Florida Catholic | Sainthood: More Than Miracles

It takes more than a miracle to become a saint

As of Jan. 31, Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Orlando Diocese became involved in possibly helping someone be recognized a saint.

JOHN A. TORRES | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 02.08.08

ORLANDO | When the sad news of Mother Teresa’s death spread to the millions who knew of her tireless work and great deeds, there was little doubt in the public’s mind that the Catholic Church would make her a saint.

After all, if she wasn’t named a saint after spending decades with the poor and dying in one of the poorest slums in the world then who could be? Well, it’s not that easy. The church has specific steps set forth by the Vatican.

The first thing is that the process to investigate someone’s holiness cannot begin for at least five years after a person’s death. This is usually done to allow for balance and objectivity.

“Recall Pope John Paul II’s funeral,” said Timmian Massie, adjunct professor of religious studies at New York’s Marist College. “The people in St. Peter’s Square were chanting ‘santo subito,’ or ‘sainthood soon.’ Pope Benedict XVI waived that rule, which, as supreme pontiff he can do, on behalf of Pope John Paul’s cause for sainthood.”

Pope John Paul II did the same thing for Mother Teresa. Less than two years after her death, in light of her widespread reputation of holiness and reported miracles, he allowed for the opening of her cause of canonization.

On Dec. 20, 2002, Pope John Paul approved the decrees of her heroic virtues and miracles. She is now “blessed” or one step away from canonization.

As of Jan. 31, Bishop Thomas Wenski of the Orlando Diocese became involved in possibly helping someone be recognized a saint.

Bishop Wenski, through the diocese’s Ecclesiastical Tribunal, has concluded extensive research of a claim of a miracle by Blessed Karl of Austria. This research began, at the behest of the Holy See, about 16 months ago. If confirmed, this would be the second miracle attributed to Blessed Karl of Austria. Other alleged miracles by Blessed Karl elsewhere also are being investigated.

The testimonies of those involved in the case were presented by Bishop Wenski to Andrea Ambrosi, Roman postulator, at a closing ceremony. Ambrosi is responsible for collecting, examining and researching historical and theological material about the individual for whom beatification or canonization is being sought and presenting the case to the Holy See.

While the pre-Christianity pagans would sometimes elevate people — usually the ruler’s family members — to god-like status when they died, the Catholic Church’s canonization process is much different.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the difference between the pagan practice and canonization is that the church sees the saints as “nothing more than friends and servants of God whose holy lives have made them worthy of his special love.” The church does not pretend to make them into gods.

In his apostolic letter on preparing for the year 2000, Pope John Paul II reaffirmed his commitment to seek saints from the ranks of laypeople and the married.

“There is a need to foster the recognition of the heroic virtues of men and women who have lived their Christian vocation in marriage,” he wrote.

According to Massie, Pope John Paul II canonized more saints than all the popes before him — 452.

One change made recently by Pope Benedict XVI is that he delegates beatifications to the prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal José Saraiva Martins of Portugal. Martins will receive the documents that passed from Bishop Wenski to Ambrosi.

While there are many steps that must be taken before considering whether someone can be made a saint, there is one thing that most Catholics know about: either the person must have died a martyr or there must be miracles involved.

At least one miracle is necessary to be declared “blessed” and two miracles are needed in order to be canonized. These miracles must happen after the person has died — it proves the person is in heaven and assisting the living.

Once a person is adjudged a saint, there are certain things that can take place such as, the saint may be invoked in public prayers, churches may be dedicated in the saint’s memory and feast days may be celebrated in the saint’s memory.

One day there could be a St. John Paul II Parish or St. Teresa of Calcutta Cathedral.

Tanya Goodman of the Florida Catholic staff contributed to this article.

Return to Diocese of Orlando Front Page

It takes more than a miracle to become a saint

Other Stories