The Process of Canonization

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 30 January 1908, Page 30

The Process of Canonization

Our readers (says the New York ' Freeman's -Journal ') who are unacquainted with the form's observed by the Church in the canonization ' of her most saintly sons and daughters will be interested ' to learn what j they are. During the middle ages, the five following methods were adopted in the canonization of saints :—l.: — 1. The Popes pronounced the decrees for the canonization ofsaints, in minor or in general Councils, or with the , advice of the Fathers cf the Council, out of the Council itself. 2. The Popes often issued these decrees with the! assistance of Cardinals and Bishops. ,• ■ ' 3. After the whole process or examination taken in the cause had been submitted to certain auditors of . the Rota, called the Pope's chaplains, or to other . pious or learned persons, it was presented to- the Consistory in. which the linal decision was pronounced. 4. In addition to the previous examination by the auditors of the Rota, the process was inquired into by a Cardinal and afterwards by the Consistory. 5. Instead of one Cardinal, there were sometimes substituted a Cardinal Bishoip, a Cardinal Priest, and a. Cardinal Deacon. At the present day a Congregation of Rites, con-posed of several Cardinals, undertake the office of ' ponents ' or reporters in the cause, assisted by a protonotary and a secretary, the promoter 'and the sub-promoter of the Faith, consultors, auditors of the Rota, advocates (including the ' Devil's Advocate ' or 'Public Prosecutor'), physicians, "surgeons, an archivist, and interpreters of the processes, if they ' are written in a foreign idiom. v The duty of the Secretary is to prepare reports on the case, submit 4;hem to the Pope, and publish the decrees issued by his Holiness at each stage of the proceedings. Causes of Canonization - concern either martyrs or confessors. The Holy *.See never receives or entertains any cause, unless it can bo shown that the servant of Gcd enjoyed a reputation for sanctity of an extraordinary kind, or for having performed miracles, and that no veneration has been paid to him on this account. If the saintly person has left any writings or any printed works, tiieseare submitted to the Cardinal-investigators for close examination and study. If it -be found that they contain nothing contrary to faith or ir orals, -the ' commission to taKe up the cause ' is signed and the process of enquiry is duly begun. The next step is to ha.ye letters, called ' remissorials,' addressed to the bishops of the dioceses^ in which investigation as to the holy man's life is being made, such letters soliciting proofs of the fact of miracles having been performed by the servant of God, as well as attestation of his real sanctity. In the case cf miracles asserted to have been performed, 50 years must have elapsed between the death of the candidate and the first steps for his canonization. The examination of the cause is usually proposed in . the form of. a doubt as to whether the servant of . God possessed the theological and cardinal virtues in s : a' heroic degree, and untii this has been decided in Jiisi favor, the question respecting the miracles said tahaive been wrought through his intercession cannot be entertained. When the Pope has received the votes of the consultors and the Cardinals, he requests all present to join with him in prayer to ask for light upon his deliberations. A decree directing the 1 process of canr onization to begin is only signed by the Pope when the validity of the claims has been sanctioned by three committees of Cardinals. Two-thirds of their suffrages must be in favor "of the cause before it can be _proceeded with. The ' devil's advocate ' must be consulted at every stage of the case, and it is Ms bounden duty to bring forward every objection possible that he may deem fit agp.inst the proofs of the virtues and , miracles of the candidates for canonization. This to. safeguard the interests of the Church, of course. His arguments are set down in writing, ' and the ' other advocates or postulators prepare their reply, showing that the candidate is entirely worthy. Beatification is decreed in case the miracles and sanctity, of " the , servant of God are fully proved. Two miracles are re- ■ quired before beatification and two more which have •taken place since, before canonization. A special secret/ Consistory is then summoned by the Pope, who so- , 3iclts votes from the Cardinals, each writing Placet (it , pleases) or Non Placet (it does not please), as the case may be. E.ven subsequently to that a semi-public Consistory is convened, at which the Cardinals, fatri"archs, and bishops in Rome are entitled to vote. Fimal-

ly, the-'solemnizaticn of -the 'canonization 'is ' announced which duly takes place, when Hie Papal decree is "read "from the High Aitar in the Sistine Chanel by a Cardinal appointed "by the Pope. ' . Here is' what an English Protestant historian has to -'say. of canonization.: "To any unprejudiced -"mindTit 1 will appear that the greatest care is taken in the process, of canonization and that nothing is admitted which bears on it the least* possible mark of doubt, in reference tq the proofs which are required in the process. When the iriracles of the saints are to be .examined, physicians and surgeons are consulted by - the Congregation, and their .opinion is required on this point,, "if they could "have been performed by natural .means," .which would obviate the process.,. . The circumstance has been often related of -an English gentleman who, when in Rome, was given to read by • a well-known prelate, a " process " containing proof si which had been, adduced in bebalf of several miracles. On "reading them, he said: "If all the miracles! , which are accepted by the Church were established an this basis, -you would " never;, be charged "with anakingr the people give credit to pretended piracies." "But," answered the prelate, " none of these you have read • has been admitted by the Congregation as having been sufficiently proived." ' " - ', ,