Canonization is the complex and lengthy process by which someone receives the title of “Saint” in the Roman Catholic Church. This process has taken many forms over the centuries and was most recently revised by Pope John Paul II. The current process consists of 4 stages: Servant of God, Venerable, Blessed, and Saint. The Servant of God Solanus Casey was named Venerable on July 11, 1995 by Pope John Paul II. With the support of the Guild, the Cause is currently pursuing the stage of “Blessed” (beatification) for Venerable Solanus.

The word “canonization” comes from the celebration of the Mass. What we now call the “Eucharistic Prayer” was formerly known as the “Canon of the Mass.” Therefore, to say that one is “canonized” means that his/her name is able to be included in the list of saints in the “Canon of the Mass.” The term is still in use today since that ancient rule-of-thumb still applies. When a person is canonized or named a Saint the Church may celebrate the Saint’s feast day and the name may be included in the Eucharistic Prayer.

After his death the fame of Fr. Solanus continued to spread and many people visited his simple grave in the Friars’ Cemetery. Three years after his death many friends formed the Fr. Solanus Guild to preserve his memory and ideals. The Guild sparked the movement to present Fr. Solanus as a candidate for Sainthood.

In 1966 a Vice Postulator was appointed. The first biography “The Porter
of Saint Bonaventure’s” was published in 1968. In 1976 the Vice Postulator contacted the Archbishop of Detroit, John Cardinal Dearden, who issued the official request in 1977 for all writings attributed to the Servant of God. These were transcribed, bound into four volumes, and taken to the Postulator General in June 1980.

By 1981 Cardinal Dearden was ready to petition the Congregation for Causes of Saints to open the Cause. Permission was granted in 1982 and instructions were sent to Edmund C. Szoka, the new Archbishop of Detroit, to begin the Diocesan investigation. After interrogating 53 witnesses the Process was completed and taken to Rome in October 1984.

The canonical exhumation and examination of Fr. Solanus’ body took place on July 8, 1987 in the presence of Archbishop Szoka and Archdiocesan officials. Solanus' body, found to be quite intact, was clothed in a new habit, placed in a new steel casket, and sealed with the Archbishop’s seal. The casket was reinterred in a cement vault beneath the floor of the north transept of St. Bonaventure Church where many people continue to pray for the intercession of Fr. Solanus.

The Positio {pronounced po-zeet-sio}, documentation of the Cause, was studied and approved by the Congregation for Causes of Saints in 1995. On July 11th of that year Pope John Paul II promulgated the Decree of Heroic Virtue for Fr. Solanus and declared him “Venerable.” One miraculous cure attributed to the intercession of Venerable Solanus, then approved by the Congregation will advance the Cause to Beatification and the title of “Blessed.” Another approved miracle after that will advance the Cause finally to Canonization or Sainthood.

Please help us pray for beatification

Report a favor to the Vice Postulator