No, an individual cannot be canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church while they are still alive; this revered status is exclusively granted posthumously.
Canonization is the formal process by which the Roman Catholic Church declares a deceased person to be a saint, officially recognizing their heroic virtue and sanctity, and proposing them as a model for the faithful. The journey to sainthood is a meticulous process that begins only after a person's death.
The Posthumous Nature of Sainthood
For an individual to become a saint, and thus be canonized, their life must be thoroughly examined. This rigorous investigation assesses their adherence to the teachings of the church and their embodiment of virtues. The status of sainthood is bestowed solely after death, a fundamental principle of the canonization process.
Path to Canonization: A Virtuous Life
While canonization itself occurs posthumously, the foundation for it is laid during one's lifetime through exemplary conduct. To achieve this venerated status, a person must have led a life of heroic virtue, strictly in accordance with the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church. This includes consistently demonstrating profound charity, unwavering faith, enduring hope, and other Christian virtues throughout their earthly existence.
The process typically involves several stages, often initiated years after a person's passing:
- Servant of God: The initial stage, where the local bishop opens an investigation into the deceased person's life and virtues.
- Venerable: If the investigation proves the person lived a life of "heroic virtue," they are declared Venerable.
- Beatification: Requires a verified miracle attributed to the intercession of the Venerable person, leading to their declaration as "Blessed."
- Canonization: Requires a second verified miracle (post-beatification) attributed to the Blessed person's intercession. Upon verification, the Pope officially declares the person a saint, and they are then publicly venerated throughout the universal Church.
| Key Requirement for Canonization | Details |
|---|---|
| Timing | Exclusively granted after death. The individual must have passed away before the canonization process can even formally begin. |
| Virtuous Life | The candidate must have led a "heroically virtuous life," demonstrating extraordinary adherence to Christian principles and church teachings. This includes virtues like charity, faith, and hope, lived out in an exemplary manner. |
| Miracles | Typically, two verified miracles attributed to the candidate's intercession are required (one for beatification, a second for canonization), though martyrs may be exempt from the first miracle. These miracles must be medically inexplicable and spiritually attributed to the intercession of the person after their death. |
| Public Veneration | Once canonized, a saint is worthy of universal veneration by the faithful, and churches can be dedicated in their name. Their feast day is added to the Church's liturgical calendar, signifying their recognized holiness and powerful intercession within the Catholic Church. |
This structured process ensures that only those whose lives have profoundly reflected the teachings and virtues of the Church, and whose intercession has been demonstrably powerful, are recognized as saints.
Learn more about the canonization process from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Explore more about the saints and their significance in the Catholic Church
