BEATIFICATION

in the Roman Catholic con- Church an act by which the pope declares a person beatified or ble ed after his death. It is the first cu tep to canonization, that is, the raising one to the honour and dignity of a saint. No person can bo 29G beatified till fifty years after his or her death. AU from certificates or attestations of virtues and miracles, the nece ary qualifications for saintship, are exthat amined by the Congregation of Rites. This exam in a the tion often continues for several years; after which his holine dt3crees the beatification. The corpse and relics of the futiu« saint are from thenceforth relast exposed to the veneration of all good Christians; his imago is crowned with rays, and a particular office is set apart for him; but his body and relics are not carrieil in proce ion. Indulgences likewise, and remi iuoa of sins, arc granted on the day of his beatification; "which, though not 83 pompous as that of canonization, is, however, vexy splendid. Beatification differs f rL.m canonization in this, that the pope docs not act as a judge in determining the state of the beatified, but only grants a privilege to certain persons to honour him by a particular reUgious worship, without incurring the penalty of superstitious worshippers but in canonization the pope speaks as a judge, and determines, ex cathedrOj upon the state of the canonized. Beatification was introduced when it was thought proper to delay the canonization of saints, for the greater a urance of the truth of the steps taken in the procedure. Some particular orders of monks have a umed to themselves the power of beatification. Thus Octavia Melchiorica was beatified by the Do mini cans. See Canonization. 114