By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald
Sainthood begins with local church
SUPERIOR -- The Catholic Church's process leading to canonization involves three major steps. First is the declaration of a person's heroic virtues, after which the church gives him or her the title Venerable. Second is beatification, after which he or she is called Blessed. The third step is canonization, or declaration of sainthood.
Fr. James Tobolski, head of the Diocese of Superior tribunal office and pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Superior, explained that the process for sainthood is complicated, yet it all centers on the local church. "The movement toward canonization or declaring someone a saint comes very much from the people," Tobolski said. "It comes from a diocese or a local church. My understanding is the process begins on a very local level."
A canonization process starts with a petition from people who approach a local bishop. "They request the process to begin," Tobolski said. "When the bishop approves, a narrative of the person's life is completed. A person is also assigned to begin the study of this person's life."
The title of this investigator is postulator. "The postulator can be an ordained or lay person," Tobolski said.
A postulator usually is someone who has a background in canon law, theology and history. "They record the person's life story," Tobolski said. "All of the materials are gathered into a collection called the Acts of the Cause. These are formal documents that are sent to Rome."
The materials go to the Vatican's Congregation for Sainthood Causes. "The process can take quite a long time before a beatification occurs," Tobolski said. "It takes a lot of energy, resources and money."
Tobolski explained that beatification is a step in the canonization process. "Beatification comes first and it is a preliminary step toward canonization," he said. "The person is then called Blessed. At that point they may be honored."
The pope is the ultimate authority in declaring a person a saint. The late Pope John Paul II declared 464 saints during his time as pontiff. "That was real important to him," Tobolski said. "He viewed these individuals as models of holiness. Truly, everyone has a call to holiness."
Growing up in Superior, Tobolski remembered strong devotions to St. Anthony, St. Louis and St. Anne in this city. "I have visited the shrine to St. Anne de Beaupre in Canada," he said.
Protestants, Tobolski said, may have some difficulties with the Catholic devotions to saints. "The issue of the veneration of saints is a big part of it," he said. "We (Catholics) do not worship saints, but we do venerate them. We believe that they are able to pray for us. I find that very comforting, reassuring and very hopeful."
Looking at the lives of Bishop Frederic Baraga, Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM, and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Tobolski said all three have special connections to the Diocese of Superior. "Baraga was an early missionary and helped establish Catholicism in our area," he said. "Solanus Casey lived in Superior and has local ties. Blessed Kateri is important to the Native Americans in the diocese. They all touch the hearts of local people."
© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005