Beatification

Beatification is a recognition by the Catholic Church that a deceased person has entered heaven and can be venerated as blessed. It marks the first official step in the process toward canonization, the declaration of sainthood. A beatified person is given the title Blessed and may be publicly venerated, but typically only in limited regions or within certain groups. Canonization, by contrast, is a later decree that designates the person a saint and permits universal veneration in the liturgical calendar.

The procedure for beatification is part of the broader canonization process and is supervised by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. A cause usually begins at the local level with a diocesan inquiry into the life, virtues, or martyrdom of the candidate, and possibly a candidate’s reputation for holiness. A Positio, a comprehensive summary of the evidence, is prepared and submitted to the Vatican. The Congregation reviews the material, conducts theological examination, and may hear expert testimony. The pope then issues the decree of beatification.

A miracle attributed to the intercession of the deceased person after death is typically required for beatification, though this requirement can be waived in cases of recognized martyrdom. If beatified, the person may be venerated in the regions or groups designated by the Church. Canonization, the subsequent step, requires further verification of a miracle and results in universal appeal for veneration as a saint.

Beatification thus serves as a formal acknowledgment of holiness and a transitional stage toward universal sainthood within the Catholic tradition.