canonisering

Canonization is the act by which a Christian Church formally declares that a deceased person is a saint and worthy of public veneration. It is most closely associated with the Catholic Church, but related practices exist in other traditions, though the procedures and authority differ. In general, canonization marks the transition from local veneration to universal recognition within the church.

In the Catholic tradition, the process begins at the local level with a diocesan inquiry into the candidate’s life, virtues, and reputation for holiness, along with any alleged miracles. The case is then reviewed by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. If the person is found to have lived with heroic virtue, they are titled Venerable. After a confirmed miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession, they may be beatified and called Blessed; martyrs can be beatified without a miracle. A second verified miracle is typically required for canonization, after which the Pope issues a decree declaring the person a saint and worthy of universal veneration in the church. After canonization, the saint is added to the liturgical calendar and publicly venerated across the church, though local devotion may continue in particular communities.

Miracles play a central role in the Catholic process, usually requiring examination by medical experts and theologians to establish that the event is unexplainable by natural causes and attributable to intercession. While the term canonization implies formal acceptance by a church authority, it has also entered broader language to denote someone celebrated for exemplary holiness.

Historically, canonization procedures have evolved from local acclaim to formalized state processes, with significant reforms occurring in modern times to standardize evidence and oversight.