How do you get to be a saint?

Answer 1

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 interviews 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 ceremonies. 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.