Bulletin Q&A Article, published 5-7-23:
On April 13, one of the saints of the day was Margaret of Castello. Her biography indicated that she received equipollent canonization. What is equipollent canonization?
This was a new term for me, so I looked it up. It is also called equivalent canonization. Before I address the question, let’s look at the steps in the current process for the canonization of saints. All souls in Heaven are considered saints, but some saints are recognized for their heroic virtue and the certainty that they are in Heaven. The U.S. Bishops write: “The canonization process is a canonical (Church law) procedure by which the Church through the Pope solemnly declares a Catholic to be united with God in heaven, an intercessory to God on behalf of the living, and worthy of public and universal veneration.”
In his document Sanctorum Mater, Instruction for Conducting Diocesan or Eparchial Inquiries in the Cause of Saints, Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “The cause of beatification and canonization regards a Catholic who in life, in death and after death has enjoyed a reputation of holiness by living all the Christian virtues in an heroic manner; or enjoys a reputation of martyrdom because, having followed Christ more closely, he has sacrificed his life in the act of martyrdom.”
Servant of God: The formal process of canonization cannot begin until five years after the person has died. (The Pope, however, has authority to waive this waiting period. Pope John Paul II waived three years of St. Teresa of Calcutta’s waiting period, And Pope Benedict XVI waived all five years of St. John Paul II’s waiting period.) After the waiting period, the bishop of the diocese where the person died can petition the Holy See to begin the process. If approved the process moves back to the diocese and the person receives the title of Servant of God.
Venerable: The next step in the process begins with extensive investigation and documentation at the diocesan level of the person’s life and writings. This information is then submitted to the Vatican for review. If the documentation is found favorable, the determination is sent to the pope for his approval. If he agrees, he issues a decree giving the person the new title of venerable.
Blessed: To advance to the next step, a miracle attributed to the person must be examined by a team of medical experts and theologians and ultimately approved by the pope. This process is initiated by the diocese where the miracle took place, not necessarily where the person died. (At the discretion of the pope, the requirement of this miracle can be waived if the person was a martyr.) Once the miracle is approved by the pope, the person is beatified receiving the title of blessed. Those that are declared blessed may receive public veneration at the local or regional level. For example, Blessed Solanus Casey can be publically venerated within the Archdiocese of Detroit and at Capuchin houses worldwide.
Saint: The final step in the process for canonization to sainthood requires a second miracle. The process for approval is the same as for the previous miracle. Once this miracle is approved by the pope, the person is declared a saint and can be publically be venerated in the universal Church. Canonization declares infallibly that the person’ soul is in Heaven.
Equipollent canonization: Much of the formal process of canonization can be expedited by a process called equipollent canonization. The term equipollent translates as “equal in force.” Equipollent canonization is used at the discretion of the pope and is usually for persons who have died long ago for which it would be difficult or impossible to provide the documentation required for the formal canonization process. It was initiated by Pope Urban VIII in 1632. From an article on catholicexchange.com: “Candidates for equipollent canonization must meet three criteria. They must be the subject of a long-standing cult. They should have a solid and enduring reputation for virtue. They must also have a long association with miracles.” St. Margaret of Castello was beatified by Pope Paul V in 1609 and received equipollent canonization by Pope Francis in 2021.