How do you apply for sainthood?

Answer 1

1. At least five years must elapse since the death of the candidate. This is to allow greater objectivity in evaluating the case and to let the emotions of the moment dissipate.

2. The bishop of the diocese in which the deceased lived must begin an investigation. The promoter group ('Actor Causae'): diocese, parish, religious congregation, association, requests the cause to the bishop through the postulator. The bishop, once the 'nulla osta' of the Holy See is obtained, forms a diocesan tribunal for this purpose. Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount verifiable facts on the exercise of Christian virtues considered heroic, that is, the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude, and others specific to his/her state in life. In addition, all possible information regarding the candidate must be gathered. At this point the candidate is honored with the title of "Servant of God".

3. Once the diocesan investigation is finished, the acts and documentation are passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The public copy used for further work is here compiled. The postulator, resident in Rome, follows the preparation of the 'Positio', or summary of the documentation that proves the heroic exercise of virtue, under the direction of a relator of the Congregation. The 'Positio' undergoes an examination by nine theologians who give their vote. If the majority of the theologians are in favor, the cause is passed on for scrutiny by cardinals and bishops who are members of the congregation. They hold meetings twice a month. If their judgment is favorable, the prefect of the congregation presents the results to the Holy Father, who gives his approval and authorizes the congregation to draft the relative decree. The public reading and promulgation of the decree then follows. The candidate is declared "Venerable".

4. For the beatification of a confessor, a miracle attributed to the Servant of God, verified after his death, is necessary. The required miracle must be proven through the appropriate canonical investigation, following a procedure analogous to that for heroic virtues. This one too is concluded with the relative decree. Once the two decrees are promulgated (regarding the heroic virtues and the miracle) the Holy Father decides on beatification, which is the concession of public worship, limited to a particular sphere. With beatification the candidate receives the title of Blessed.

5. For canonization another miracle is needed, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and having occurred after his beatification. The methods for ascertainment of the affirmed miracle are the same as those followed for beatification. Canonization is understood as the concession of public worship in the Universal Church. Pontifical infallibility is involved. With canonization, the Blessed acquires the title of Saint.

The canonization process was first started in 1234 AD by the Church when it became difficult to verify some of the local cults and claims that sprung up in Christendom. Over the years the rules became more precise. In 1983 John Paul II relaxed the rules, making the process much shorter and less demanding. Some Catholic groups refuse to accept saints declared after 1983 believing the new process allows unworthy or unremarkable candidates to slip through to canonization in mere years when some saints took decades if not centuries before being recognized.

First, you have to die. Once you have been dead at least 5 years a cause

for sainthood can be opened. The local bishop or other religious leader

will assign someone to collect all sorts of documents and conduct

interiews about the life of the candidate. Once they have all the

information, the file will be sent to the Sacred Congregation for the

causes of Saints in Rome. They will study the file and, if it seems the

person exhibited some form of heroic virtue, that person will be declared

a Servant of God and an official Cause for Sainthood will be opened.

More investigations and interviews will be conducted and if the person

passes all favorably, they will be named as Venerable.

Next, more investigations and at least one miracle must be confirmed and

verified due to the intercession of the candidate. If all goes well, the

candidate will then be Beatified by the Pope and receive the title of

Blessed. Mother Teresa of Calcutta is at this stage right now.

In the final stage, more investigations and at least one more miracle must

be verified. Once all that has been done, the file is turned over to the

pope who will make the final decision. It will be up to the pope to

declare a person a saint and then arrangements are made for the official

canonization cerimonies.

This process can take many years, even centuries.

Of course, the person became a saint the moment they entered heaven. The

Church just needs to investigate to make sure the candidate is worthy of

emulation and makes a good role model for future generations.