What is a Blessed Person?
A blessed person is a person whose Christian perfection is recognized by the Church through beatification. This celebration precedes the proclamation of canonization, the final stage in which the Church officially recognizes the holiness of a person and holds it up as an example to all Christian people. Let us remember, however, that everyone who enters Heaven upon death is holy. Consequently, there are many saints unknown to the general public but truly holy to God.
How do you become blessed?
Several steps to becoming blessed
Before canonizing a person, that is, recognizing them as a saint, the Church follows a rigorous process marked by four decisive steps. The first is to recognize the heroic virtues of the person by declaring them a servant of God. Next, the Church proclaims them Venerable. The third step is beatification, which requires the recognition by the Church of a miracle (with precise conditions). The last stage, canonization, requires the recognition of a second miracle attributed to the intercession of the saint.
It is at the diocesan level that the investigation is carried out, and the first three steps are carried out by the local bishop. It is only at the end of the journey, nearing canonization, that the case will be transferred to Rome, to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to be re-examined in its entirety.
What is the procedure for declaring a blessed?
Initially, a member of the faithful or a group of members of the faithful present a request for beatification to the bishop of the diocese. One of the people is chosen as the Postulator of the Cause, similar to a lawyer. The bishop undertakes a thorough investigation to rule on Christian virtues, possible martyrdom, and possible miracles. He calls on experts (theologians), called witnesses, and studies the available writings. The investigation thus collects evidence that it examines to form a Cause.
Through the beatification of a person, the Church allows and encourages public worship. A date of celebration is chosen to honor the blessed, the faithful will also be able to freely worship relics, icons and pious images.
Some Examples of Blessed
Here are several models given by the Church to all Christians in virtue of their exemplary holiness.
- Blessed Carlo Acutis was a young Italian beatified in 2020. Full of energy and devotion to Jesus the Eucharist, he launched various evangelization projects on the Internet in order to make Christ known and loved. He died at the age of 15 of a deep-reaching leukemia.
- Blessed Chiara Luce, beatified in 2010. This young Italian was inhabited by a lively generosity since her childhood. She spent her adolescence with the Focolari movement, living as close as possible to the gospel. With bone cancer at the age of 17, she entered Heaven after two hard years offered to Christ.
- Blessed Charles of Austria was the last emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A leader, husband and father of an exemplary family, he never ceased to seek peace. Exiled with his family after the First World War, he died on the island of Madeira after having kept his gaze fixed on Jesus through hardship. He was proclaimed blessed by John Paul II in 2004.
Many other figures of holiness are to be discovered and imitated: Blessed Pauline Jaricot, beatified in 2022, Blessed Marcel Callo, beatified in 1987, or Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, beatified in 1990.
Discover and Pray with the Blessed on Hozana!
- Pray the novena to Blessed Carlo Acutis. In these nine days of prayer, discover his life and place your intentions in his hands. He intercedes especially for young people and adolescents.
