What Are Beatification and Canonisation?

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The Teacher and his Disciples: the example of the Saints

In an Apostolic Constitution of 1983, Pope John Paul II reminded the Church that there was only one centre of her faith: ‘The Divine Teacher and Model of Perfection, Christ Jesus’. But the Pope reminded the Church that her faithful baptised members ‘are truly sons of God and sharers in the divine nature…In this way, they are truly made holy.’ The Pope continued: ‘At various times, God chooses from among these, many who, having followed more closely the example of Christ, give outstanding testimony to the Kingdom of heaven by . . . an heroically virtuous life.’ These are those whom the Church calls ‘Saints’.

Pope Benedict XVI: the Saints, ‘the true bearers of light within history’

In his 2006 letter to the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Benedict XVI wrote of his ‘sentiments of appreciation and gratitude for this Congregation’s service to the Church in promoting the Causes of Saints, who “are the true bearers of light within history, for they are men and women of faith, hope and love” (Deus Caritas Est 40).’

Further, though, the Church’s declaration that certain men and women are saints means something further still: it is her discernment that they are living in communion with God in Heaven. It is a decision arrived at only after the most exhaustive research and reflection.

The Process of Canonisation

The first stage involves a thorough examination of a persons’ life and writings. During this examination he or she is called a ‘Servant of God’ – as Pope John Paul II is at present. At the end of this examination, the Pope may make a proclamation of ‘heroic virtue’ – that the Servant of God lived to an heroic degree the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity, and the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, temperance and fortitude. With this proclamation he or she is declared ‘Venerable’. Newman has been ‘Venerable’ since 1991.

The next stage – beatification – requires the Church to attribute a miracle to the intercession of someone declared ‘Venerable’. This means that he or she is in heaven praying to God, and that God, as a special sign of this to the Church, works a miracle on earth through his or her intercession. Doctors (including non-Catholics) and theologians work together to investigate whether the alleged miracle is scientifically inexplicable and took place as an effect of the intercession of a particular Servant of God. If all this is authenticated, then a person is ‘Beatified’ – called ‘Blessed’ – and is given a special feast day.

On 3 July 2009 the healing of Deacon Jack Sullivan in 2001 was recognised as a miracle by Pope Benedict XVI. Newman’s Beatification is therefore now certain.

The final stage takes place when a second miracle is ascribed to the intercession of the ‘Beatus’, after which they are ‘Canonised’ – or declared to be a Saint.