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'''Dicastery for the Causes of Saints'''
The '''Dicastery for the Causes of Saints''' (Latin: ''Dicasterium de Causis Sanctorum''), formerly known as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, is a department of the [[Roman Curia]] responsible for overseeing the process of [[canonization]] and [[beatification]] of saints in the [[Catholic Church]]. Established to ensure the rigorous examination of candidates for sainthood, the Dicastery evaluates their lives, virtues, and miracles, presenting cases to the [[pope]] for final approval. It also authenticates and preserves sacred [[relics]] and determines the granting of the title [[Doctor of the Church]]. Rooted in the Church’s mission to promote holiness, the Dicastery plays a vital role in the [[Communion of Saints]] by recognizing those who exemplify heroic virtue and fidelity to God.
The '''Dicastery for the Causes of Saints''' (Latin: ''Dicasterium de Causis Sanctorum''), formerly known as the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, is a department of the [[Roman Curia]] responsible for overseeing the process of [[canonization]] and [[beatification]] of saints in the [[Catholic Church]]. Established to ensure the rigorous examination of candidates for sainthood, the Dicastery evaluates their lives, virtues, and miracles, presenting cases to the [[pope]] for final approval. It also authenticates and preserves sacred [[relics]] and determines the granting of the title [[Doctor of the Church]]. Rooted in the Church’s mission to promote holiness, the Dicastery plays a vital role in the [[Communion of Saints]] by recognizing those who exemplify heroic virtue and fidelity to God.


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== Functions and Responsibilities ==
== Functions and Responsibilities ==
The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints oversees all aspects of the canonization and beatification processes, ensuring that candidates meet the Church’s standards for sainthood. Its primary responsibilities include:
The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints oversees all aspects of the canonization and beatification processes, ensuring that candidates meet the Church’s standards for sainthood. Its responsibilities are divided into several key functions.
 
=== Advising Bishops ===
The Dicastery provides norms and guidance to diocesan bishops who initiate causes at the local level. It ensures that proper procedures are followed during investigations into candidates’ lives, virtues, and writings, offering detailed instructions to maintain consistency and rigor across dioceses worldwide.
 
=== Evaluating Causes ===
The Dicastery examines the documentation, known as the ''positio'', submitted from diocesan inquiries. It verifies the authenticity of the process and judges the merits of the cause, assessing whether the candidate demonstrated heroic virtues, martyrdom, or other qualifications for sainthood. This evaluation involves theological and historical experts.


=== '''Advising Bishops''' ===
=== Miracle Authentication ===
* The Dicastery provides norms and guidance to diocesan bishops who initiate causes at the local level, ensuring proper procedures are followed during investigations into candidates’ lives and virtues.
The Dicastery rigorously investigates alleged miracles, typically inexplicable medical healings, through a Medical Board and theological consultants to confirm their divine origin. New regulations for the Medical Board, approved in 2016 by Cardinal Parolin under [[Pope Francis]]’s mandate, enhanced the scientific scrutiny of these claims.


* '''Evaluating Causes''': It examines the documentation (known as the ''positio'') submitted from diocesan inquiries, verifying the authenticity of the process and judging the merits of the cause, including the candidate’s heroic virtues, martyrdom, or miracles.
=== Relic Authentication ===
* '''Miracle Authentication''': The Dicastery rigorously investigates alleged miracles, typically inexplicable medical healings, through a Medical Board and theological experts to confirm their divine origin. New regulations for the Medical Board were approved in 2016 by Cardinal Parolin under [[Pope Francis]]’s mandate.
The Dicastery verifies the authenticity of sacred [[relics]] and ensures their proper preservation. It issues instructions, such as the 2017 document replacing the appendix to ''Sanctorum Mater'', to guide dioceses and religious communities in the handling and veneration of relics.
* '''Relic Authentication''': It verifies the authenticity of sacred relics and ensures their proper preservation, issuing instructions such as the 2017 document replacing the appendix to ''Sanctorum Mater''.
 
* '''Doctor of the Church''': After consulting the [[Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]], it recommends candidates for the title of [[Doctor of the Church]] to the pope.
=== Doctor of the Church ===
* '''Financial Oversight''': The Dicastery administers funds for causes, ensuring fairness in handling cases regardless of financial resources, as mandated by Pope Francis in 2014.
In collaboration with the [[Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith]], the Dicastery recommends candidates for the title of [[Doctor of the Church]] to the pope. This title is granted to saints whose writings have significantly contributed to Catholic theology or doctrine.
 
=== Financial Oversight ===
The Dicastery administers funds for causes, ensuring fairness in handling cases regardless of financial resources. In 2014, [[Pope Francis]] mandated reforms to promote transparency and equity, allowing causes from less wealthy dioceses to proceed without undue financial burden.


The Dicastery currently oversees approximately 1,600 causes, some dating back to the 15th century, reflecting its ongoing role in the Church’s mission to proclaim holiness.
The Dicastery currently oversees approximately 1,600 causes, some dating back to the 15th century, reflecting its ongoing role in the Church’s mission to proclaim holiness.
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<references>
<references>
<ref name="CCC">{{cite book |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |edition=Second |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |year=1994 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="CCC">{{cite book |title=Catechism of the Catholic Church |edition=Second |publisher=Libreria Editrice Vaticana |year=1994 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Lumen Gentium">{{cite document |title=Lumen Gentium |publisher=Second Vatican Council |date=November 21, 1964 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121
<ref name="Lumen Gentium">{{cite document |title=Lumen Gentium |publisher=Second Vatican Council |date=November 21, 1964 |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Divinus">{{cite document |title=Divinus Perfectionis Magister |author=Pope John Paul II |date=January 25, 1983 |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_25011983_divinus-perfectionis-magister.html |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Sacra">{{cite document |title=Sacra Rituum Congregatio |author=Pope Paul VI |date=May 8, 1969 |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19690508_sacra-rituum-congregatio.html |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Praedicate">{{cite document |title=Praedicate Evangelium |author=Pope Francis |date=March 19, 2022 |url=https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_constitutions/documents/20220319-praedicate-evangelium.html |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="Sanctorum Mater">{{cite document |title=Sanctorum Mater |author=Congregation for the Causes of Saints |date=May 17, 2007 |url=https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/csaints/documents/rc_con_csaints_doc_20070517_sanctorum-mater_en.html |access-date=July 13, 2025}}</ref>
<ref name="VIS1997a">{{cite news |title=Canonical procedure for causes of saints |publisher=Vatican Information Service |date=September 12, 1997}}</ref>
<ref name="VIS1997b">{{cite news |title=Saints in the Catholic Church |publisher=Vatican Information Service |date=July 29, 1997}}</ref>
</references>
 
== See Also ==
* [[Saint]]
* [[Communion of Saints]]
* [[Patron Saint]]
* [[Canonization]]
* [[Beatification]]
* [[Relics]]
* [[Doctor of the Church]]
 
{{Catholicism}}
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