Canonization Process

Saints are persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation. All Christians are called to be saints! In official Church procedures there are four steps to sainthood: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, and Saint.

  • When the subject arises that a person should be considered for Sainthood, a Bishop is placed in charge of the initial investigation of the person’s life. If it is determined that the candidate is deemed worthy of consideration, the Vatican grants a “Nihil Obstat.” This is a Latin phrase meaning “nothing hinders.” The candidate is then called a “Servant of God.”

  • The Church official, a Postulator, who coordinates the process and serves as an advocate, must prove that the candidate lived heroic virtues. This is achieved through a collection of documents and testimonies that are collected in a Positio. It is then presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. When a candidate is approved, he/she receives the title “Venerable.”

  • To be beatified and recognized as a “Blessed,”requires one miracle to be acquired through the candidate’s intercession in addition to recognition of heroic virtue.

  • Canonization requires a second miracle after Beatification, though a Pope may waive these requirements. Once the second miracle has been received through the candidates intercession the Pope declares the person a “Saint.”

Path To Beatification 

29 October 2002

Heroic Virtues Approved

The Heroic Virtues of the Servant of God are approved by the panel of nine theologians and forwarded to the bishops and cardinals of the Congregation of Saints for their approval to present a decree of Heroic Virtue to the Holy Father.

20 December 2003

Miracle for Beatification

A decree promulgating a miracle attributed to the Venerable Servant of God was read before Pope John Paul II. The miracle concerns a Polish sister whose leg was healed.