Fr Flader talks about The Process of Canonisation
The most recent regulations on these processes were given by Pope John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Divinus Perfectionis Magister on 25 January 1983, the same day as he promulgated the Code of Canon Law. Accompanying norms were given on 7 February 1983.
How does the process work? When someone dies with a reputation for holiness, no process can begin until five years after the death in order to allow greater balance and objectivity in evaluating the case. This period can be waived in extraordinary cases, such as that of Pope John Paul II.
The Bishop of the diocese where the person died then begins an investigation into the person’s life, virtues or martyrdom, reputation for holiness and alleged miracles. The postulator of the cause, who has been appointed for this task, assists the Bishop by gathering the necessary information.
If the Bishop is satisfied that there is sufficient evidence of holiness, he then requests the formal opening of the cause from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of the Saints. If this is granted, the person is entitled to be called “Servant of God”.
The Bishop then establishes a tribunal to interview people who have been close to the Servant of God, including any who wish to allege something against the cause. They are asked whether the person lived the virtues to a heroic degree, especially the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.
The Bishop also appoints two censors to examine all the published writings of the person to see if there is anything in them contrary to faith and morals. In addition, all unpublished writings and any other relevant documents are collected and examined.
When the inquiries are complete, a transcript of all the documentation is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, together with a copy of the writings of the Servant of God.
A “Relator” from the Congregation is appointed to oversee the cause, helped by the postulator, who normally is to reside in Rome. Their task is to prepare the Positio, or summary of the findings, which demonstrates that the Servant of God lived the virtues to a heroic degree. This is studied by nine theologians who vote on it.
If the majority of theologians are in favour, the cause is examined by Cardinals and Bishops who are members of the Congregation. If their judgement is favourable, the cause is presented to the Holy Father who makes his own judgement and authorises the Congregation to draft the decree on heroic virtues. When this is made public, the person can be called “Venerable”.
In order for the person to be beatified, a miracle which has taken place after the death must be proven. A miracle is considered to constitute confirmation by God of a judgement by the Church on a person’s virtuous life. It is investigated in the diocese where it took place.
If the miracle involves a medical cure, all the documentation is studied first by a panel of medical specialists and then by theologians who decide whether the cure can be attributed to the intercession of the particular Venerable.
The report is then studied by Cardinals and Bishops of the Congregation and finally by the Holy Father.
If he deems it opportune, a decree on the miracle is made public and the person may then be beatified, or declared “Blessed”, in a public ceremony. With beatification, restricted public veneration may then be celebrated, usually limited to the country or religious community of the Blessed.
For canonisation, another miracle, which ordinarily must take place after the beatification, must be proven following the same procedure.
When the Holy Father approves the miracle, a decree is issued by the Congregation and a date for the canonisation is set.
With canonisation, which involves the exercise of papal infallibility, the person is now called “Saint” and public veneration may be celebrated in the universal Church.