February 08, 2004
Canonization: Why does the Catholic Church name certain people saints?
Canonization or the canonizing of certain individuals as saints is an old tradition in the Catholic Church. But when exactly did the process of canonization first appear in the Church?
In the first centuries the popular fame or therepresented in practice the only criterion by which a person's holiness was ascertained. A new element was gradually introduced, namely, the intervention of the ecclesiastical authority, i.e., of the competent bishop. However, the fame of sanctity, as a result of which the faithful piously visited the person's tomb, invoked his intercession, and proclaimed the thaumaturgic [miraculous] effects of it, remained the starting point of those inquiries that culminated with a definite pronouncement on the part of the bishop. A biography of the deceased person and a history of his alleged miracles were presented to the bishop. Following a judgment of approval, the body was exhumed and transferred to an altar. Finally, a day was assigned for the celebration of the liturgical feast within the diocese or province. The transition from episcopal to papal canonization came about somewhat casually. The custom was gradually introduced of having recourse to the pope in order to receive a formal approval of canonization. This practice was prompted obviously because a canonization decreed by the pope would necessarily have greater prestige, owing to his supreme authority. The first papal canonization of which there are positive documents was that of St. Udalricus in 973 . . . . Through the gradual multiplications of the Roman pontiffs, papal canonization received a more definite structure and juridical value. Procedural norms were formulated, and such canonical processes became the main source of investigation into the saint's life and miracles. Under Gregory IX, this practice became the only legitimate form of inquiry (1234) . . . .
- This Rock Magazine, April 1994
In addition to understanding the historical background of canonization, I believe it is essential to understand why the Catholic Church wishes to recognize saints to begin with:
828 By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors. "The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church's history" (John Paul II, Christifideles laici, 16,3; 1988). Indeed, "holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal" (CL, 17,3;1988). - Catechism of the Catholic Church, pg. 219
So the fundamental reasons for the canonization of saints is two-fold:
1) to acknowledge the holiness and sanctity of the lives they led, and 2) to set these individuals forth as examples for the faithful here on earth. Just as aspiring athletes look to professional athletes for inspiration and example, so do Catholics look to the saints for the same.
Do Catholics worship saints? By no means, rather we look to them as elder brothers and sisters in the faith. We study their lives and attempt to imitate the same virtue they lived. For ultimately, they imitated Jesus Christ. Therefore, the saints serve as examples for us to imitate. As St. Paul said:
For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us... - 2 Thess 3:7And you became imitators of us and of the Lord... - 1 Thess 1:6
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. - 1 Cor 11:1
The saints led lives that magnified Christ, lives that are worthy of imitation.
All the saints...pray for us, that we might imitate your lives, and in doing so, imitate Christ. Amen.
Posted by Joe at February 8, 2004 08:20 AM | TrackBack |
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For those who saw the spam attack we had this morning:
Methinks he doth protest too much . . .
God bless,
Jay
As a protestant, the whole concept of the communion of Saints was a difficult one for me to grasp. I grew up believing that I should and only needed to pray to Jesus, that's all...didn't need anyone else.
During my conversion to this great faith of Catholicism, this topic of saints - who they are, why we ask for their intercession ...etc. (though I accepted it in my heart) was still difficult for me to understand. Old habits are hard to break. I had always believed there were angels among us, that many who walked this land performed miracles... so why was it so hard to accept that we KNOW they are in heaven with God? Growing up baptist, we often assumed our grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends were in heaven. We even said "I miss her but I know she's with God now". And those were often time ordinary people, though extraordinary to me, ordinary christians in our time. They didn't die a torturous death for their belief in God, they didn't devote their life to great missionary works. Yet, we were sure they were with him. If they are, then certainly those who have led an obviously exempliary life, those the church canonizes by its great standards... certainly they are in Heaven.
I remember feeling a little foolish the first time I prayed to my patron saint, Bernadette. I thought I might feel like I was sort of cheating on Jesus. But as I prayed to Bernadette, it all became clear to me. I realized that I was talking to an angel on Earth as well as in heaven. I realized that she devoted her life to Christ that we may do the same. What joy it must bring God to hear me speak to this child of his that He created. This sister of mine in Christ that lived her life devoted totally to Him. To hear me ask her for guidance, knowing that she has compassion and wisdom. Just as I would ask a best friend for guidance. The difference is, Saint Bernadette is watching over me from Heaven. She is there with God. Her intercessions are proven in history!
I understand it now and the communion of saints gives me such comfort. It is not even logical to think God doesn't mean for us to have mentors on Earth. We don't worship the saints, we worship the very same God they worship.
It just makes sense and I'm so thankful to God, to my patron saint and to our Lady for opening my heart to this great wonder!
I wrote all of this because we have so many protestants who visit our site and I know it will be difficult for them to understand canonizing saints. I just wanted to share my personal experience. We've posted articles on the Communion of Saints so please read them over before you make a judgement. I pray every reader will open their hearts to the full love that Christ has to offer through this true church.
Peace and love,
Krista
That is really too bad you think people in heaven are omnipresent like God.
Posted by: Cris at May 28, 2005 12:18 AMChris,
We're just following Scripture. We believe that God enables those in heaven to be aware of everything on earth - the Bible states plainly that everyone in heaven rejoices over a single person returning to God. This is what we believe - what do you believe?
God bless,
Jay
I'm sorry to break it to you, you sound so sincere but thats actually idolatry!
Read the Bible, don't follow your heart and emotions that feel good, the Bible says the heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it? do you really want to trust a heart that is deceitfully wicked? trust the Word of God.
Isaiah 8:19
And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
1 Timothy 2:5
For there is ONE God and ONE Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus
Nuutele,
Is asking a friend to pray for you idolatry? If I were to ask you to pray for me, would you say "no way, 1Tim2:5 forbids it".
Posted by: Burnt Marshwiggle at May 24, 2007 10:58 AMhi im donny
i just think that its easier to talk to jesus by yourself but wen others pray for you it is also good but sense the saints are dead can they still pray because i thot they coudnt..
i think everyone is a saint if they just want to be but if they dont they dont have to be its just their choice to love me and you
if you are love God then its fine and you can just trust him to take care of you because i think its is dat easy..he cares about yor heart and havin a lot of peersons pray for u mite not be as good as jus having a good heart
i think this stuff is all true so thats why i said it
Posted by: donny at June 9, 2007 12:00 AMset aside a special day to honnor St. julia of Billiart?
Posted by: kayele at November 3, 2007 10:33 PM
