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Show If (BS I (MIIHII DF S SSI BY I (IIHK (1(1 As not a few non-Catholics are un-! un-! der the very false impression that the canonization of a saint, by the church, is a matter of sudden decision, deci-sion, or is regulated by the whim of circumstances, and as a. goodly number num-ber of Catholics have not the faintest idea of the length of time it takes and all the procedure that must be observed before one of the departed can be raised to our altars, we will translate for the general benefit and instruction of our readers a verv consice, clear and exact account of the canonization forms and proceedings, proceed-ings, as described in a recent issue of La Semaine Religieuse. This explicit article reads thus: "A Christian dies with a. reputation reputa-tion for eminent sanctity. When public pub-lic piety, after the lapse of several years, maintains that reputation, the bishop opens a process, or examination, examina-tion, in regard to the edifying life that has left such memories. He establishes es-tablishes a tribunal, summons witnesses, wit-nesses, collects a record, signs it, seals it, and adresses it to Rome. He secures the assistance of two persons, before the Congregation of Rites: a representative, generally an ecclesiastic, who is to superintend anrt pusn torwara tne process: ?.nu a lawyer, often a layman, who is to draw up the various documents necessary neces-sary for the different phases of the procedure. pro-cedure. "By a first, or preliminary decree, authorizes the opening of the sealed j package sent by. the bishop. The first j thing done is to make a copy of the record, translated into Italian. The j lawyer then takes the first steps: he. writes out a life of the saintly person- age in question, a summary of his (or I her) virtues, and a synopsis of the epis- j copal inquiry; he gathers together all j the letters that ask for the canonization. canoniza-tion. This work, which generally forms a large volume, is handed over to prelate pre-late 'promoter of the faith.' "The latter fulfils the duties of pub- ! lie minister or as we would call him crown attorney; with the assistance of a sub-promoter, he carefully and mi- j nutely sifts the synopsis given him by j the lawyer: he criticizes the virtues of the personage in question, and contests i their executional eminence. This plea, ! or reply, in its turn constitutes a large j volume. The lawyer responds, defends j the virtues thus attacked, denies the force of the arguments advanced: some! cases give rise to historical litigation, j The promoter of the Faith may rep'-v ; again; but if he deems it unnecessary,! the preparatory part of the process is ended. "To the productions of the promoter and the lawyer, if required, is added the report of a counsel on the writings of the personage in question. The congregation con-gregation has a general assembly; it decides upon the introduction of the cause (or process) of the servant of God. Ten years, at least, must have passed since the opening of the case. The decision is approved of by the Pope; if it be a favorable one, the personage per-sonage has the right to the title of Venerable; the first stage is thus passed. "Then commences the apostolic proceedings. pro-ceedings. Examination is made, in the first place, to find out if the candidate for sanctity has not theretofore been an object of public veneration or devotion: devo-tion: If so, his (or , her) case would be compromised: premature public devotion devo-tion is considered by the Holy See as a ' usurpation on the part of the faithful. ! The promoter of the faith raises alii the objections, and then the process 'de non cultu' is decided by the congregation. congrega-tion. The second proceeding Tefers tc the fame, or reputation, of the saint, 'super famam sanctitatis;' this gives j I rise to a fresh general discussion in which the promoter and the lawyer plead their respective cases again. When the congregation considers itself it-self fully enlightened oh the subject it comes to two more detailed proceedings; proceed-ings; at this point at least fifty years must have elapsed since the death of j i the saint: only in the cases of martyrs are there sometimes certain relaxing? of these rigorous rules. The first of these proceedings has reference to the virtues; their degree of hereoicness is examined. The other deals with the two miracles mir-acles which the Congregation of j Rites deems necessary for a beatification; beatifica-tion; their authenticity, reality, and I effect are criticised. The insistance of i the promoter of the Faith may cause the rigor of these examinations to be . modified, or even to stop them. I When the end of these examinations is approaching, the virtues are studied , by three congregations. The first one, , called "ante-preparatory." is held at ; the residence of the Cardinal reporter ! of the case. The second, called "preparatory." "pre-paratory." consists of all the cardinals of the Congregation of Rites, before whom the consulters bring their vote. The third, called "general," is held in ' presence of the Pope; he hears the votes of the consultors, and of the cardinals, car-dinals, and reserves to himself the pub-, pub-, lication after a few days, of the de- cree establishing the heroicness of the virtues. These three congregations follow each other in the same order regarding the miracles; and the Pope, if deemed proper, crowns them with a decree affirming af-firming that the two miracles testify to the power of God's servant. A last general congregation is assembled, as-sembled, and is called the Congregation "de tuto." "Can we safely proceed to the beatification? An tuto procedi passit ad beatificationem?" Such the question asked. For a last time the Pope gathers together the opinions. At that point these opinions are naturally favorable; a pontificial brkf. a few-days few-days later, announces the beatification. From "Venerable" the personage in question becomes "Blessed." On the day fixed for the ceremony, in the loggia over the facade of St. Peter's, all the Congregation of Rites assembles. Before the mass the secretary secre-tary of the Congregation reads the Pontificial decree. Immediately above the altar the portrait of the saint; so far hidden by a veil, is exhibited, and the newly beatified appears with a halo. In the afternoon the Pope goes to the loggia to officially venerate him for her). These ceremonies , take place at St. Peter's. After the beatification should the "postulateur" learn of fresh miracles, he at once demands that the Congregation Congre-gation again take up the matter. The lawyer and the promoter of the Faith make a study of these firacles. If the former wins, the Pope, on a report of the Congregation of Rites, declares by a decree that there is reason for carrying carry-ing the ease to canonization. He then convokes three consistories: in the first one, which is secret, he secures se-cures the opinions of all the cardinals; in 'the second, which is public, the lawyer explains, in the presence of the Pope, the Cardinals, the Archbishoys and the Bishops, the titles of the saint to canonization: in the third, half public, pub-lic, the Cardinals. Archbishops and Bishops cast their votes for a last time. A few days later at St. Peter's the Pope sings pontificially the Mass, and personally reads at the Gospel the bull of canonization. The blessed one has become a saint; the homage that Is ordained or-dained for him (or her) for all time to come binds the entire world. |