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Questionnaire for the Process of the Beatification and Canonization of a Saint

Temperance
Was denial of his own will and mortification characteristics of the servant of God?
Did he restrain the motions of anger?
Did he bear persecutions with meekness and patience?
Was he unduly tenacious of his own opinion?
Was he sparing in the use of food and drink?
Did he observe the fasts of the church?
Did he indulge in long hours of sleep?
Was his bed comfortable or uncomfortable?
Was he anxious to be well clothed and well housed?
Did he neglect the comforts of life?
Did he mortify the senses?
Did he love silence and solitude?
Was he modest in his demeanor?

 

Fortitude
Was he strong and faithful in the duties of his office; tireless in work; patient in persecution, injury, calumny, and trouble of mind? Has he born all these in a cheerful spirit?
Was he always himself not elated by prosperity or depressed by adversity?
Did he despise the honors, riches, and pleasures of the world?
Did he constantly defend the rights of the church and restrain the immorality of wicked men?

 

Justice
Was he affable and friendly toward others?
Was he subject to his parents and superiors?
Did he show himself thankful for favors received? And strive to excite gratitude in others?
Did he discharge with justice the office committed to him avoiding all favoritism?
Did he so temper the severity of justice with kindness the no one could ever have just cause of complaint against him?
Did he render unto God due reverence and obedience?
Did he pay venerations to the Saints?
Did he accept the decrees of the Supreme Pontiffs with proper respect and reverence?
Was he exact in the observance of the sacred rites and ceremonies of the Church?
Did he endeavor to promote the worship of God?
Did he respect the rights of all and give them what was due to them?
Did he hate usury and fraud of every kind?

 

Prudence
Did he direct all of his actions to the attainment of eternal glory as his last end, and select the necessary and useful means?
Did he love simplicity, and was he sincere and true in thought and word, and did he hate all duplicity and falsehood?
Did he seek the advice of prudent men and act on it?
Were all his acts good, and did he first invoke diving aid for their due performance?
Had he a deep hatred of idleness as a source of vice, and did he love meditation and solitude?

 

Faith
Did he often return thanks to God that he was born in the bosom of the Catholic Church or that he was given the grace of conversion to it, and pray that all would be brought within her fold?
Did burn with the desire of propagating the faith?
Did he teach the truths of Christianity to the faithful, and did he teach the catechism?
Did he rejoice when some erring soul was converted to the Catholic faith?
Was he grieved when the Church suffered loss or persecution?
Was the decoration of the house of God dear to him, and the observance of the sacred ceremonies?
Did he love devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and endeavor to propagate it? How?
Did he pray long and frequently before the Blessed Sacrament?
Did he show a tender devotion to the passion of Jesus Christ?  Did he often meditate on the mystery? With what fervor and piety? And did he strive to enkindle this devotion in others?
Did he burn with desire for shedding his blood for the truths of the faith?
Did he venerate the Sacred Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers?
Did he obey the laws of the church and the commands of his superiors?
Did he show honor to the sovereign pontiff and all the ministers of God?
Did he desire to gain indulgences?
Did he hate all bad books and everything opposed to the faith?
Did he frequently approach the sacrament of penance and the blessed Eucharist?

 

Hope
Did firmly hope for salvation from the merits of Christ our Lord?
Did he despise the things of the world and how did he show his contempt?
In trying circumstances did he place his trust in God alone and have recourse to prayer?
Did he show his hope in God by ardent and pious exclamations?
Did he raise up others to confidence in God?
Did he show desire by word and work to suffer for eternal glory, and he rejoice and the near approach of death as the beginning of true life?
With what confidence did he practice good works?  Did he strive to excite this confidence in others?
In adversity was he resigned to the goodness of God and the decrees of his providence?
Did he direct his desires and all his actions to God as his last end?
Did he bear cheerfully adversity and persecution?
Did he desire with Saint Paul to be dissolved and be with Christ, and did he bear suffering and infirmity with a joyous spirit?

 

Charity
(To Neighbor – Spiritual)
Did he pray for the conversion of sinners?
What were the relations to his enemies? Did he forgive them, receive them meekly, and pray for them?
Did he prevent discord?
Had he at heart the good name of others?
With what frequency and fervor did he offer up prayers of the souls of the deceased?

 

(To Neighbor – Temporal)
Did he comfort the afflicted?
Did he excuse, when opportune, the defects of others?
What was his attitude toward the sick?
Did he love the poor, help them according to his ability, and strive to induce others to assist them?
Did he instruct the ignorant and give council to those in doubt?
Did he admonish sinners and restore peace and concord among the quarrelsome?
Did he devote himself to the physical and spiritual well being of the sick?

 

(To God)
Was his mind always fixed on God and in union with God, and by what acts, words, or aspirations was this union made manifest?
Did he hate sin and take care to preserve himself free from every defect?
Did he speak often of God?
Was his prayer constant and fervent?
Did he remain long in prayer before the most Blessed Sacrament?
Did he lead others the practice of prayer? How?
Did he meditate on the passion of Christ?
By what acts did he show his devotion to the Passion?
How did he show devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary?
Did he prevent the commission of sin, and feel sorrow for it when committed by others?
Did he endeavor to inflame others with charity toward God?
Did he by fasting and mortification bring the flesh into subjection that he might be more pleasing to God?
Had he a supernatural desire for affliction, contradiction, contempt and how did he bear them?
Did he endeavor with all his might to excite others to praise the divine goodness?

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5 thoughts on “Questionnaire for the Process of the Beatification and Canonization of a Saint

  1. John Schroder says:

    Good morning!

    Have you been able to come up with any official source for this “sanctity checklist?”  I’ve searched rather diligently, but can’t come up with anything verifying when this checklist was used, or if it is still being used.  Any thoughts?  Thanks for all you do….

    John Schroder

    Covington, LA

    Reply
    • admin says:

      This came from a very trustworthy priest I know. The original may exist only in Latin (this is probably his own translation).

      Reply
  2. James says:

    Yes, this is a correct list.

    Reply
  3. Alanna says:

    Hello! It has been quite awhile since you posted this. I was wondering if you ever asked your priest about the source of this list? It is a wonderful thing to go by in life, for sure. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • admin says:

      No I’ve never been able to track it down. Thought I never looked very hard. I will see if I can track it down.

      Reply

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