Beatification is the process in the Catholic Church that recognizes a person as intercessor and is the third step toward canonization.

Beatification is the process in the Catholic Church that recognizes a person as intercessor and is the third step toward canonization.

• A. The declaration that a person is in Heaven and added to the liturgical calendar.
• B. The process of recognizing a person as intercessor and the third step toward canonization.
• C. The immediate prayer to a saint to perform miracles.
• D. The declaration that a person is a saint.

Answer: (B)

Beatification marks a formal recognition that a deceased person can intercede with God and is the third step toward being declared a saint. This means the Church acknowledges the person’s holy life and their role as an intercessor, setting them on the path to full canonization. The statement that captures this idea describes beatification as recognizing an intercessor and as a stage on the way to sainthood. The other choices mix up stages or misstate what beatification does: declaring someone a saint is the canonization step, being added to the liturgical calendar is part of canonization, and beatification isn’t simply about praying to a saint for miracles—miracles are considered in the process toward canonization, not the beatification act itself.

Beatification marks a formal recognition that a deceased person can intercede with God and is the third step toward being declared a saint. This means the Church acknowledges the person’s holy life and their role as an intercessor, setting them on the path to full canonization. The statement that captures this idea describes beatification as recognizing an intercessor and as a stage on the way to sainthood. The other choices mix up stages or misstate what beatification does: declaring someone a saint is the canonization step, being added to the liturgical calendar is part of canonization, and beatification isn’t simply about praying to a saint for miracles—miracles are considered in the process toward canonization, not the beatification act itself.