The Congregation for the Causes of Saints (Congregatio de Causis Sanctorum) is the congregation of the Roman Curia which oversees the complex process which leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of "heroic virtues" and beatification. After preparing a case, including the approval of miracles, the case is presented to the pope, who decides whether or not to proceed with beatification or canonization. A congregation is a type of dicastery of the Roman Curia, the central administrative organism of the Catholic Church. ... The Roman Curia (sometimes, if inaccurately, called the Vatican) is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See, coordinating and providing the necessary organisation for the correct functioning of the Catholic Church and the achievement of its goals. ... Canonization is the process of declaring someone a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she qualifies for this. ... Various religions treat the details of such a person differently and their viewpoints are seen below. ... In Catholicism, beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed, via Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... According to many religions, a miracle, derived from the old Latin word miraculum meaning something wonderful, is a striking interposition of divine intervention by God in the universe by which the operations of the ordinary course of Nature are overruled, suspended, or modified. ... The Pope (from Greek: pappas, father; from Latin: papa, Papa, father) is the head of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

The predecessor of the congregation was the Sacred Congregation for Rites, founded by Pope Sixtus V on 22 January 1588 in the Bull Immensa Aeterni Dei. The congregation dealt both with regulating divine worship, and the causes of saints. On 8 May 1969, Pope Paul VI issued the Apostolic Constitution Sacra Rituum Congregatio, dividing it into two congregations, the Congregation for the Divine Worship and one for the causes of saints. The latter was given three offices, those of the judiciary, the Promoter General of the Faith and the historical-juridical. Sixtus V, born Felice Peretti (December 13, 1521 -– August 27, 1590) was pope from 1585 to 1590. ... January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1588 was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Papal bull of Pope Urban VIII, 1637, sealed with a leaden bulla. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... Pope Paul VI (Latin: ), born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini (September 26, 1897 – August 6, 1978), reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and as sovereign of Vatican City from 1963 to 1978. ... An Apostolic constitution (Latin constitutio apostolica) is a very solemn decree issued by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. ... The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments (Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum) is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters...

With the changes in the canonization process introduced by Pope John Paul II in 1983, a College of Relators was added to prepare the cases of those declared as Servants of God. Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), born Karol Józef Wojtyła [1] (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church for almost 27 years, from October 16, 1978 until his death, making his the second-longest pontificate. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Servant of God is the title given to a person of the Roman Catholic Church upon whom a pope has opened a cause of sainthood. ...

Canonization is the process of declaring someone a saint and involves proving that a candidate has lived in such a way that he or she qualifies for this. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Catholicism. ... Servant of God is the title given to a person of the Roman Catholic Church upon whom a pope has opened a cause of sainthood. ... A Stained Glass image of Venerable Father Samuel Mazzuchelli in St. ... In Catholicism, beatification (from Latin beatus, blessed, via Greek μακαριος, makarios) is a recognition accorded by the church of a dead persons accession to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in their name (intercession of saints). ... Various religions treat the details of such a person differently and their viewpoints are seen below. ...

Prefects

• Paolo Cardinal Bertoli (1969-1973)
• Luigi Cardinal Raimondi (1973-1975)
• Corrado Cardinal Bafile (1976-1980)
• Pietro Cardinal Palazzini (1980-1988)
• Angelo Cardinal Felici (1988-1995)
• Alberto Cardinal Bovone (pro-prefect 1995-1998, prefect 1998)
• José Cardinal Saraiva Martins (1998- )

Corrado Cardinal Bafile ( July 4, 1903 РFebruary 3, 2005) was the oldest Cardinal in the Roman Catholic church in modern times. ... His Eminence Angelo Cardinal Felici (born July 26, 1919 in Segni, Italy) is the former president of Ecclesia Dei and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. ... His Eminence Jos̩ Cardinal Saraiva Martins (born 6 January 1932) is a Cardinal Deacon and Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in the Roman Catholic Church. ...

External link

• Congregation for the Causes of Saints
• Legion of Mary Causes for Sainthood