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{{Short description|Topic in Roman Catholic canon law}}
{{canon law}}
The process of [[beatification]] and [[canonization]] has undergone various reforms in the history of the [[Roman Catholic Church]]. For current practice, as well as a discussion of similar processes in other churches, see the article on [[canonization]]. This article describes the process as it was
The causes of [[martyr]]s were considered somewhat differently from those of [[confessor]]s, for some points of the process.
# the [[Papal bull|Pontifical Bull]] of Canonization,<ref name
# and the [[Pontifical High Mass#Differences from ordinary Solemn Mass|Pontifical High Mass]] of Canonization (Beatification) celebrated in the [[Vatican Basilica]], during which the Pope officially proclaimed the martyr or the confessor to be Saint for the whole Catholic Church.<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia">{{cite web | url = http://home.newadvent.org/cathen/02364b.htm | title = Lemma "Beatification and Canonization", in the Catholic Encyclopedia | language = en | website = newadvent.org | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170921122600/http://home.newadvent.org/cathen/02364b.htm | archive-date =
The
==Beatification==
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===Of Confessors===
In order to secure beatification, the most important and difficult step in the process of canonization, the regular procedure was as follows:<ref name=Catholic/>
#Selection of a vice-postulator by the postulator-general of the cause, to promote all the judicial inquiries necessary in places outside of Rome. Such inquiries were instituted by the local [[bishop|episcopal]] authority.
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# The Advocate of the cause next prepared the documents (''positio'') which had reference to the discussion of the validity of all the preceding processes, informative and Apostolic.
# This discussion was held in the meeting called ''congregatio rotalis'' from the fact that it was only judges of the [[Roman Rota]] who voted. If the difficulties of the Promotor of the Faith were satisfactorily answered, the decree establishing the validity of the inquiries or processes was published.
# Meanwhile, all necessary preparation was made for the discussion of the question (''dubium''): Is there evidence that the venerable servant of God practiced virtues both [[Theological virtues|theological]] and [[Cardinal virtues|cardinal]], and in an [[Heroic virtue|heroic]] degree? (''An constet de virtutibus Ven. servi Dei, tam theologicis quam cardinalibus, in heroico gradu?'') In the causes of confessors this step was of primary importance. The point was discussed in three meetings or congregations called respectively, ante-preparatory, preparatory, and general. The first of these meetings was held in the palace of the cardinal Relator of the cause, and in it only consultors of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, and with their prefect presiding, the third was also held in the [[Vatican City]], and at it the [[Pope]] presided, and both cardinals and consultors voted. For each of these congregations the Advocate of the cause prepared and printed official reports (''positiones''), called respectively "report", "new report", "final report", report "concerning the virtues", et cetera (''positio'', ''positio nova'', ''positio novissima'', ''super virtutibus'', et cetera). In each case, before proceeding to the subsequent meeting, a majority of the Consultors must decide that the difficulties of the Promotor of the Faith had been satisfactorily solved.
# When the Congregation of Rites in the above described general meeting had decided favourably, the [[Pope]] was asked to sign the solemn decree which asserted that there existed evidence of the heroic virtues of the servant of God. This decree was not published until after the [[Pope]], having commended the matter to God in prayer, gave a final consent and confirmed by his supreme sentence the decision of the Congregation.
# The miracles now remained to be proved, of which two of the first class were required in case the practice of virtues in the heroic degree had been proved, in both ordinary and Apostolic inquiries or processes by eyewitnesses: three, if the eyewitnesses were found only in the ordinary processes and four, if the virtues were proven only by hearsay (''de auditu'') witnesses. If the miracles had been sufficiently proven in the Apostolic processes (''super virtutibus'') already declared valid, steps were taken at once to prepare the documents with regard to miracles (''super miraculis''). If in the Apostolic processes only general mention had been made of the miracles, new Apostolic processes must be opened, and conducted after the manner already described for proving the practice of virtues in an heroic degree.
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# The miracles (''signa'') required were not those of the first class; those of the second class sufficed, nor was their number determined. On some occasions the decision as to miracles was entirely dispensed with.
# The discussion as to martyrdoms and miracles, formerly held in three meetings or congregations, viz. the ante-preparatory, preparatory, and general, was at a later time usually conducted, through a dispensation to be had in each instance from the sovereign pontiff, in a single congregation known as particularis, or special. It consisted of six or seven cardinals of the Congregation of Rites and four or five prelates especially deputed by the pope. There was but one positio prepared in the usual way; if there was an affirmative majority a decree was issued concerning the proof of martyrdom, the cause of martyrdom, and miracles. (''Constare de Martyrio'', ''causâ Martyrii et signis''.)
# The final stage was a discussion of the security (''super tuto'') with which advance to beatification might be made, as in the case of confessors; the solemn beatification then followed.<ref name=Catholic/>
===Confirmation of Cult===
This procedure was followed in all cases of formal beatification in causes of both confessors and martyrs proposed in the ordinary way ("''per viam non cultus''"). Those proposed as coming under the definition of cases excepted ("''casus excepti''") by [[Pope Urban VIII]] were treated differently. In such cases proof is required that an immemorial public veneration had been paid to the servant of God, whether as a confessor or martyr, for at least 100 years before the promulgation in 1640 of the decrees of [[Pope Urban VIII]]
==Canonization==
The canonization of confessors or martyrs might be taken up as soon as two miracles were reported to have been worked at their [[Intercession of saints|intercession]], after the pontifical permission of public veneration as described above. At this stage it was only required that the two miracles worked after the permission awarding a public cultus be discussed in three meetings of the congregation. The discussion proceeded in the ordinary way; if the miracles were confirmed, another meeting (''super tuto'') was held. The pope then issued a [[Papal bull|Bull]] of Canonization in which he not only permitted, but commanded, the public cultus, or veneration, of the saint.<ref name=Catholic/>▼
It may be easily conjectured that considerable time must elapse before any cause of beatification or canonization could be conducted, from the first steps of the information, inquiry, or process, to the issuing of the decree super tuto. According to the constitution of this Congregation, more than one important discussion (''dubia maiora'') could not be proposed at the same time. It must be remembered:<ref name=Catholic/>▼
▲The canonization of confessors or martyrs might be taken up as soon as two miracles were reported to have been worked at their [[Intercession of saints|intercession]], after the pontifical permission of public veneration as described above. At this stage it was only required that the two miracles worked after the permission awarding a public cultus be discussed in three meetings of the congregation. The discussion proceeded in the ordinary way; if the miracles were confirmed, another meeting (''super tuto'') was held. The pope then issued a [[Papal bull|Bull]] of Canonization in which he not only permitted, but commanded, the public cultus, or veneration, of the saint.
▲It may be easily conjectured that considerable time must elapse before any cause of beatification or canonization could be conducted, from the first steps of the information, inquiry, or process, to the issuing of the decree super tuto. According to the constitution of this Congregation, more than one important discussion (''dubia maiora'') could not be proposed at the same time. It must be remembered:
* that the same cardinals and consultors must vote in all discussions;
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* that these cardinals and consultors had to treat questions of ritual as well as processes of canonization and beatification.
To execute all this business there was but one weekly meeting (''congressus''), a kind of minor congregation in which only the cardinal prefect and the major officials voted; in it less important and practical questions were settled regarding rites as well as causes, and answers were given, and rescripts which the [[Pope]] afterwards verbally approved. The other meetings of the congregation (ordinary, rotal, and "upon virtues and miracles") might be as few as sixteen in the course of the year. Some other cause must therefore be found for the slow progress of causes of beatification or canonization than a lack of good will or activity on the part of the Congregation of Rites.<ref name=Catholic>{{Catholic|wstitle=Beatification and Canonization|inline=1}}</ref>
==Bibliography==
* [[André Vauchez]], ''La sainteté en Occident aux derniers siècles du Moyen Âge (1198-1431)'' [http://www.publications.ecole-francaise.it/cgi-bin/ecole-francaise/details.cgi?address=&request=1%253d1003%25204%253d2%2520%2520%2522vauchez%2522&visrequest=%253cspan%2520class%253dvisrequestuse%253eAuteur%253c%252fspan%253e%253d%2520%2522%253cspan%2520class%253dvisrequestval%253evauchez%253c%252fspan%253e%2522&listrequest=&database=&item=17&format=&previous=&sort=1003+4+31&template=&stateless= [1]], Rome, 1981 (''BEFAR'', 241) [Eng. Transl.''Sainthood in the Later Middle Ages'', Cambridge, 1987 and Ital. transl. : ''La santità nel Medioevo'', Bologne, 1989].
==References==
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[[Category:Canon law history]]
[[Category:Catholic theology and doctrine]]
[[Category:Canonization]]
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