The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-04-26
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lD0GIRLMAEs SStsSssgeRs LTURGLCAL. \


to avoid abuses forbade those public
honors without the Church's approval,
as now required; CO and the causes
of martyrs for the faith.
/! In any of these causes there is fol-
lowed a double procedure, the first,
called the process or procedure of
| the Ordinary Or Bishop, of the place
where the coming saint died, and the
other, the Apostolic or Papal pro-
Fcedure," which is transacted in Rome
by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
The process of the Ordinary con-
sists: "a In collecting all the writ
ings of the candidate for sainthood;
GU in getting together all possible in
formation about the renown of sane
tity, the virtues in general Cor the
martyrdom and it's causes), and the
miracles, for all which eight unim-
peachable witnesses are required; 60
the proof of non-cult, for which also
four trustworthy witnesses are re-
CURED. These several documents are
then sent to Rome to the Sacred Con-
gregation of Rites.
The much longer procedure is, of
course, that of the Sacred Congrega-
ton, and it's decisions, after being dis
cussed and voted upon, must in all
instances be approved by the Pope
For greater clarity, we will bring out
the steps taken in the matter, which
are four:
Snryont of God -pofnrn rn1oiv
ing this title, the writings of the can
didate are examined, as to not con-
tanning anything against faith Or
morals. evidence as to his renown of
sanctity, virtues in general Cor mar
tyrdom), and miracles, gathered from
nary, is submitted: the fact of non
cult is proven. Thus the cause is
introduced"
2. Venerable. = This title, which
was formerly given when the cause
was introduced, is now bestowed only
when the following evidence is veri-
fed, viz: the heroicity of his virtues,
that is, of faith, hope and charity
and prudence, justice, fortitude and
temperance; this requires three differ
ent meetings of the Sacred Congre-
cation, called ante-preparatory, pre-
paratory and general. 1t must be
noted also that this step is taken only
fifty years after the death of the can
didate. For martyrs, whose death it.
self is heroic, no virtues are examined
but instead proof is adduced of true
martyrdom, as we'll on account of this
martyrs disposition as on account Of
the tyrant's purpose.
3. Blessed-For bestowal of this
title Or Identification, miracles only are
examined, in three similar meetings,
namely, ante-preparatory, preparatory
and general. Two miracles are re-
quired, or sometimes three and four
(for exceptional cases), and expert
physicians and scientific authorities
witness to them. Besides the Pope's
approval Of the miracles after the gen.
eral meeting, there is required the
decree so-called de tuto," stating
that it may now safely" be proceed
ed to the solemn Identification.
4. Saints.-Two miracles, obtained
after Qualification, are here required,
or three Tin exceptional causes of
saints honored of old. They are dis
cussed in three meetings, as above,
and if approved by the Pope and fol-
lowed by the decree of de tuto, also
as above, the solemn canonization
takes place at st. Peters in Rome,
and only afterwards in other parts Of
the Catholic world.
Exchange.