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Canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop

Maria Casey rsj¹

When we speak of canonisation we are recognising the undisputed holiness of a person in the world context. The first stage, beatification, recognises the person as being worthy of veneration in the local Church, that is, in the person's own and nearby countries. The process recognises the close relationship between the person and the Triune God with whom s/he has been invited, by the grace of God, into a deeper share of the divine nature.

Every person is called to holiness, to be holy as God is holy. Jesus is the model of this holiness and gave example by his life and death. Lumen gentium (LG)40 tells us that at various times, God chooses many who, following the example of Christ, give outstanding testimony to the Kingdom of heaven by shedding their blood or by an heroically virtuous life. The Church has recognised this fact from the earliest times and "has proposed for the imitation, veneration and invocation by the faithful, men and women who are outstanding in the splendour of charity and other evangelical virtues" (LG, 50). After due investigation, the Church declared them to be among the saints in the solemn act of canonisation, which determines that the person is worthy to be publicly venerated in the whole Church and throughout the world.

The process for canonisation is a long one and demands a true and widespread reputation. This reputation must be for holiness and not be confused with the reputation for merely human qualities or with the respect for the individual's scientific, cultural or benevolent activities.² The reputation for holiness is strictly religious and is determined by the intercessory powers of the blessed before God for members of the faithful. Such a reputation must be widespread and consist of signs and miracles that occur through the intercession of the holy one.

Diocesan inquiry of a miracle: The inquiry is to be carried out in the diocese in which the miracle occurs. The postulator submits to the bishop a brief and accurate report on the miracle with the necessary documents and petitions the bishop to examine it.

The bishop will get an opinion from one or two experts. If this is favourable, the bishop will begin a judicial inquiry to examine the witnesses under oath. If it is a physical cure, the competent medical authority must be involved (along with the cured person if s/he is still living). An authenticated transcript of all documents is then submitted to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. When all is examined the Congregation makes a recommendation to the Holy Father who then decides whether to proceed with the canonisation.

¹ RESOURCES Academic Approach to Canonisation

² For more detailed information on canonisation see Woestman, W., Canonisation:Theology, History, Process", Ottawa, Saint Paul University, 2002.

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