Saints+and+the+Canonization+Process

Some lesson ideas: Students can research the process of canonization (some resources included). Students can choose individual saints to research. Students can learn about **Cornelia’s** cause for sainthood.
 * Lesson on Saints/Canonization Process **

**Saints and Canonization** in general Canonization, the process the Church uses to name a saint, has only been used since the tenth century. For hundreds of years, starting with the first martyrs of the early Church, saints were chosen by public acclaim. Though this was a more democratic way to recognize saints, some saints' stories were distorted by legend and some never existed. Gradually, the bishops and finally the Vatican took over authority for approving saints. In 1983, Pope John Paul II made sweeping changes in the canonization procedure. The process begins after the death of a Catholic whom people regard as holy. Often, the process starts many years after death in order give perspective on the candidate. The local bishop investigates the candidate's life and writings for heroic virtue (or martyrdom) and orthodoxy of doctrine. Then a panel of theologians at the Vatican evaluates the candidate. After approval by the panel and cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the pope proclaims the candidate "venerable." The next step, beatification, requires evidence of one miracle (except in the case of martyrs). Since miracles are considered proof that the person is in heaven and can intercede for us, the miracle must take place after the candidate's death and as a result of a specific petition to the candidate. When the pope proclaims the candidate beatified or "blessed," the person can be venerated by a particular region or group of people with whom the person holds special importance. Only after one more miracle will the pope canonize the saint (this includes martyrs as well). The title of saint tells us that the person lived a holy life, is in heaven, and is to be honored by the universal Church. Canonization does not "make" a person a saint; it recognizes what God has already done. Though canonization is infallible and irrevocable, it takes a long time and a lot of effort. So while every person who is canonized is a saint, not every holy person has been canonized. You have probably known many "saints" in your life, and you are called by God to be one yourself. - from Catholic Online []
 * Some Resources: **
 * Catholic Online: Frequently Asked Questions about Saints **
 * How does the Church choose saints? **

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 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Religion Facts: Canonization of Saints **

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 * <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Vatican Website: Congregation for the Causes of Saints **<span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[|Sanctorum Mater - Instruction for conducting diocesan or eparchial Inquiries in the causes of Saints (May 17, 2007)] <span style="font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">[]

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Copies can be ordered from St Anthony Messenger Press <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">This Catholic Update is also available online //[]//
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Catholic Update **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">, SAINTS: Holy and Human C1098by Michael D. Guinan, O.F.M.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cornelia and Sainthood **

//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“It is for the glory of God that we should be saints. God wills what is for his glory. Therefore God will us to be saints. God wills me to be a saint. I will be a saint. Therefore I will be a saint.” //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 13px;">Cornelia Connelly 29:23

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Cornelia Connelly was declared Venerable Cornelia Connelly in 1992.

//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Actions //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Fall/Winter 2011, “Cornelia’s Cause for Canonization” (page 12) []

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 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Prayer to Obtain the Beatification of the Venerable Cornelia Connelly **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> O God, who chose Cornelia Connelly to found the Society of the Holy Child Jesus,

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> inspiring her to follow the path marked out by your divine son, obedient from the crib

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> to the cross, let us share her faith, her obedience and her unconditional trust in the power

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> of your love.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Grant us the favor we now implore through her intercession…

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> and be please to glorify, even on earth, your faithful servant, through the same

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Christ our Lord.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Amen


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Book Resource **

//<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Making Saints: How the Catholic Church Determines Who Becomes a Saint, Who Doesn’t, and Why //

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">By Kenneth L. Woodward

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">A Touchstone Book Published by Simon and Schuster, 1990, 1996


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">For background information on process of canonization in the Catholic Church refer to… **


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Preface **


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Introduction **

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Chapter Two**: Saints, Their Cuts and Canonization

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">**Chapter Three**: The Saint-Makers


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Chapter Eight: The Harmonics of Holiness: Interpreting the Life of Grace **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Woodward devotes this entire chapter to Cornelia Connelly