What is Beatification and Canonization?
Beatification / Canonization – The Catholic Church’s process leading to canonization involves there major steps. First is the declaration of a person’s heroic virtues, after which the church gives him or her the title Venerable. Second is beatification, after which he or she is called Blessed. The third step is canonization, or declaration of sainthood. At various steps in the canonization process, evidence of alleged miracles is presented to church authorities. In general, two miracles need to be accepted by the church as having occurred through the intercession of the prospective saint. Excerpt from the CNS Stylebook on Religion, go to Catholic News Service to order.
