In the modern Catholic canonization process, “Servant of God” is a title commonly used for a person whose cause for beatification and canonization has formally begun. It does not mean that the person has already been declared a saint or that the Church has confirmed every claim made about the person.
How a cause begins
A cause normally begins at the diocesan level after an appropriate period following the candidate’s death, unless the waiting period is waived. Church authorities examine whether there is a genuine reputation for holiness or martyrdom and whether there is sufficient reason to open a formal inquiry.
Documents, writings, historical records, and witness testimony may then be collected. The investigation is intended to establish facts about the candidate’s life, virtues, martyrdom, and reputation rather than merely repeat devotional stories.
What “Servant of God” does and does not mean
The title indicates that an official cause is underway. It is not equivalent to canonization, and it does not authorize the universal public veneration given to a canonized saint.
A candidate may remain a Servant of God for many years. Some causes advance; others do not.
Later stages
In a cause based on heroic virtue, a papal declaration recognizing heroic virtue leads to the title Venerable. Beatification normally requires an approved miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession, although the rules differ for recognized martyrs. A beatified person is called Blessed.
Canonization normally requires further examination and, in many cases, another approved miracle after beatification. Canonization authorizes veneration of the person as a saint throughout the Catholic Church.
Why the process is cautious
The Catholic Church treats canonization as a formal judgment, so causes involve historical, theological, and often medical investigation. Devotional enthusiasm may accompany a cause, but the process is designed to distinguish popular reputation from the evidence evaluated by church authorities.
