With the recent canonization of two new saints, Carlo Acutis and Pier Gorgio Frassati, you may have noticed some extra excitement around campus. Whether you pulled an all-nighter to attend their canonization celebration or simply saw art or pictures of them while passing through the JC, you may not have taken the time to ask yourself: Who qualifies for sainthood—and how? 

The Church defines a “saint” as someone who is holy. According to the Catechism, a saint “leads a life in union with God through the grace of Christ and receives the reward of eternal life.” In simpler terms, saints are members of the Church in heaven. We see this every time we celebrate Mass and recite the Apostles’ Creed. The phrase “the communion of saints” refers, primarily, to the Church on earth in communion with the Church in heaven—the saints.  

Though the definition mentions that saints are rewarded with eternal life, this is not determined by individual people or perspectives. Due to the significance of this, the Church has specific steps to ensure that a soul has truly reached its heavenly destination. These steps are divided into three main stages.  

Stage I – The Examination of Life  

The first stage of the canonization process is broken into two phases.  

Phase I occurs at the diocesan or eparchial (Eastern Church’s equivalent) level. In this phase, the local Bishop or religious authority examines the life of the individual being petitioned for sainthood. For this step to take place, the person up for canonization must have been deceased for at least five years. This waiting period allows for a full examination of their life (though the Pope can waive the five-year limit— Pope John Paul II, for example, was declared “Santo Subito!” 

Phase II begins after the local Bishop submits their report to Rome, where it is reviewed by The Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Nine theologians examine the case to determine if the individual’s life aligned with the Church’s virtues or if their death constitutes martyrdom. Their findings are presented to the Pope, who, if approving, names the individual either “Venerable” or a “Martyr.” 

Stage II – Beatification  

If martyrdom is approved in Stage I, the title “Blessed” is automatically bestowed. For a Venerable to gain this title, a miracle must be attributed to them, which undergoes a similar examination process by the Vatican. If no other plausible cause is found for the miracle, the individual is declared “Blessed.” Veneration is then approved at the local level within the Church. 

Stage III – Canonization  

The final stage requires another miracle attributed to the individual after they have been declared Blessed. Once this miracle is approved by the Vatican, the individual is declared a “Saint,” and public veneration is approved throughout the Church. 

The time between these stages can vary, depending on the length of the examination of the person’s life and attributed miracles. Saints Carlo and Pier Giorgio were canonized on the same day, though one’s examination began 13 years ago and the other started 93 years ago! While the canonization process may seem complicated and lengthy, we are all called to become saints—and that journey begins today.