Do u believe the cananization of Saints is OUR business? I mean, who are we to say who's in heaven and who's not in heaven? I thought that was for God alone to decide...
2007-06-06 12:52:45 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This doesn't mean we can't "assume" people are in heaven though.
2007-06-06 12:53:48 · update #1
You are a bit confused about the canonization of saints.
Saints are people in heaven or on their way to heaven. All Christians dead and alive are saints.
The Catholic Church selects some of the most extraordinary examples, does in-depth research, and canonizes them.
Canonization is the solemn declaration by the Pope that a deceased member of the faithful may be proposed as a model and intercessor (not mediator) to the Christian faithful on the basis of the fact that the person lived a life of heroic virtue or remained faithful to God through martyrdom.
Here is the modern method of canonization:
In order to allow greater objectivity and less emotion, no petition for sainthood can be made until at least 5 years after the candidate’s death.
+ Diocesan Investigation +
A diocese, parish, religious congregation, or association asks the bishop of the diocese in which the candidate died to open the investigation. After Vatican approval, the bishop forms a diocesan tribunal.
Witnesses are called before the tribunal to recount the candidate’s heroic exercise of Christian virtues. All documents regarding the candidate must be gathered.
At this point he is entitled to the title of Servant of God.
+ Vatican Investigation +
All documentation is passed on to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican.
The cause undergoes an examination by nine theologians.
If passed, the cause is for examined by the Congregation.
If passed, the cause is presented to the Pope for approval. A decree is published and read publicly.
+ Beatification +
A miracle attributed to the Servant of God is necessary.
The miracle must be proven through an appropriate investigation and another decree is issued.
Then the Pope decides on beatification.
With beatification, the candidate receives the title of Blessed.
+ Canonization +
Another miracle occurring after beatification is needed for canonization (sainthood), attributed to the Blessed’s intercession.
This miracle must again be proven through an appropriate investigation.
Papal infallibility is involved with canonization.
The Blessed acquires the title of Saint.
+ With love in Christ.
2007-06-09 17:38:19 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All the canonization of saints is is a public recognition of someone who we have no doubt is in heaven. The recognition has nothing to do wit them getting into heaven or not recognizing them has nothing to with them not getting into heaven.
We just recognize SOME (very few) of the saints God makes. Catholics never claim to make Saints, just unknowing people claim we do.
Read up on the causation for saints.
2007-06-06 19:58:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is not our business to decide for ourselves who is in heaven and who is not.
The Church, is infallible and supernatural. The pope and bishops in communion with him can teach infallibly on matters of Faith and Morals. The Church has the God-given Authority to discern some of those who have gone to heaven.
The reason the Church can beatify saints is to exemplify the lives of those who lived Christ-like lives. They are role models for us to follow. The beatification of saints also proves that all people, from all walks of life, from all professions and trades, can find God and do His Work.
From a logical perspective, how can the Church claim we will go to heaven if we live Christ-like lives if the Church cannot provide "proof" that righteous souls do indeed gone to heaven?
2007-06-07 09:52:14 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus told Peter "You are the rock upon which I will build my Church. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loose in Heaven, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven" Essentially Jesus gave Peter the keys to Heaven and they have been passed down through all the popes since that day.
2007-06-12 22:21:27 · answer #4 · answered by Smarter than the average bear 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yikes. There's gonna be alot of devout Catholics thinking they are sheep, when they are really goats.
When the time comes, God is the only one who separates the sheep from the goats, just and fair. There is no man alive that can testify what only God can do.
Man doesn't determine the pecking order of God's Chosen. Any man who does think he can is too prideful to believe:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" -- Romans 3:23 NIV
2007-06-06 20:05:30 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. G™ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well I believe God decides who is there and who is not and I don't think the canonization process determines if a person is there or not but, it just confirms it so the faithful may feel free to pray to this person for interceding.
CMO your two cents worth are not even worth that
2007-06-06 20:06:07 · answer #6 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. It's up to God to decide who joins him in Heaven. Catholicism has done much to change the writings of the bible to simplify or control humans.
Church was meant to be on Saturdays, too..but Catholicism altered that too...
Strange.
2007-06-06 19:58:46 · answer #7 · answered by sage 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
God knows and wants us to be in fellowship with the saints and to honor and imitate their virtues.
2007-06-10 20:32:52 · answer #8 · answered by James O 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I say whatever. The Pope seems to know what he is doing.
And I loved the late Pope John II.
2007-06-06 19:56:21 · answer #9 · answered by pamiekins 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋