Canonization is the act by which the church declares a person a saint. It is a formal process in the Catholic Church. The person is added to the canon, the list of saints. They are recognized as holy. They are worthy of veneration. They can be prayed to. They are examples of faith. The process is long and rigorous.

The process begins at the local level. A bishop investigates a candidate. They look for evidence of heroic virtue. They look for miracles. The evidence goes to the Vatican. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints reviews it. If approved, the person is declared Venerable. Then Beatified. Then Canonized. Two miracles are usually required. One for beatification. One for canonization. The miracles are examined by doctors and scientists. They must be inexplicable by natural means.

Steps to canonization

• Servant of God: the process begins.
• Venerable: heroic virtue is recognized.
• Blessed: one miracle is verified.
• Saint: a second miracle is verified.
• Canonization: the pope declares sainthood.

Canonization is not a declaration that the person was perfect. It is a declaration that they are in heaven. They lived a life of holiness. They are worthy of imitation. The saints are not gods. They are not worshiped. They are venerated. They are asked to pray for us. They are our brothers and sisters. They are our models. They are our friends in heaven. Canonization is the church's way of saying: this person is with God. Follow their example. Ask for their prayers. Be inspired by their faith. The saints are a cloud of witnesses. They encourage us. They pray for us. They wait for us. Canonization is the door. It opens the way to devotion. It opens the way to hope.