Christians have always existed who have lived their love for God and neighbor in an extraordinary way. These people were especially esteemed by those who knew them, mainly because they were imitators of Christ and worked miracles. The most esteemed were those who had laid down their life in order to remain faithful to their faith. For this reason the saints were declared "vox populi", that’s to say, by popular acclamation. But there arouse a question: Was it certain that the person invoked by the people was truly a saint?
To avoid excesses, each bishop took on the responsibility of deciding who should be proclaimed a saint in his diocese. When the verification of the saint was concluded he was assigned a feast day. It was normally the anniversary of his death, being the day in which the saint was “born” to the new life in Christ. Towards the end of the tenth century, there appeared the first case of a canonization from outside of Rome being approved directly by the Pope. From 1234 on, all canonizations were reserved to the Pope.
In the fifth century, the criteria for canonization were:
A) –The person’s reputation among the people (their fame of sanctity);
B) -The example of their life as a model of heroic virtue.
C) -Their capacity to work miracles, especially those worked after their death, upon their tomb or through their relics.
The three steps taken in the official process of the Causes of the Saints are: venerable, blessed and saint. To be declared “blessed”, a miracle worked through the intercession of the person is required. The miracle is not necessary if the person has been recognized a martyr.