What are the major steps to becoming 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. (May 2013)

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.

Answer 2

The major steps to becoming a saint in the Catholic Church are: living a life of heroic virtue, undergoing a thorough investigation by the Church, being declared venerable, beatified, and finally canonized by the Pope. Each step involves a rigorous process of documentation, investigation, and verification of miracles.