DAY 16: Becoming a Saint....

     It is extremely hard to find information on this subject. And I'm still left with some questions that I can't seem to find the answers to. Maybe I'll ask the priest at church tomorrow and add more to this post....

     The official process of initiating someone into sainthood is called canonization. It appears that to become a saint you have to die. Oftentimes, the process starts years after death to add evidence/proof of saintliness. A local bishop will then analyze the person's life and writings to see if it matches with church doctrine. If they pass that first test, the information is then sent to the Vatican where a panel of theologians evaluates the candidate. "After approval by the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate 'venerable'."
     The next step is called beatification and requires that the candidate has performed a miracle. I am unsure if the miracle HAS to be performed after this person dies or if it can be while they are living but http://www.catholic.org/saints/faq.php#num says, " Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate's death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate. When the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or "blessed," the person can be venerated (respect or awe inspired by the dignity, wisdom, dedication, or talent of a person) by a particular region or group of people with whom the person holds special importance. " Such as Mother Theresa and India...  However a saint needs 2 Miracles to be canonized as a saint.

     Pope John Paul II is in the process of becoming a saint.  On January 14, of this year, he was reported to have passed the beatification stage on the road to sainthood. The miracle that he performed occurred after a French nun prayed for him to intercede. She then recovered from the disease which John Paul had during his lifetime - Parkinson's. He will be publicly venerated on May 1, 2011.

I'm so grateful to the people who are reading my blog. Outside of the United States and Canada, I've had people from the UK, Ireland, and Austria read it. Thanks everyone! : )


Edited on March 30th...
PS: You don't have to die to become a saint because it's up to the pope, but it's kinda necessary since the miracle performed has to be post-mortem. Also the reason Catholics often quote the saints, is because the Saint's teachings are checked by the Vatican before they can be beatified.