canonization
canonization in the Roman Catholic Church, the official declaration that a dead person is a saint; the process typically involves a rigorous investigation of the life and record of the prospective saint and any cult surrounding them. In the early Church, sanctity was often established through the growth of a spontaneous cult; in the late 12th century, it was declared that the formal pronouncement of the Church was required for public veneration.
Recorded from late Middle English, the word comes from late Latin canonizare ‘admit as authoritative’ (in medieval Latin ‘admit to the list of recognized saints’), from Latin canon (see canon1).
Recorded from late Middle English, the word comes from late Latin canonizare ‘admit as authoritative’ (in medieval Latin ‘admit to the list of recognized saints’), from Latin canon (see canon1).
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canonization
