The official process of Canonisation, called a Cause, cannot begin until five years after the candidate’s death – unless the Pope waives that waiting period. This period of time permits the Church to verify whether the candidate enjoys a true and widespread reputation of holiness and of intercessory prayer. Prior to the presentation of the Cause to the Holy See’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the Diocesan Bishop is under an obligation to conduct an investigation in order to establish the merits of the Cause. If the Bishop believes there is sufficient evidence to consider the person for sainthood, he asks the Vatican for permission to proceed to open a special tribunal i.e. the letter of Nihil Obstat (no objection). The first stage of the process begins with the official opening of the Cause by the Bishop of the Diocese where the Servant of God died and the appointment of a postulator to assist in its promotion. The Bishop then nominates various Officials for a Tribunal to gather all the evidence for and against the Canonisation. Two theologians examine the writings of the Servant of God to make sure there is nothing in them contrary to the Faith and Moral teaching of the Church. Witnesses are then called to attest to the candidate’s goodness, holiness, devotion to God and other virtues. If a person passes this step, he or she is named a ‘Servant of God’.

Once the Diocesan Investigation is completed and the proper solemnities required by canon law have been fulfilled, the results along with bound volumes of documentation or ‘Acta’ (Acts) are forwarded to the Holy See’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Theologians then review the material and determine whether there is enough cause to refer it to the entire Congregation. A manuscript called the ‘Positio’ is prepared summarising the life and virtues of the Servant of God. If the evidence reveals true holiness exercised by the Servant of God, the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation informs the Pope that the Servant of God either was a true martyr or has lived a life of extraordinary and heroic virtue. The Pope then instructs the Congregation to issue the Decree either of Martyrdom or of Heroic Virtue, and the Servant of God is given the title ‘Venerable’. This means that the Servant of God either died as a true martyr for Christ or led a life of heroic virtue and is worthy of imitation by the faithful.

The next step is Beatification where the person concerned is named ‘Blessed’. Apart from martyrdom, a miracle needs to occur through the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God and be verified by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The prayers being granted are seen as proof that the individual is already in heaven and able to intercede with God on others’ behalf. For a healing to be considered a true miracle, a tribunal to gather all the evidence is established in the Diocese where the event took place. It must be determined that there is no scientific explanation for the cure and that the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God is proven. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints conducts its study and judgement of the cure by the testimony of medical experts that no scientific reason can explain the recovery, and of the theological consultants to verify that the intercession of the Venerable Servant of God was requested. Once again the conclusions are presented to the Pope who alone can declare that the event is a true miracle. With the Holy Father’s approval of a Decree of a Miracle, the Venerable Servant of God can be beatified. Once a person is beatified and named ‘Blessed’, public ecclesiastical veneration is permitted by the Pope but only in the Diocese or Country or religious Community to which the Blessed belonged. Churches may be dedicated to the Blessed but only with the permission of the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship.