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

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

From Seattle Times

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.

From Washington Times

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

From BBC

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.

From Reuters

After beatification, a miracle attributed to the Ulmas’ intercession would be necessary for their eventual canonization, as the church’s sainthood process is called.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• adoration
• church service
• devotion
• prayer
• rite
• ritual