What does it take to be declared a saint in the Catholic Church? What’s the difference between Venerable and Blessed? We’re breaking down the process and highlighting some holy Michiganders.
The Path to Sainthood
The bishop of a diocese opens an official investigation into the life of a deceased individual — collecting evidence from the individual’s writings and witness testimonies.
This process cannot begin until at least five years have passed since the individual died, though this waiting period can be waived by the pope, which it was in the causes of Pope St. John Paul II and Mother St. Teresa.
SERVANT OF GOD: If there is enough evidence the individual lived an exemplary life of holiness and virtue, the bishop sends a proposal to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. If the congregation feels there is sufficient evidence and agrees to open the cause, the individual will officially be known as a “Servant of God”.
VENERABLE: If the congregation finds there is enough evidence that the individual’s holiness and example by life and work are sufficient to draw people closer to Christ, they refer the case to the pope. If the pope believes there is enough evidence to conclude the individual lived a life of “heroic virtue” the individual is officially known as a “Venerable.”
BLESSED: What qualifies as holy enough for beatification? Martyrdom, a life of heroic virtue, offering of life (added by Pope Francis in 2017) and, very rarely, exceptional cases. In order to be called “Blessed,” a miracle (usually a healing) must be attributed to prayers made after their death, though a martyr can be beatified without a verified miracle.
The healing has to be instantaneous, permanent and complete, while also being scientifically unexplainable. Miracles have to be first verified as scientifically unexplainable by a group of independent doctors, then the person is approved by a panel of theologians, and then the final approval lies with the pope.
SAINT: Once an individual has been beatified, they must have another miracle attributed to prayers for their intercession, occurring after their beatification Mass. The pope is the only person who can perform a canonization ceremony.
Miracles being granted via an individual’s intercession are used as proof of sanctity because it is believed that they must already be in heaven, and thus a saint, in order for them to intercede with God on others’ behalf. Technically, the pope does not “make” someone a saint — rather the process is designed to honor individuals who are already in heaven.
SERVANT OF GOD IRVING “FRANCIS” C. HOULE
In June 2019, the Diocese of Marquette announced the official opening of the cause of Irving “Francis” C. Houle, who died in 2009 at the age of 83. While he felt close to Jesus his entire life and experienced a miraculous healing after a childhood accident, it was on Good Friday 1993 that he first began receiving stigmata, reportedly enduring the Passion every night between midnight and 3 a.m. for the rest of his life. He said he heard the voice of Jesus asking him to heal “my children” and spent his remaining 16 years praying over tens of thousands of people — many of whom experienced extraordinary physical and spiritual healing.
VENERABLE BISHOP BARAGA
Bishop Frederic Baraga, the founding bishop of the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie (now Marquette), was named “Venerable” in 2012. Often called the “snowshoe priest,” he was born in Slovenia and arrived in America in 1830, where he spent almost 40 years ministering to the Great Lakes region, including learning the Native languages and eventually writing 20 Native American books. Purported miracles attributed to Venerable Baraga’s intercession are currently under investigation.
BLESSED FATHER SOLANUS CASEY, OFM CAP.
A beatification Mass in November 2017 brought together close to 70,000 faithful in Detroit’s Ford Field, including hundreds of pilgrims from the Diocese of Kalamazoo. Blessed Solanus Casey was known as a humble, simple man who wanted only to serve others. He served as a “doorkeeper” at Capuchin monasteries in New York and Indiana before ultimately landing in Detroit, where the Solanus Casey Center draws thousands of pilgrims each year. He died in 1957 and is currently one verified miracle away from being recognized for his sainthood.
ST. KATHARINE DREXEL
Even though she’s not a Michigander, St. Katharine Drexel is one of only three American-born saints. She was born into one of Philadelphia’s wealthiest families in 1858. She was raised in a devout Catholic family and her parents emphasized using their wealth to do more than write a check. She traveled often with her family and was particularly moved by the need of Native Americans in the West. Despite various marriage proposals and great wealth, she joined the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh and later founded her own religious congregation, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, who were dedicated to ministering to African Americans in the South and Native Americans in the West. She used her $20 million inheritance to build a dozen schools for Native Americans and more than 100 rural and inner-city schools for African Americans. She died in 1955 and was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2000.