GOD'S HONORED VETERANS
"The purpose of the restoration of the liturgical year and the revision of its norms is to allow the faithful, through their faith, hope, and love, to share more deeply in 'the whole mystery of Christ as it unfolds throughout the year.'
"As the council (Vatican II) properly pointed out, over the course of the centuries more feasts of the saints were introduced than necessary. Lest the feasts of the saints overshadow the feasts which recall the mysteries of redemption, many of these should be celebrated by local churches, countries, or religious communities. Only those which commemorate saints of universal significance should be kept by the universal Church.
"Therefore a new general calendar has been prepared for use in the Latin rite which we feel is more in keeping with modern-day attitudes and approaches toward piety and which directs our attention to the universality of the Church. The calendar lists the names of remarkable persons who, each in his own way, offer the entire people of God outstanding examples of holiness which can greatly help Christians of every walk of life."
Apostolic Letter of Pope Paul VI, February 14, 1969
Beatification: An investigation, now formal, of whether a deceased person should be publicly declared to be in heaven and so entitled to some public veneration: an affirmative decision may lead to canonization. lib_url
In the process for the canonization of a saint, this is the next to last step, the last being canonization itself. This act of beatification is performed by the Supreme Pontiff after a person's life, writings and teachings have been examined and found to contain nothing contrary to the teaching of the Church, nor to the demands of Christian perfection. At this stage, the person's heroic virtues are said to be recognized and the Holy Father, with the aid of consultors from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and especially the Postulator of the person's cause, declares the person Venerable, that is, that the person may be venerated by the faithful.
At this point, all that remains are the miracles. In cases of martyrs, sometimes the necessity of a miracle is waived by the Pope, who in any case may do so ad libitum if he so chooses for any person whose cause has been introduced. However, the miracles are of great importance and must be of major proportions and proven to be an intervention of the supernatural order into the natural order whereby natural causes offer no plausible explanation. For beatification, one miracle is required and for canonization, two.
Once the required miracle has been performed through the intercession of the Venerable in question and recognized as such (that is, unexplainable by human science or causes), the way is made clear for this beatification, whereby the Pope grants the newly-elevated Blessed a Mass and Office of his or her own and a particular feast day to be celebrated in the places related to his or her life and in the religious order or diocese of origin. Sometimes the Blessed in question is of such a popularity or of such particular importance to the whole Church that he or she is honored with a universal cult. Unlike with canonization, the Pope does not exercise his infallible authority when beatifying. He simply grants permission for public acknowledgment. This act is also a declaration that the person involved did practice virtue to a heroic degree or suffered a true Christian martyrdom.
Among those Blessed held in honor native to the United States are Kateri Tekakwitha, Katharine Drexel and Junipero Serra.
Canonization: The Church's official declaration that a person is already in heaven and worthy of public veneration and imitation. The process follows beatification and involves another investigation into a person's virtues, writings, reputation for holiness and miracles ascribed to the person's intercession since death. Miracles, however, are not required for martyrs. The Pope may dispense from some of the formalities usual in the canonization process, and he alone can make the formal declaration of canonization. St. Ulrich of Augsburg became the first formally canonized saint by Pope John XV in 993.
Canonization gives a sevenfold honor: (1) inscription of the name in the catalogue of saints and reception of public veneration; (2) invocation in the public prayers of the Church; (3) dedication of churches in the saint's honor; (4) celebration of Mass and Divine Office; (5) assignment of a day in the liturgical calendar; (6) pictorial representations; (7) public veneration of relies. (Cf. Beatification; Martyrology.)
Becoming a Canonized Saint