A couple of months ago, Pope Francis canonized two modern young people as saints. The lives of Saint Carlo Acutis and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati have inspired many Catholics to reconsider how they think of sainthood. If we can know for certain that two individuals who lived in the contemporary world are now close to God in heaven, this must mean that sainthood is possible for anyone!

Every November 1st, the Catholic Church celebrates All Saints’ Day, a solemnity dedicated to all those who have reached heaven –– both the saints we venerate widely and those whose names we do not even know. In a recent video, Fr. Mike Schmitz tackles some of the main things to know about saints, sharing about the true meaning of sainthood, why the Catholic Church has saints, and what is required for the canonization process. Whether you have many favorite saints or want to learn about more, this article is for you, because holiness is a call for everyone!

 

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What is a saint? 

Father Mike has a simple and clear answer to this question. “A saint is the kind of person who says yes to God and his grace and just never stops saying yes.”

The saints were not perfect people who did heroic things. They had shortcomings, and often led very ordinary lives. And yet they continued to say yes to God’s grace, returning to their spiritual foundation even after sinning or failing in their commitments to him.

How Does Someone Become a Saint? 

At the same time, there is a distinction: while we are all called to be lowercase-letter-s saints, the Church reveres certain individuals as capital-letter-S saints … like St. Carlo Acutis and St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. 

As Fr. Mike clarifies further, the Catholic Church does not make Saints. (Technically speaking, it is God who makes saints, by granting life and holiness to individuals.) The Church’s role is to recognize the holiness of those who were authentic examples of virtue and led spiritual lives close to God, and so the Church declares a person to be a saint. Such a declaration officially confirms that this person lived a life of heroic virtue and that by God’s grace they are in heaven.

The Steps to Being Declared a Saint

How does the Church know that someone is in heaven and should be declared a saint? The Church has an entire process for determining the sainthood of someone. Here is the typical timeline: 

Step 1

Servant of God: At least five years after the death of someone who has a reputation for holiness, a request can be made to investigate the saintliness of their life. (Note: there are exceptions for this, but they are rare and particularly major ones – St. Teresa of Calcutta’s cause was permitted to be opened after two years, and the Vatican allowed St. John Paul II’s cause to be opened immediately after his death.) This is the diocesan phase of the investigation: the bishop of the diocese where the person died puts the case forward. Once the case is approved by the Vatican, the holy individual becomes a Servant of God. A theological expert is named postulator of the cause, collecting documents, testimonies, and as much evidence as possible of the person’s holiness. 

Step 2

Venerable: This is the stage of Vatican investigation. The diocesan findings are formally sent to the Vatican, and a theological commission studies everything. The Cardinals and Bishops in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints vote on it, and if their vote is affirmative, the person is named a Venerable. 

Step 3 

Beatification: After a miracle, normally a physical healing, has been granted through their intercession and confirmed by the Church, the person can be declared a “Blessed.” Medical experts and theological specialists examine the miracle, and once it is confirmed, the results go to the Pope, who authorizes the beatification. Martyrs for the faith are immediately declared blessed without any need for a miracle. The beatification Mass typically takes place in the diocese where the person lived or died so that the community can have a chance to honor the holiness of their own. 

Step 4

Canonization: The last big step comes after one more miracle. After this supernatural event is investigated by the Vatican in a manner similar to the first one, the Pope can make a final decision about declaring the person a Saint. If the decision is yes, then, time for a Church-wide celebration in Rome! The Mass of Canonization takes place at the Vatican in St. Peter’s Square.

When an individual becomes a canonized saint, we can ask for their intercession in a powerful way, and devotion to them can spread quickly throughout the Church. 

Why Does the Church Declare Saints?

Ultimately, the Church’s tradition of declaring saints reminds us of several profound things, and Fr. Mike shares some of them. First, it is meant to show us that holiness is possible for everyone … and that God wants it for everyone. Number two, it underscores a powerful reality called the Communion of Saints, which simply means that we are connected with those in heaven in such a way that we can ask for and rely on their prayers! Third and last, the Church wants you to bear in mind that, regardless of your location, personality, weaknesses, and situation in life, God has called you to be a saint. No situation disqualifies you from holiness; it is not about perfection. All you must do is say yes to God’s grace, to the best of your ability. 

Watch the entire video here! How Do People Become Saints? (Fr. Mike Explains the Canonization Process)

 

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