How Do You Become A Saint? Cannonization 101

A common question that many Catholics (and others) often have is: How does the Church choose people to become saints?

Usually, people want to know the answer to this question because they want to know the process for how someone is canonized within the Catholic Church. But, before we do this, it may be helpful to see the Church’s vision for sainthood.

• Who Can Become A Saint?
• Why Does The Catholic Church Choose A Person To Be A Saint?
• How does the Catholic Church recognize someone as a saint?
• 5 Steps to Sainthood
• Additional Resources

Who Can Become A Saint?

To answer the question directly, the Catholic Church believes that anyone can become a saint—that is someone who makes it to heaven. Whether you are a priest, a single man, a religious sister, etc., the Catholic Church calls all men and women to seek holiness and sainthood. This idea was given more attention with the release of the document Lumen Gentium by Pope Paul VI that outlined what the Catholic Church calls the “Universal Call to Holiness.”
 

Why Does The Catholic Church Choose A Person To Be A Saint?

Sometimes we can casually say that the Church is making him or her a saint. But, technically, the Church does not make saints; it recognizes someone who is in heaven. In addition to this, the Church is seeking people whose lives are worth imitating to such a degree that they can serve as an example to the Church.

How does the Catholic Church recognize someone as a saint?

This is probably the question most people are really asking when they are asking: How does someone become a saint? Here are the five steps.

5 Steps to Sainthood

1. 1. First, the person’s local bishop investigates their life by gathering information from witnesses of their life and any writings they may have written. If the bishop finds them to be worthy of being a saint, then he submits the information that he gathered to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

   2. Second, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints can choose to reject the application or accept it and begin their own investigation of the person’s life. If the application is accepted, the person may be called Servant of God.

   3. Third, if the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approves of the candidate, they can choose to declare that the person lived a life heroically virtuous life. This isn’t a declaration that the person is in heaven, but that they pursued holiness while here on earth. If this is indeed found to be the case, the person may be called Venerable.

   4. Fourth, to be recognized as someone in heaven requires that a miracle has taken place through the intercession of that person. The miracle is usually a healing. The healing has to be instantaneous, permanent, and complete while also being scientifically unexplainable. A group of independent doctors must first verify miracles as scientifically unexplainable. After that, theologians then approve the person, and the final approval rests with the pope. When these conditions are met, the Church will declare the person a “Blessed.”

   5. Fifth, a second miracle is needed in order to declare someone a saint. The confirmation of a second miracle goes through the same scrutiny as the first. 

The five-step process is a general outline for how someone becomes a saint. There are definitely exceptions to this process and situations that may change the process as well.

Now that you know the process of canonization, why not take a look at our article “What is A Catholic Saint?” and learn more about the saints as intercessors and patrons, why and how Catholics celebrate saints, and more!
 

Additional Resources

FOCUS alumna Michelle Duppong, passed away from cancer in 2015. The Diocese of Bismarck opened an investigation into Michelle’s life of holiness, which could eventually lead to her canonization. Listen to our podcast to learn more!

We love the saints here at FOCUS. Learn about some lesser known ones in our article “25 Patron Saints of Really Random Things.” 

For more on the saints, check out a few of these articles on FOCUS Equip:

Favorite Saints’ Favorite Saints (and Their Other Devotions)

Saints Are Still Being Made: Meet Chiara Corbella Petrillo

30 Under 30: Saints

St. John Bosco and the Power of Relationships

What St. Marianne Cope Teaches Us About Leading From the Front

4 Lessons from Sts. Joachim and Anne – Our Spiritual Grandparents

Who is St. Josephine Bakhita? 5 Lessons from a 20th Century Saint

For even more great Catholic resources, check out our podcast, which features talks from our SEEK conference, and our YouTube channel for videos and more!