While this blog is not sympathetic at all to Mrs. Arroyo's falling out of grace from public opinion, it was very poor taste indeed, that a few people used the Cause of Canonization as another platform to launch their political assault. To give the benefit of the doubt, it might just be the result of ignorance regarding certain procedures and even teachings of the Catholic Church. Let this post be a little catechesis.
The process of declaring a deceased Christian to be saint was originally quite informal, but became increasingly regulated over the centuries and is now defined by canon law. The steps for becoming a saint are as follows:
1. Usually between 5 and 50 years after a would-be saint's death, a formal request made to consider person as saint. The group making the request, called the Actor Causae, consists of people from the candidate's church and community, and the request is directed to the bishop of the diocese where the person died. The request includes testimony of the person's exceptional virtue and dedication to God.
2. The bishop decides whether the evidence is compelling enough to take it to Rome. If so, he asks the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for permission to open the cause.
5. A summary called the Positio is presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
7. If they approve, the Prefect of the Congregation authorizes the person to be called Venerable.
9. The pope declares beatification or canonization at a special Mass in the saint's honor.
Click the prayer card for a legible view.




