Seligpreisungen

Seligpreisungen refers to the practice of declaring a person blessed by the Catholic Church. The process involves a series of steps and typically takes several years from the time of death to completion. The first step is a diocesan investigation, where the local bishop gathers evidence on the deceased person's life and reputation. If the bishop deems it worthy, the case is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome for further review.

There are four stages to become a seligpreisung: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, and finally Saint. A devoted group of individuals, usually members of the deceased's community or family, begin advocating for their cause. They must gather support from the laity and clergy, which is submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If the Congregation grants approval, the case proceeds to the next stage.

Advancements are typically based on the writings, sermons, and canonized works of the deceased. Significantly greater evidence, including at least two recognized miracles, is necessary at the final stages. Once the individual has achieved sainthood, their life is studied further to extract lessons and values that can be used as examples for the faithful.

A declared Blessed is typically venerated within their local community or diocese, but is not recognized as officially holy by the universal Church. These individuals are seen as milestones to the ultimate goal of a communal name in Christ.,