This morceau continues to deal with the Saints of the Church. While this means anyone who enjoys heavenly happiness with God, in a more particular way it means those who have been officially identified as such. Since not everyone goes to heaven, how can we be certain that someone is a saint?
As I mentioned last time, the process of verifying the sanctity of the faithful departed in earlier centuries was more spontaneous, often arising from the local reputation of a deceased Christian. The enthusiastic, fervent efforts of the community to remember and imitate him or her led to an acclamation of sainthood. Yet during the past eight centuries or so, a more step-by-step process for determining and celebrating the certainty of sanctity has developed. The “saint-making process” today has roughly five steps:
First, the local bishop investigates the person’s life, faith and reputation by gathering information from persons who knew them and any writings they may have written. If the bishop recommends the process continue, the information gathered is sent to a special office in Rome, the “Congregation for the Causes of Saints.”
Next, if this Congregation agrees with the bishop that the process continue, they accept the application and begin a new investigation, usually no less than five years after the person’s death. At this point he or she may be referred to, officially, as a “Servant of God.”
Third, if the Congregation indeed then determines that the dead person really did live a purposely virtuous life, the person may be called “Venerable.”
Fourth, typically, the Church requires that a miracle be recognized as having taken place, and through the intercession of the deceased person. This is usually a permanent and complete healing, which is also scientifically unexplainable. If scientific experts (such as physicians) and theological investigators agree on this, the pope is asked to approve and bestow the title of “Blessed” on him or her.
Lastly, a second miracle, verified in the same way, is usually needed in order for formal “canonization” with the title of “Saint” to happen. The pope makes the final decision, after the Congregation for the Causes of Saints recommends it.
There are some exceptions and unique rules applicable sometimes, such as when a person dies for the faith (martyrdom). A person’s popularity – think St. John Paul II or St. Teresa of Calcutta, for example – still can have bearing on a case. But ultimately it is a cautious process, for the Church must not err in declaring someone to be eternally in God’s presence!
