The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-07-21
PROCESS Of (ANONIzADON Of A
SAINT BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

AS not few Catholics are un
der the very false impression tha
the canonization of a saint, by the
church. is a matter of sudden decl
sion, or is regulated by the whim OF
circumstances, and as a. goodly mum
Der of Catholics have not the faintes
idea of the length of time 1t takes
and all the procedure that must bt
observed before one of the departed
can be raised to our affairs, we viii
translate for the general benef1t anc
instruction of our readers - a very
ConSice clear and exact account ol
the canoniZation forms and proceed
ings, as described in a recent issue o
La Semaine Religieuse. This eXpl1cl
article reads thus:
"A Christian dies with reputa'
ton for eminent sanctity. When pub
lie pety, after the lapse of seVera
years maintains that reputation, the
bishop opens d process, or examlna'
ton, in regard to the edifying life
that has left such memories. He es'
tablishes a tribunal. summons wit
nesses, collects a record, signs 1t
seals it. and actresses it to Rome.
He secures the assistance of two
persons, before the Congregation OF
Rites: a representative, generally ar
ecclesiastic, who is to superintenc
a lawyer, often a layman, who is tC
draw up the various documents neces-
sary for the different phases of the pro-
cedure.
"By first, or preliminary decree
authorizes the opening of the sealed
package sent by the bishop. The first
thing done is to make a copy of the
record. translated into Italian. The
lawyer then takes the first steps: he
age in question, a summary of his (o1
herr virtues, and synopsis of the epis-
copal inquiry; he gathers together al
the letters that ask for the canoniza-
ton. This work, which generally forms
a large volume, is handed over to pre-
late promoter of the faith
THE latter fulfils the duties of pub
lie minister-or as we would call him
crown attorney; with the assistance OF
a sub-Dromoter, he carefully and mi
nutely Sits the synopsis given him by
the lawyer: he criticizes the virtues OF
the parsonage in question, and contests
their eXecutionaI eminence. This plea
or reply, in its turn constitutes a large
volume. The lawyer responds, defends
the virtues thus attacked, denies the
force of the arguments advanced; some
cases give rise to historical litigation
The promoter of the Faith may reply
again; but If he deems 1t unnecessary,
the preparatory part of the process is
ended
ITO the productions of the promoter
and the lawyer, if required. is added
the report of a counsel on the writings
of the parsonage in question. The con-
gregation has general assembly; it
decides upon the introduction of the
cause Cor prOcess) of the servant of
God. Ten years, at least, must have
passed since the opening of the case.
The decision is approved of by the
Pope; if it be a favorable one, the per-
sonage has the right to the title of
Venerable; the first stage is thus
passed.
Then commences the apostolic pro-
ceedingS. Examination is made. in the
first place, to find out if the candidate
for sanctity has not heretofore been
an object of public generation or devo-
ton: if SO. his Cor herr case would be
compromised; premature public devo-
ton is considered by the Holy See as a
usurpation on the part of the faithful.
The promoter of the faith raises all
the objections, and then the process de
non cultu' is decided by the congrega-
ton. The second proceeding refers to
the fame, or reputation, of the saint,
super famam sanctitatis;' this gives