Editing Canonization (section)

=== Nature ===
In the [[Catholic Church]], both in the [[Latin Church|Latin]] and the [[Eastern Catholic Churches|constituent Eastern]] churches, the act of canonization is reserved to the [[Apostolic See]] and occurs at the conclusion of a long process requiring extensive proof that the candidate for canonization lived and died in such an exemplary and holy way that they are worthy to be recognized as a saint. The Church's official recognition of sanctity implies that the person is now in [[Heaven]] and that they may be publicly invoked and mentioned officially in the [[Catholic liturgy|liturgy]] of the Church, including in the [[Litany of the Saints]].

In the Catholic Church, canonization is a decree that allows universal veneration of the saint. For permission to venerate merely locally, only [[beatification]] is needed.<ref>"Beatification, in the present discipline, differs from canonization in this: that the former implies (1) a locally restricted, not a universal, permission to venerate, which is (2) a mere permission, and no precept; while canonization implies a universal precept" ([http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02364b.htm Beccari, Camillo. "Beatification and Canonization".] ''The Catholic Encyclopedia''. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 27 May 2009.).</ref>