How to become a saint

Anyone can

become a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, but this status is only granted after death. Furthermore, to achieve this beatified status, one must lead a heroically virtuous life, in the strictest accord with the teachings of the church, embracing charity, faith, hope and other virtues. One must also perform miracles during their life and either be martyred in the name of their religion, or be responsible for miracles posthumously.

The canonisation procedure must begin at least five years after a person’s death.

However, the Pope can make exceptions to this rule, as in the case of Mother Teresa, who became a candidate only two years after her death.

The process of canonisation can be divided into four stages:

Servant of God

Heroically virtuous

A formal request for an individual to be considered for sainthood is submitted to a special Vatican tribunal.

The request must explain how the person lived a life of holiness, pureness, kindness and devotion.

If the candidate meets the requirements, the tribunal officially recognises this person to be a Servant of God.

The tribunal report is sent to the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican.

The Congregation, comprised of theologians, cardinals, archbishops and bishops, studies the person’s life and writings to ensure they are in line with the teachings of the church.

The candidate must be found to possess four cardinal virtues and three theological virtues to be declared venerable and of heroic virtue.

Prudence

Justice

Temperance

Courage

Faith

Hope

Charity

Theological

MOTHER TERESA WAS BEATIFIED IN 2003.

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