beatification

[bee-at-uh-fi-key-shuhn]

noun

1. the act of beatifying.

2. the state of being beatified.

3. Roman Catholic Church.,  the official act of the pope whereby a deceased person is declared to be enjoying the happiness of heaven, and therefore a proper subject of religious honor and public cult in certain places.

Word History and Origins

Origin of beatification¹

1495–1505; < Late Latin beātificātiōn- (stem of beātificātiō ), equivalent to beātificāt ( us ) (past participle of beātificāre to beatify ) + -iōn- -ion; -ate ¹

Example Sentences

The usual formal process for someone to be declared a saint would next involve beatification, one step short of full sainthood.

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Of course, Republican conventions in Washington state did not use to be beatification events where candidates were chosen by God.

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The Catholic Church had faced a dilemma in beatifying Wiktoria’s unborn child and declaring it a martyr because, among other things, it had not been baptized, which is a requirement for beatification.

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A beatification Mass service has been held in Poland for a Catholic family murdered by Nazis for hiding Jews during World War Two.

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After the announcement of the beatification, a painting of the family was unveiled and a reliquary containing their remains was brought to the centre of the stage.

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Related Words

• adoration 
• church service www.thesaurus.com
• devotion 
• prayer 
• rite 
• ritual