Beatification


Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name. Beati is the plural form, referring to those who have undergone the process of beatification; they possess the title of "Blessed" before their names and are often referred to in English as "a Blessed" or, plurally, "Blesseds".
Blesseds are venerated regionally, Saints by the entire universal Church.

History

Local bishops had the power of beatifying until 1634, when Pope Urban VIII, in the apostolic constitution Cœlestis Jerusalem of 6 July, reserved the power of beatifying to the Holy See.
Since the reforms of 1983, as a rule, one miracle must be confirmed to have taken place through the intercession of the person to be beatified. Miracles are almost always unexplainable medical healings, and are scientifically investigated by commissions comprising physicians and theologians.
The requirement of a miracle for beatification is waived in the case of someone whose martyrdom is formally declared by the church.
The feast day for a beatified person is not universal, but is celebrated only by territories, religious institutes, or communities in which the person receives particular veneration. For instance, Kateri Tekakwitha liturgical feast was celebrated in the United States and Canada when she was declared Blessed. John Duns Scotus was venerated among the Franciscans, in the Archdiocese of Cologne and other places. Similarly, veneration of Chiara Badano is particular to the Focolare movement.
The Blessed, elected by popular acclamation enjoyed local veneration. While the procedure of canonization was taken in hand from the twelfth century by the papacy in Rome, that of beatification continued on a local scale until the thirteenth century before settling at the Council of Trent, which reserved to the pope the right to say who could be venerated.

Practices under the popes

markedly changed the previous Catholic practice of beatification. He proclaimed more saints and blessed than all his predecessors together since 1588, the year the Congregation for the Causes of Saints was founded. In a statement, John Paul emphasized that he was doing nothing different from what the Second Vatican Council had wanted, which reaffirmed that holiness is the essential note of the Church.
John Paul II's successor, Pope Benedict XVI, personally celebrated the beatification Mass for his predecessor at St. Peter's Basilica on the Second Sunday of Easter, or Divine Mercy Sunday, on 1 May 2011, an event that drew more than one million people.

Rite of Beatification

The rite of beatification is part of a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Holy Father or his delegate. After the penitential act, the rite of beatification of one or more venerable servants of God is structured as follows:
  • If the celebration is presided over by the Pontiff, the ordinary of the diocese where the cause of beatification has been instituted approaches the latter's seat, together with the postulator, and says these words, addressing the Holy Father:
' Beatíssime Pater, Ordinarius/Ordinarii N., humíllime a Sanctitáte Vestra petit/petunt ut Venerabilem Servum/Servam Dei N., número Beatórum adscríbere benigníssime dignéris.
' Most Holy Father, the Ordinary of N. humbly asks your Holiness to inscribe among the number of Blesseds the Venerable Servant of God N..

  • If the celebration is presided over by the Papal Delegate, the ordinary says these words:
' Eminentissime Domine, Ordinarius N. Suam Sanctitatem N. humillime petit, ut Venerabilem Servum/Servam Dei N. numero Beatorum adscribere benignissime dignaret.
' Your Eminence, the Ordinary of N. humbly requests His Holiness Pope N. to inscribe among the number of Blesseds the Venerable Servant of God N..

  • The postulator then reads the biographical profile of the servant of God.
  • The Pope, or the Papal Delegate, having worn the mitre and holding the ferula, or pastoral staff, pronounces, sitting on the chair, the formula of beatification:
' Nos, vota Fratris Nostri N., Archiepiscopi N., necnon plurimorum aliorum Fratrum in Episcopatu multorumque christifidelium explentes, de Dicasterii de Causis Sanctorum consulto, Auctoritate Nostra Apostolica facultatem facimus, ut Venerabilis Servus/Serva Dei N., Beati/Beatæ nomine in posterum appelletur, atque die n. mensis n., , quotannis in locis et modis iure statutis celebrari possit . In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.
' Acceding to the request of our Brother N., Archbishop of N., of many other of our Brothers in the episcopate, and many of the faithful, after consultation with the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, by our apostolic authority we declare that the Venerable Servant of God N., shall henceforth be invoked as Blessed and that his/her/their feast day/s shall be celebrated every year on the n. of n., in the places and according to the norms established by Church law. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  • The portrait of the new Blessed is then unveiled and their relics are brought to the altar.
  • If the celebration is presided over by the Pontiff, the ordinary of the diocese that initiated the cause of beatification approaches the Pontiff's seat again, accompanied by the postulators, and expresses gratitude by saying the following words to the Holy Father:
' Beatíssime Pater, Ordinarius/Ordinarii N., gratias ex animo Sanctitati Vestræ agit/agunt quod titulum Beati hodie Venerabili Servo/Serva Dei N., conferre dignatus es.
' Most Holy Father, the Ordinary of N. give heartfelt thanks to your Holiness for having today proclaimed Blessed the Venerable Servant of God N..

  • If the celebration is presided over by the Papal Delegate, the ordinary says these words:
' Ecclesia N. Suæ Sanctitati N. grata et devota, Patri Domini nostri Jesu Christi et Patri nostro, Deo Uno et Trino, gratias agit, quod titulum Beati hodie Venerabili Servo/Serva Dei N., conferre dignatus est.
' The Church of N. grateful and devoted to His Holiness Pope N. give thanks to the Father of Jesus Christ and Our Father, to God three times holy for having proclaimed Blessed the Venerable Servant of God N..

  • From this moment on the Eucharistic celebration proceeds as usual.