Links

• “Mother Teresa to be declared a saint September 4”
• “The Process of Beatification and Canonization”
• “Canonization 101”
• “Why does the Church Keep Canonizing Saints?

Suggested Readings (Middle and High School):

Canonization (Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 828)

By canonizing some of the faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in fidelity to God's grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and intercessors. "The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most difficult moments in the Church's history." Indeed, "holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal."

Christian Holiness (Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 2013-2014)

2013: "All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity." All are called to holiness: "Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ's gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.

2014: Spiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ. This union is called "mystical" because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments - "the holy mysteries" - and, in him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. God calls us all to this intimate union with him, even if the special graces or extraordinary signs of this mystical life are granted only to some for the sake of manifesting the gratuitous gift given to all.

Discussion Questions Part 1

Directions: Read the CNN article “Mother Teresa to be declared a saint September 4” and then answer the discussion questions.

1. What did Pope Francis state would happen on September 4th, 2016?
2. What is the significance of this date?
3. In December, Pope Francis announced the recognition of a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Mother Teresa after her death. What was that miracle?
4. When was Mother Teresa beatified, and by whom?
5. What was the first recognized miracle attributed to Mother Teresa’s intercession after her death?
6. Where and was Mother Teresa born? What was her birth name?
7. After joining an Irish Convent at the age of 18, where did Mother Teresa go and what did she do there initially?
8. Twenty years later, what did Mother Teresa feel a calling from Jesus to do? How did she respond to this calling?
9. What did Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity do?
10. When was Mother Teresa’s cause for canonization begun? What was unique about the beginning of her cause for canonization?

Discussion Questions Part 2

Directions: Read the EWTN article “The Process of Beatification and Canonization” and then answer the discussion questions.

1. Normally, when does the process of documenting the life and virtues of a holy person begin? Why?
2. On how many occasions has the waiting period been waived by a pope? For whom? Who petitions the Holy See (the Vatican or Rome) to begin a Cause for Beatification and Canonization?
3. Once a Cause for Beatification and Canonization has been approved, what is the potential future saint called?
4. What are the two steps that must occur during the Servant of God phase of the process? Briefly summarize what happens in each.
5. If it is decided to continue with the Cause for Beatification and Canonization after all of the research and voting, what title is the person given?
6. What must occur during this phase in order for the cause to continue? What is this considered a sign of?
7. A scientific commission and a theological commission are established to continue the investigation. What does each commission do?
8. What does the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints do during this phase?
9. What is unique about the process for martyrs?
10. Upon the approval of a first miracle by the pope, what title is the person given?
11. The rite of becoming a blessed is called beatification and is conducted by the pope.
12. What may occur after the beatification?
13. After a second miracle is approved using the same process as before, what is the person declared and how does the pope do so?
14. What does it mean that the pope does not make a person a saint?
15. What may happen if the saint has some universal appeal?

Reflection Questions

Directions: Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church nos. 828 and 2013-2014 and then
answer the reflection questions.

1. Why does the Church canonize some of the faithful? How is the way you lead your life a model for others to follow?
2. Intercessory prayer is a type of prayer where we ask the saints in heaven to pray for us—or intercede—for us. What are some ways you can be an intercessor for friends and loved ones?
3. CCC 828 says “holiness is the hidden source and infallible measure of her (the Church’s) apostolic activity and missionary zeal.” In other words, holiness is the source and measure of the work of the Church to make of all people disciples of Jesus Christ. In what ways do you participate in the work of the Church? In what ways can you become more involved in the work of the Church?
4. CCC 2013 and 2014 make clear that, like the saints, we are all called to holiness. How is this holiness described in these two passages from the Catechism? Do you think it’s easy or difficult to respond to God’s call to be holy? Why?
5. What are three specific ways that you can strive to be holy in your own life?

Suggested Answers

Discussion Questions Part 1

1. Mother Teresa would be canonized a saint.
2. It is the eve of Mother Teresa’s death on September 5th, 1997.
3. A Brazilian man with multiple brain tumors was miraculously healed after his loved ones prayed for Mother Teresa’ intercession.
4. In 2003 by Pope Saint John Paul II.
5. A woman in Kolkata was cured of a stomach tumor after praying for Mother Teresa’s intercession.
6. Mother Teresa was born Gonxha Agnes in Albania in 1910.
7. She went to Kolkata, India and taught at St. Mary’s School for Girls.
8. She felt called by Jesus to care for the poor. She responded to this calling by founding a religious order called the Missionaries of Charity who serve the poor.
9. They serve the poor by washing the wounded and caring for the sick and dying.
10. It was begun two years after her death (1999). This is unique because Pope Saint John Paul II waived the usual five-year waiting period.

Discussion Questions Part 2

1. Five years after their death to insure that the person has an enduring reputation of holiness among the faithful.
2. Twice, for Mother Teresa and for Pope Saint John Paul II.
3. The bishop of the diocese in which the person died.
4. Servant of God.
5. Diocesan Tribunal: Testimony regarding the life and virtue of the person must be gathered along with all of the person’s public and private writings. These must be examined and a determination made regarding the evidence of the person’s virtue and holiness. This may take many years. Once a determination has been made, it is reported to the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints and all of the documentation is handed over to them. Congregation for the Cause of the Saints: A Relator is chosen to head the rest of the process. This person creates a summary of the life and virtues of the person and presents it to a commission who then votes on whether to recommend the cause. Their recommendation is then given to a board of cardinals, archbishops, and bishops who vote on whether to continue the cause and. Their vote is then sent to the Pope, who makes the final decision of whether to continue with the Cause for Beatification and Canonization.
6. Venerable.
7. A miracle must be attributed to the person after their death must be approved. This is considered evidence of the intercessory power of the person and thus union with God after death.
8. The scientific commission determines if there is a natural explanation for the miracle. The theological commission determines if the miracle can be attributed to God and the intercession of the person who cause for beatification and canonization is being investigated.
9. After the initial investigation into the proposed miracle, the Congregation for the Cause of the Saints establishes their own scientific and theological commissions to verify the earlier findings. Their determination is handed to a general meeting of Congregation member, and then given to the pope.
10. The determination of a first miracle is waived for martyrs because their martyrdom is considered a miracle of grace.
11. Blessed.
12. Veneration of the person may occur on a local or regional level.
13. The pope declares the person a Saint through a rite called canonization. The person is declared a Saint in the Church.
14. The pope does not make a person a saint. Rather, the person is officially declared to be with God in heaven and is an example of following Christ worthy of imitation.
15. Their feast day may be added to the general calendar of the Church as a memorial or optional memorial.