Canonization

"All the Christian faithful must direct their efforts to lead a holy life and to promote the growth of the Church and its continual sanctification, according to their own condition" (Can. 210).

To "canonize" a saint means to recognize that God has sanctified them, giving them virtues that the faithful may admire and imitate. The act of canonization places the saint's name on the official list (canon) of those whom the Church has found to be worthy of veneration; it does not cause them to be saints, but it does cause them to be recognized as saints.

Links

• Congregation for the Causes of Saints -- "Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum."
• History of the Congregation.
• "Sanctorum Mater" -- Instruction for conducting diocesan or eparchial Inquiries in the causes of Saints (2007).
• "Divinus Perfectionis Magister" -- Apostolic Constitution (1983).
• "New Laws for the Causes of Saints" -- Congregation for the Causes of Saints (1983).
• "Making Saints" -- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.