Canonization

Ultimately, it contributes to the sanctification of the faithful and the building up of the Mystical Body of Christ. Properly understood, it is ordered toward communion with the Most Holy Trinity and participation in the redemptive mission of Jesus Christ. It is grounded in Sacred Scripture and transmitted through Sacred Tradition, forming part of the coherent unity of Christian teaching. It safeguards revealed truth while inviting deeper intellectual assent and personal conversion. The theological articulation of canonization developed over centuries through the reflection of the Fathers, the decrees of ecumenical councils, and the pastoral life of the Church. It therefore holds enduring doctrinal, liturgical, and spiritual significance within the life of the Church.