Cause for Canonization

The Latest

Sister Cecilia María of the Holy Face.

Argentine nun remembered for her smile considered for sainthood

Feb 17, 2024

By Julieta Villar

The edict has been signed that begins the process prior to the opening of the cause of canonization of Sister... Read more

Canadian sister Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family.

Canadian religious sister Mother Marie-Léonie Paradis cleared for canonization

Jan 25, 2024

By Francesca Pollio Fenton

Pope Francis signed a decree on Jan. 24 allowing for the canonization of Canadian sister Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, founder of... Read more

Black Elk, daughter Lucy Black Elk and wife Anna Brings White.

The hidden life of Nicholas Black Elk revealed in canonization process

Dec 10, 2023

By Martin Barillas

Two Jesuit priests have emphasized Black Elk’s enduring Catholic faith as his canonization process unfolds.   Read more

Patrick Norton stands near Sister Annella Zervas' grave, October 2022.

Orphan rescued by Mother Teresa promotes cause of Minnesota nun 

Dec 10, 2023

By Patti Maguire Armstrong

Patrick Norton, who was adopted as a boy, was painting a lamp post in a cemetery when he encountered who... Read more

Queen Isabella I of Castile, Spain.

More than 130 Masses celebrated in 5 countries to promote Queen Isabella’s canonization

Nov 29, 2023

By Nicolás de Cárdenas

This year, 133 Masses were celebrated with this intention, most of them in Spain but also in Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela,... Read more

Father Edward Flanagan with baseball players at Boys Town.

Irish-born founder of Boys Town, Father Flanagan, may soon be declared Venerable

Sep 16, 2023

By Madeleine Teahan

Following a premiere of a film on the saintly priest’s life, CNA spoke to Bishop Kevin Doran about the cause... Read more

Argentino del Valle Larrabure.

Canonization cause opens for Argentine officer tortured and killed by Marxist insurgents

Aug 22, 2023

By Walter Sánchez Silva

The cause for canonization of Argentino del Valle Larrabure, an army colonel tortured and murdered in 1975 by Marxist rebels,... Read more

Venerable John Paul I

Nine things to know about John Paul I

Sep 2, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Venerable John Paul I was born Albino Luciani on Oct. 17, 1912 in the town of Canale d'Argordo in northern... Read more

Father Cayetano Giménez Martín, a martyr of the Spanish Civil War who will be beatified along with 15 companionions in Granada, Feb. 26, 2022.

Sixteen martyrs of the Spanish Civil War to be beatified in Granada

Dec 1, 2021

By Blanca Ruiz

The beatification ceremony for sixteen martyrs of the Spanish Civil War will be held in February at the Granada Cathedral.  Read more

Father Thomas Dailey, O.S.F.S.; Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson J. Perez; Msgr. Gerald Mesure, archdiocesan chancellor; and Father Sean Bransfield, vice chancellor, hold the official documents for the canonization cause of Father Bill Atkinson during the closing ceremony on Oct. 19, 2021.

Father Bill Atkinson canonization cause completes first phase, moves onto Rome

Oct 22, 2021

By Autumn Jones

Father Bill Atkinson, an Augustinian priest from Philadelphia who died in 2006, is one step closer in the cause for... Read more

Blessed Solanus Casey. Photo courtesy of the Capuchin Franciscan Order of St. Joseph in Detroit.

Thank God ahead of time: What Blessed Solanus Casey teaches about a spirituality of gratitude

Jul 30, 2021

By Gretchen Siegel

Blessed Solanus Casey's childhood was not easy. He contracted diphtheria that permanently damaged his voice. Casey’s family also struggled economically... Read more

Sr. Annelvira Ossoli, Sr. Vitarosa Zorza, and Sr. Danielangela Sorti, whose heroic virtues were recognized March 18, 2021. Credit: Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Sainthood causes of three more religious sisters who died in Ebola outbreak advance

Mar 19, 2021

Among the seven clerics and religious whose heroic virtues were recognized by the Vatican on Thursday are three Italian religious... Read more

The Mass of Beatification of Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, said at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Holy Cross in Oran, Dec. 8, 2018.

Nineteen Algerian martyrs beatified

Dec 10, 2018

Bishop Pierre Claverie and his 18 companions, who were martyred in Algeria between 1994 and 1996, were beatified Saturday during... Read more

Father Paul Wattson.

In New York, Catholic convert takes a step toward sainthood

Mar 20, 2017

The Catholic convert who founded the Society of the Atonement, Father Paul Wattson, S.A., could be one step closer to... Read more

Pope Francis says a Mass of Beatification in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 19, 2014.

Surgeon and father among sainthood causes moving forward

Feb 27, 2017

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis recognized on Monday the heroic virtue of eight persons on the path to canonization, including an Italian surgeon... Read more

Dorothy Day, American journalist, social activist and Catholic convert circa 1916.

Dorothy Day had nothing to say to this theologian – or so he thought

Dec 27, 2015

By Hillary Mast

Ever since entering the Church 27 years ago, theologian Lance Richey had always known about the Catholic social activist Dorothy... Read more

A statue of Bl. Junipero Serra outside Mission San Antonio de Padua in Monterey County, Calif.

How Junipero Serra fought the death penalty for a California native

Aug 5, 2015

Blessed Junipero Serra’s love for the natives of California extended even to those who killed one of his friends and... Read more

St. Therese of Lisieux and her sister Leonia Martin Guerin. Public Domain Photos.

A fourth saint for the Little Flower family? Cause for Leonia Martin officially opens

Jul 3, 2015

By Elise Harris

With a sister who is a Doctor of the Church and parents set to be canonized in October, Leonia Martin... Read more

St. Therese of Lisieux and her sister Leonia Guerin. Public Domain Photos.

St. Therese of Lisieux's 'difficult' sister is on the road to sainthood

Feb 21, 2015

The “difficult” sister of St. Therese of Lisieux is on the road to sainthood, a reminder – according to her... Read more

Bl. Odoardo Focherini.

Blessed Odoardo Focherini, the father of seven who saved 100 Jewish lives

Jan 27, 2015

By Andrea Gagliarducci

As Pope Francis tweeted Jan. 27 to observe the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, it is worth remembering... Read more