The Canonization

STEPS TO SAINTHOOD

The process of canonization in the Catholic Church is a rigorous journey that declares a person to be a saint. It involves several stages overseen by the Church to ensure that the candidate's life reflects exceptional holiness and fidelity to God. Here are the main steps:

1. SERVANT OF GOD

The process begins after the candidate has passed away and a minimum of five years has elapsed (though this can be waived by the Pope, as in the case of John Paul II and Mother Teresa).

The local bishop investigates the candidate's life, virtues, and reputation for holiness, collecting testimonies and documents. If the investigation is deemed satisfactory, the bishop sends the results to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome (previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints), and the candidate is titled Servant of God.

2.  VENERABLE

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints examines the candidate's life and writings to determine whether they demonstrated heroic virtue-a life of extraordinary goodness and closeness to God. If approved, the Pope declares the candidate Venerable.

3.  BEATIFICATION

For a martyr, no miracle is required; their death must be verified as a direct witness to the faith.

For a confessor (someone who lived a holy life but did not die as a martyr), one miracle attributed to their intercession must be verified. This typically involves a medically unexplained healing approved by a team of doctors, theologians, and ultimately the Pope.

Once the miracle is confirmed, the candidate is declared Blessed. Beatification allows for limited public veneration, often in the candidate's diocese or region.

4. CANONIZATION

A second miracle, occurring after beatification, must be verified for both martyrs and confessors.

Following a thorough investigation, the Pope officially declares the candidate a Saint in a canonization ceremony, making them universally venerated in the Church. The new saint is assigned a feast day and becomes a model for the faithful.

Canonization is not about perfection but recognizes a per-son who has cooperated fully with God's grace and can inspire others in their journey of faith.

THE TWO MIRACLES OF CARLO ACUTIS

The first miracle, recognized for Acutis' beatification involved the healing of Matheus Vianna, a Brazilian boy born with a rare pancreatic disorder that caused severe vomiting and malnourishment. During a prayer service where a relic of Acutis was present, Matheus's mother prayed for intercession while Matheus himself touched the relic and expressed his desire to stop vomiting. From that moment on he no longer experienced symptoms, with his pancreas healing completely, a recovery doctors deemed inexplicable. The Vatican verified this miracle in February 2020.

The second miracle, recognized by Pope Francis in May 2024, involved a young Costa Rican woman named Valeria Valverde. Valeria suffered a severe brain hemorrhage from a bicycle accident in Florence, Italy, where she was studying. Doctors gave her a very low chance of survival. Her mother, Lilliana, went on a pilgrimage to Assisi and prayed at Carlo Acutis' tomb, asking for his intercession for her daughter's healing. On the same day, Valeria began to breathe independently again, and recovered quickly. The Vatican recognized this miraculous healing, paving the way for Acutis to become a saint.