Do we have to recognize all canonization?

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A die hard SSPXer acquaintance of mine commented on the recent news of Blessed Paul VI’s impending canonization by saying that he will not be recognizing this. Could someone give me some resources or references from the Catechism or other authoratative Church documents saying that all Catholics are bound to recognize Saints of the Church. If there is nothing out there that is specific to this is there then perhaps something related to submission to the Pope and the Church will do. Thanks so much.
 
That is an odd stance for your friend to take. My feeling is that just because he doesn’t agree with it or “give his okay,” doesn’t change anything. A saint is declared a saint by the Church, not by your friend.

Are you actually looking for a law that says Catholics must recognize all canonizations? I am wondering what you will do with the information if you get it. Say “gotcha?” I hope you don’t want it to wave it in his face. It won’t change anything. It is the same as people that don’t follow church teaching about certain things. No amount of pointing it out to the as church law is going to change anything.
 
Thanks for the reply!
My intention is to use authorative Church documents to attempt to convince that it is the Church, not him, that decides who is a Saint and who isnt. I dont intend to be malicious but its much easier to defend my point using objective material than simply saying “You’re wrong”.
 
He doesn’t seem to really care though, does he? I don’t know why you would waste your time trying to convince him.
 
Trying to bring a friend back into the fullness of the Church is not a waste of time in my opinion. I think most of his opinions are based on ignorance and indoctrination rather than knowing the full story and making an informed descision.
 
Papal canonizations are indeed infallible because they extend from the pope’s ability to teach on faith and morals.

The 1967 New Catholic Encyclopedia says thus:
“The pope cannot by solemn definition induce errors concerning faith and morals into the teaching of the universal Church. Should the Church hold up for universal veneration a man’s life and habits that in reality led to [his] damnation, it would lead the faithful into error. It is now theologically certain that the solemn canonization of a saint is an infallible and irrevocable decision of the supreme pontiff. God speaks infallibly through his Church as it demonstrates and exemplifies its universal teaching in a particular person or judges that person’s acts to be in accord with its teaching.”
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Because the Church is protected from leading the faithful into error, it thus follows that She can’t proclaim a person a saint who is actually damned and instruct the faithful to follow the example of that person.

Besides, your friend is a SSPX? His issue probably isn’t with papal infallibility per se. He has an issue with the current person occupying the papal office. 🤨
 
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Thanks so much. His problem is with the Pope in general but I feel that this is a great issue to discuss with him and perhaps begin to bring him back to the Church. Thanks again your answer was incredibly helpful.
 
You might want to look at this thread.
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Can the church canonize in error Moral Theology
People are canonized as saints if they are shown to participate in two miracles. I am wondering if it’s reasonably possible for the process to be corrupted even if accidental and not intentional (i.e. political ideology) that allows for someone to be canonized? It’s surprising to me that being a Holy Father is almost a rubber stamp to becoming a saint. Thanks, these were my concerns.
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I wonder what he means by not recognizing it. If he simply means he wants nothing to do with that saint, then I really see no problem with that. If he is not recognizing the authority of the Catholic Church, that is more problematic.
 
If he’s SSPX, then at worst he views Pope Paul VI as a heretic. To canonize a heretic would be absurd, and would presumably make one ineligible for canonization. At best, he views the canonization as motivated purely by politics as an attempt to enshrine Vatican II.
 
There is a problem with the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics because there are some saints recognized in one Church but not the other. In the event of a reunion between the two Churches, what will happen here ?
 
The question of whether canonization are infallible or not is disputed.

Unfortunately, in recent years the traditional safeguards in the system have been all but jettisoned.

A canonization is a solemn act of the Sovereign Pontiff, which derives ultimately from the supreme authority of the Church, and that should of course be regarded with respect, but it is not a judgment infallible “in se” or in itself.
 
KMG said:
The question of whether canonization are infallible or not is disputed.
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There is pretty good evidence in previous posts this is not the case. Do you have evidence to offer that contradicts it?
 
james753 said:
by saying that he will not be recognizing this
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What does he really mean “not recognizing this”?

By canonization being infallible, it means the saint is infallibly in heaven. It doesn’t mean that everyone has to think that the canonization is a good idea
 
From a similar question in EWTN. The response was:

"Supreme Pontiff: Canonization

By the Rite of Canonization the Supreme Pontiff, by an act which is protected from error by the Holy Spirit, elevates a person to the universal veneration of the Church. By canonization the Pope does not make the person a saint. Rather, he declares that the person is with God and is an example of following Christ worthy of imitation by the faithful. A Mass, Divine Office and other acts of veneration, may now be offered throughout the universal Church."

From the actual Rite of Canonisation:

Ad honorem Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis, ad exaltationem fidei catholicae et vitae christianae incrementum, auctoritate Domini nostri Iesu Christi, beatorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli ac Nostra, matura deliberatione praehabita et divina ope saepius implorata, ac de plurimorum Fratrum Nostrorum consilio, Beatos N.N. Sanctos esse decernimus et definimus, ac Sanctorum Catalogo adscribimus, statuentes eos in universa Ecclesia inter Sanctos pia devotione recoli debere. In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti.

To the honour of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, for the exaltation of the Catholic faith and in the increase in Christian life, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and our own, after due deliberation and imploring the divine wisdom, and having sought the counsel of many of Our Brothers, we declare and define that blessed N.N. is a Saint, and inscribe him/her in the list of saints, commanding that he/she piously and devoutly celebrated as one of the saints. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
 
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Yes, a canonization is “definitive and preceptive.” That’s what distinguishes canonization form beatification–beatification is a concession, indult, or permission. Canonization requires something.
Canonization is the supreme glorification by the Church of a Servant of God raised to the honours of the altar with a decree declared definitive and preceptive for the whole Church, involving the solemn Magisterium of the Roman Pontiff.

This is expressed unequivocally in the formula: “Ad honorem Sanctae et Individuae Trnitatis… auctoritate Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, beatorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli ac Nostra… Beatum N. N. Sanctum esse decernimus ac definimus, ac Sanctorum Catalogo adscribimus, statuentes eum in universa Ecclesia inter Sanctos pia devotione recoli debere”.

Beatification, on the other hand, consists in the concession of a public cult in the form of an indult and limited to a Servant of God whose virtues to a heroic degree, or Martyrdom, have been duly recognized, as is pointed out by the respective formula: “…facultatem facimus ut Venerabilis Servus Dei N. N. Beati nomine in posterum appelletur, eiusque festum… in locis ac modis iure statutis quotannis celebrari possit”.
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http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...s_doc_20050929_saraiva-martins-beatif_en.html
 
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