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.

From BBC

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

Related Words

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