 canonization
\nCanonization requires another miracle attributed to the intercession of the blessed, which
\nhas taken place since his beatification. The methods of affirming a miracle are the same as
\nthose with beatification. Canonization is understood as a concession and requirement of
\npublic reverence for the universal Church. With canonization, blessed acquires the title
\n\u2018saint\u2019.<\/p>\n
Positio – the comprehensive summary of all documents; in this context, there are two: one
\nsummarizes the investigation of the candidate's life and heroic virtues or martyrdom, and
\nthe other the alleged miracles.
\nPostulator – the person assigned to direct and monitor the process. One of them monitors
\nthe process at the diocesan level (Phase 1); the other, a Roman resident appointed by the
\nCongregation for the Causes of Saints, oversees all aspects of Phases 2 and 3.
\nPrefect – the leader of a papal congregation, usually a cardinal.
\nRelator – the person appointed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to collect
\nhistorical records on a candidate's specific location and era.
\nSaint – the title given to someone who has been officially canonized by the Church and is
\ntherefore presented for public reverence.
\nServant of God – the title given to a candidate of a saint whose process is still under
\ninvestigation before the beatification.
\nVenerable – another honorary title given to a candidate of a saint whose process has not yet
\nreached the stage of beatification, but whose heroic virtue has been recognized by the
\nPope.
\nMiracle – an event that is confirmed by the senses, but taht is probably born outside the
\nlaws of nature. The Church recognizes authentic miracles as divine providence in the
\nperceptible world.<\/p>\n
Compiled by Marge-Marie Paas<\/p>\n