Ethan Walker
Canonization is the act of declaring a deceased individual as an officially recognized saint. It is an official acknowledgment that the individual is in heaven and worthy of public veneration. While it is theoretically possible for the Catholic Church to canonize a non-Catholic, it has not been done to date. The Church's primary purpose in canonization is to set forth Catholic Christian holiness as a model for its members to emulate. The closest examples are individuals who gained local recognition but were never formally recognized by the Church. However, it's important to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary means of salvation, as the Church acknowledges the possibility of salvation for those outside its visible structures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is it possible for a non-Catholic to be canonized? | Theoretically possible, but the Catholic Church has not done so to date. |
| Who can be canonized? | Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint. |
| Who can perform canonization? | The act of canonization is reserved for the Apostolic See and occurs at the conclusion of a long process requiring extensive proof that the candidate lived and died in an exemplary and holy way. |
| Who performs canonization in the Catholic Church? | The Popes have restricted to themselves the right to declare someone a Catholic saint. |
| Have any non-Catholics been canonized? | There are no clear examples of non-Catholics being canonized by the Catholic Church. |
| Are there non-Catholic saints? | While there are no non-Catholics that the Church recognizes as saints, it is possible for non-Catholics to achieve salvation. |
| Are there examples of individuals with some degree of recognition? | Yes, C.S. Lewis, Aristotle, and various Orthodox saints are highly respected by the Church. |
| Are there non-Catholic saints from the early Church? | Yes, the Catholic Church shares a number of saints with the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, including early Church Fathers such as Augustine of Hippo and John Chrysostom. |
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What You'll Learn
Canonization requirements
Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church formally declares an individual a saint and worthy of universal veneration. The act of canonization is reserved for those who have lived and died in an exemplary and holy way, with the Church's official recognition implying that the person is now in Heaven.
Historically, the process for recognizing saints was based on public acclaim or the vox populi, vox Dei (voice of the people, voice of God). From the sixth to the twelfth century, the intervention of the local bishop was required before someone could be canonized. The local community would request the bishop to recognize someone as a saint. Upon reviewing a written biography, the bishop would issue a decree, legitimize the liturgical cult, and canonize the person.
Today, the process of canonization is lengthy and requires extensive proof of the candidate's holiness and virtuous life. The individual's writings and teachings are scrutinized, and they must have performed miracles that are scientifically inexplicable. These miracles are typically miraculous cures of infirmity, as they are the easiest to judge given the Church's evidentiary standards. For example, a patient with an incurable illness recovers spontaneously after praying to the Venerable, with no natural explanation for the cure found by physicians.
Beatification, the concession of limited public veneration, is granted by the Pope after a miracle is attributed to the Venerable's intercession and verified through a canonical investigation. The candidate then receives the title of "Blessed." For canonization, another miracle is typically required, attributed to the intercession of the Blessed and occurring after their beatification. The Pope conducts a special Mass during the canonization ceremony, reading the individual's life history and chanting a prayer in Latin declaring them a saint.
While it is theoretically possible for the Catholic Church to canonize a non-Catholic, it has not happened to date. Canonization serves to set forth a model of Catholic Christian holiness for Catholics to emulate. The Church would need to be satisfied that the candidate lived an outstandingly virtuous life and held doctrinal beliefs consistent with Catholic teachings. The example of C.S. Lewis, an Anglican, is often discussed in this context, but no non-Catholic has been canonized by the Catholic Church. However, it is worth noting that Pope Francis did canonize Gregory of Narek, who was not a Catholic during his lifetime but a member of the Apostolic Church of Armenia.
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Non-Catholic saints
Canonization is the act of declaring a deceased person an officially recognized saint. It is an official acknowledgment that a particular person is in heaven and worthy of public veneration. While it is theoretically possible for the Catholic Church to canonize a non-Catholic, it has not been done to date. The purpose of canonization is to set forth a model of Catholic Christian holiness, and so the Church would need to be satisfied that the individual was outstanding in virtue and doctrine.
However, it is important to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary means of salvation. The ordinary means of salvation is through Christ and his Church. Nevertheless, the fathers of the Second Vatican Council admitted the possibility of extraordinary grace for those who do not know the Gospel of Christ but sincerely seek God and try to do His will. This means that while there are no non-Catholics recognized as saints by the Catholic Church, the Church does recognize the possibility of salvation for non-Catholics.
Some individuals in history are highly respected by the Church, and it is reasonable to assume that they achieved salvation. For example, Aristotle has significantly influenced Catholic theology, and theologians like Aquinas highly respect him. Similarly, C.S. Lewis, an Anglican, is recognized as a respectable theologian. Orthodox saints are another example, as the Eastern Orthodox Church is recognized by Rome for its valid sacraments and hierarchy.
Additionally, there are some canonized saints who were not in full communion with Rome at the time of their deaths. For instance, Gregory of Narek was a member of the Apostolic Church of Armenia, which was not in communion with Rome during his lifetime. He was later canonized by Pope Francis, causing some controversy. Furthermore, in the early centuries of Christianity, local bishops governed the veneration of saints within their dioceses, and some individuals gained local recognition without official recognition by the Church.
In conclusion, while the Catholic Church has not canonized any non-Catholics, it is theoretically possible. The Church recognizes the possibility of salvation for non-Catholics, and there are individuals in history highly respected by the Church who are assumed to have achieved salvation. Additionally, some saints may have been in communion with other Christian churches rather than Rome during their lifetimes.
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C.S. Lewis
While it is theoretically possible for the Catholic Church to canonize a non-Catholic, it has not happened yet. Canonization is an official acknowledgment that a person is in heaven, and saints are meant to be imitated by Catholics. The Church would have to be satisfied that the individual led a life of heroic virtue and doctrine, and it is unlikely that the Church would consider someone who did not join the Catholic Church when given the option as an example of heroic virtue. The theological test, which involves a detailed examination of everything the candidate ever wrote, would also be difficult for a non-Catholic to pass, especially if they publicly disagreed with the Church or held heterodox opinions.
Lewis was considered a hero-in-the-media for his work in defending Christianity. He is best known for his children's books, The Chronicles of Narnia, but he also wrote several other works that have significantly shaped modern Christianity and apologetics. Lewis was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and lived in Oxford for most of his adult life. He had many Catholic friends and came close to converting to Catholicism around 1950, but he refused to discuss his reasons for not doing so. He attributed his prejudice against the Roman Catholic Church to his upbringing in Northern Ireland and took a nonsectarian approach to Christianity, believing that the important thing was to submit to a Christian church, regardless of the branch.
While C.S. Lewis was not Catholic, he is recognized as a respectable theologian by many Catholics. His work has left an indelible literary and theological mark on the twentieth century, and he is considered a hero by many Christians. However, it is unclear if he will ever be canonized by the Catholic Church due to his non-Catholic background and the strict requirements for canonization.
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Local canonization
Canonization is the official act of a Christian communion recognizing a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon catalogue of saints. It is a papal declaration that the Catholic faithful may venerate a particular deceased member of the church. While it is theoretically possible for a non-Catholic to be canonized by the Catholic Church, it has not happened to date. This is because canonization is meant to set forth a model of Catholic Christian holiness for Catholics to emulate.
However, there have been instances of local canonization, where individuals gained some degree of local recognition but were never officially recognized by the Catholic Church. This process, which often involved the public veneration of "confessors" (those who confessed their faith through their words and lives), required the approval of the local bishop. Examples of such individuals include Saint Hilarion and Saint Ephrem the Syrian in the East, and Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Hilary of Poitiers in the West. Their tombs were honoured, and their names were inserted into the diptychs, or lists of saints explicitly venerated in the liturgy.
In addition, the Catholic Church shares several saints with the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, including early Church Fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom, and Irenaeus of Lyons. These individuals are recognized publicly by the Catholic Church as saints worthy of veneration.
While the Catholic Church has not canonized any non-Catholics, it is important to distinguish between ordinary and extraordinary means of salvation. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council acknowledged the possibility of extraordinary grace for those who sincerely seek God and try to do His will, even if they are unaware of the Gospel of Christ or His Church.
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The possibility of extraordinary grace
Canonization is the act of declaring a deceased person an officially recognized saint, specifically by a Christian communion declaring them worthy of public veneration. The Catholic Church has strict criteria for canonization, and while it is theoretically possible for a non-Catholic to be canonized, it has not happened to date. The Church's purpose in canonization is to set forth a model of Catholic Christian holiness for its members to emulate.
The closest examples of non-Catholic saints are individuals who gained local recognition but were never formally recognized by the Catholic Church. These include early Church Fathers such as Ignatius of Antioch, Augustine of Hippo, John Chrysostom, and Irenaeus of Lyons, who are venerated by the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches. These saints are recognized publicly by the Catholic Church as worthy of veneration, but they were not canonized by the Pope or the Church.
The case of C.S. Lewis is often discussed in relation to the possibility of non-Catholic canonization. Lewis was baptized as an Anglican and is considered a respectable theologian by many Catholics. However, the Church would need to be satisfied that he was outstanding in virtue and doctrine to set him forth as a model for Catholics to imitate. The theological test for canonization would be challenging for a non-Catholic like Lewis, who held opinions distinct from Catholic doctrine.
While the Catholic Church has not canonized any non-Catholics, it recognizes the possibility of salvation for those outside its visible structures. The fathers of the Second Vatican Council admitted the possibility of extraordinary grace for those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ but sincerely seek God and try to do His will. This principle acknowledges that non-Catholics can achieve eternal salvation, even if they are not recognized as saints by the Church.
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Frequently asked questions
No, to date, the Catholic Church has only canonized its own members. However, there are some saints who were not in full communion with Rome at the time of their deaths, such as Gregory of Narek, who was a member of the Apostolic Church of Armenia.
Canonization is the official act of a Christian communion declaring a deceased person a saint, worthy of public veneration. Canonization is a papal declaration that the Catholic faithful may venerate a particular deceased member of the church.
The act of canonization is reserved for the Apostolic See and occurs at the conclusion of a long process requiring extensive proof that the candidate lived and died in an exemplary and holy way. In the past, local bishops governed the veneration of holy men and women within their own dioceses, and there may have been no formal decree at all.
