Canonization

Canonization is the act by which a Christian church formally recognizes a deceased person as a saint, declaring that the individual is in heaven and worthy of public veneration and imitation by the faithful. The term derives from the Latin canon, meaning a rule or standard, reflecting the belief that the person’s life provides a model of holiness for others. A canonized person is then added to the church’s official roster of saints.

In the Roman Catholic Church, canonization is a papal act that follows a formal process. Investigations begin at the local level to document the candidate’s virtues or martyrdom and any miracles attributed to their intercession after death. A dossier, often called the Positio, is reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints; if the pope approves, the person is beatified and can be venerated in a restricted manner. After a second verified miracle, the pope may canonize them for universal veneration.

Other Christian traditions have analogous practices. In Eastern Orthodoxy, sainthood, sometimes called glorification, is typically proclaimed by a synod or local church authority rather than a central papal declaration. Anglican and some Protestant communities may recognize notable individuals as saints through local or national custom rather than through a universal canonization process.

Historically, saints were often proclaimed by popular acclaim or local bishops in the early Church. Over time, formal procedures were established to assess martyrdom, heroic virtue, and miracles, culminating in centralized procedures within the Catholic Church. Today, canonization remains a significant moment in many churches, shaping devotion, liturgical calendars, and the memory of the faithful.