02Knights Templar - Julian Emperor

SAINTS
candidate. However, martyrs fall outside this category and evidence
of miracles may not be necessary.When the individual
has been accorded the status of saint then he or she can be formally
venerated on a universal level.
However, in 1969, Pope PaulVI took the decision to divide
the Sacred Congregation for Rites into two separate bodies,
the Congregation for the Divine Worship and the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Pope John Paul II made
further important changes to the process of awarding sainthood
in 1983. His reforms were aimed at speeding up and
simplifying the process of canonisation. Following the changes
implemented by John Paul II, the process has two main stages.
An investigation is carried out into the life of the proposed individual
and any attendant miracles they are thought to have
performed at diocesan level. Written evidence is gathered
which may include evidence submitted by eyewitnesses given
in a court presided over by the bishop. Secondly, following
this process and the resulting preparation of a documented report,
the case is put before the Roman congregation. This
committee of expert theologians examines the case in detail
and reaches a decision as to whether or not they recommend
canonisation. If the conclusion is reached that the committee
should recommend canonisation then they will put the case
before the pope himself.The pope will then reach a decision
upon the matter.
Mother Teresa
Perhaps the most famous case of a modern individual whom
the Roman Catholic Church has taken steps to canonise is the
Albanian nun and missionary Mother Teresa. Born in 1910 in
Skopje, MotherTeresa is today best known for her humanitar-
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