Causes for Canonization
The path to sainthood is a journey of four stages. Follow these active causes and support the men and women whose heroic virtue is being examined by the Church.
87 causes
Recently Canonized
Completed causes: now saints of the Church
1991–2006
St. Carlo Acutis
Italian teenager who catalogued Eucharistic miracles online. Canonized September 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV. Patron of the internet.
Diocese of Assisi
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1901–1925
St. Pier Giorgio Frassati
Young Italian layman who lived radical charity in secret and died at 24 serving the poor. Canonized September 7, 2025.
Archdiocese of Turin
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1913–1928
José Sánchez del Río
Teenage Cristero martyr who refused to renounce his faith under torture. The youngest Mexican saint, canonized 2016.
Diocese of Zamora
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1878–1938
Rafael Guízar y Valencia
Bishop of Veracruz known as the "Bishop of the Poor" who ministered in disguise during anti-Catholic persecution. First canonized Latin American bishop.
Diocese of Veracruz
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1840–1912
St. Marie Leonie Paradis
Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family. Canonized October 20, 2024, by Pope Francis.
Diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Blesseds
Beatified, awaiting canonization
1870–1957
Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap.
Capuchin friar and humble doorkeeper in Detroit whose intercession brought healings to thousands.
Archdiocese of Detroit
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1935–1981
Fr. Stanley Rother
Oklahoma farm boy turned priest who refused to abandon his Guatemalan parish and was martyred for it. First American-born martyr beatified.
Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1852–1890
Fr. Michael McGivney
Parish priest who founded the Knights of Columbus to protect immigrant Catholic families. Beatified 2020.
Archdiocese of Hartford
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1901–1927
Bl. Miriam Teresa Demjanovich, S.C.
Ruthenian Greek Catholic mystic and spiritual writer from New Jersey who died at 26. First beatification ceremony held in the United States (2014).
Archdiocese of Newark
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1819–1867
Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R.
Bavarian Redemptorist who worked alongside St. John Neumann and died caring for yellow fever victims in New Orleans. Beatified 2000.
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1918–1963
Bl. Carlos Manuel Rodríguez Santiago
First Puerto Rican blessed and first Caribbean-born layperson beatified. Liturgical renewal pioneer who taught Catholics to love the Mass. Beatified 2001.
Diocese of Caguas
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1891–1927
P. Miguel Agustín Pro, S.J.
Jesuit priest martyred during Mexico's Cristero persecution. Executed by firing squad with arms outstretched, crying "Viva Cristo Rey!"
Archdiocese of Mexico City
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1862–1937
Concepción Cabrera de Armida
Married laywoman and mother of nine who authored 60,000+ pages of mystical writings. First Mexican laywoman beatified.
Archdiocese of Mexico City
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1800–1851
Émilie Tavernier-Gamelin
Foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Montreal. Devoted her life to the poor, elderly, orphans, and mentally ill.
Archdiocese of Montreal
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Venerables
Heroic virtue recognized, awaiting a miracle
1895–1979
Abp. Fulton J. Sheen
Archbishop, television pioneer, and the most influential Catholic communicator of the 20th century. Beatification approved February 2026.
Diocese of Peoria
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1854–1897
Fr. Augustus Tolton
The first recognized Black American Catholic priest, ordained in Rome after every U.S. seminary rejected him.
Archdiocese of Chicago
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1813–1862
Henriette DeLille
Free woman of color in antebellum New Orleans who founded the Sisters of the Holy Family to serve enslaved and free Black communities.
Archdiocese of New Orleans
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1842–1936
Fr. Nelson Baker
The "Padre of the Poor" who built one of the largest charitable institutions in America in Lackawanna, New York.
Diocese of Buffalo
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1893–1984
Mother Angeline Teresa McCrory
Founded the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm, revolutionizing Catholic eldercare in America.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1916–1951
Ven. Fr. Emil Kapaun
Army chaplain captured in Korea who kept his fellow POWs alive through faith, humor, and stolen food. Declared Venerable February 2025. Medal of Honor.
Diocese of Wichita
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1886–1948
Ven. Fr. Edward Flanagan
Irish-born founder of Boys Town who believed "there are no bad boys." Declared Venerable March 2026 by Pope Leo XIV.
Archdiocese of Omaha
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1909–1992
Ven. Fr. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.
"The family that prays together stays together." The Rosary Priest who brought prayer to Hollywood and the world. Declared Venerable 2017.
Diocese of Scranton
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1766–1853
Ven. Pierre Toussaint
Former Haitian slave who became New York City's most famous hairdresser and an extraordinary philanthropist. The only layperson interred in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
c. 1789–1882
Ven. Mother Mary Lange, O.S.P.
Founded the Oblate Sisters of Providence (1829), the first religious congregation for women of African descent in the United States. Declared Venerable 2023.
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1931–1991
Ven. Alphonse Gallegos, O.A.R.
Augustinian Recollect, auxiliary bishop of Sacramento. Hispanic advocate who marched with the United Farm Workers. Killed in a hit-and-run while pushing a stalled car off the highway.
Diocese of Sacramento
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1860–1918
Ven. Mary Theresa Dudzik
Polish immigrant who sheltered the elderly and orphaned in her own Chicago home during the 1893 crash. Founded the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago.
Archdiocese of Chicago
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1818–1876
Ven. Élisabeth Bruyère
Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa. Established Ottawa's first hospital, school, and orphanage.
Archdiocese of Ottawa
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Servants of God
Cause formally opened, under investigation
1897–1980
Dorothy Day
Journalist, social activist, and co-founder of the Catholic Worker Movement.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1937–1990
Sr. Thea Bowman, FSPA
Granddaughter of slaves who became the most electrifying Black Catholic evangelist of the 20th century.
Diocese of Jackson
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
c. 1833–1918
Julia Greeley
Born into slavery in Missouri, she became Denver's "Angel of Charity," delivering food and coal to the poor in secret.
Archdiocese of Denver
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1863–1950
Nicholas Black Elk
Oglala Lakota holy man, catechist, and convert who brought over 400 souls into the Catholic Church on the Pine Ridge Reservation.
Diocese of Rapid City
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1984–2015
Michelle Duppong
FOCUS missionary from a North Dakota farm whose journals revealed a hidden mystic. The fastest American cause opened in modern times.
Diocese of Bismarck
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1947–1959
Charlene Richard
A 12-year-old Cajun girl who offered her suffering from leukemia for others. Known as "the little Cajun saint."
Diocese of Lafayette
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1819–1888
Fr. Isaac Hecker
Convert and founder of the Paulist Fathers, the first religious community of men established in America.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1922–2000
Sr. Ida Peterfy, SDSH
Hungarian-born foundress who survived Nazis and Communists to bring joyful catechesis to children in California.
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1904–1957
Cora Evans
Convert from Mormonism who became a Catholic mystic. Her cause promotes the "Mystical Humanity of Christ" devotion.
Diocese of Monterey
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1843–1931
Joseph Dutton
Civil War veteran and Catholic convert who spent 44 years serving leprosy patients alongside Saint Damien at Kalaupapa, Molokai.
Diocese of Honolulu
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1831–1896
Adele Brise
Belgian immigrant who received the only Church-approved Marian apparition in the United States and spent 37 years catechizing frontier children.
Diocese of Green Bay
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1929–1967
Fr. Vincent Capodanno, M.M.
Maryknoll missionary and Navy chaplain killed in Vietnam while running through fire to reach wounded Marines. Medal of Honor recipient. "The Grunt's Padre."
Archdiocese for the Military Services
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1897–1920
Francis J. Parater
Virginia seminarian and Eagle Scout who died at 22 in Rome. His Act of Oblation caught the attention of two popes. First Virginia-born Catholic nominated for sainthood.
Diocese of Richmond
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1850–1941
Sr. Blandina Segale, S.C.
Italian-born Sister of Charity who served on the American frontier, met Billy the Kid, and founded schools and hospitals across New Mexico. "The fastest nun in the West."
Archdiocese of Santa Fe
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1888–1948
Rhoda Wise
Catholic convert and mystic from Canton, Ohio who bore the stigmata. Her intercession healed Mother Angelica, founder of EWTN. Over 14,000 visited her bier.
Diocese of Youngstown
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1770–1840
Fr. Demetrius Gallitzin
Russian prince turned frontier priest who spent 41 years and his entire inheritance building a Catholic community in the Allegheny Mountains. "The Apostle of the Alleghenies."
Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1921–1983
Terence Cardinal Cooke
Archbishop of New York who quietly battled leukemia throughout his tenure while leading the largest archdiocese in America. Pro-life advocate and Military Vicar.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1946–2006
Fr. Bill Atkinson, O.S.A.
First quadriplegic man ordained a Catholic priest. Paralyzed from the neck down in a toboggan accident, he taught theology for 30 years. "I never had a bad day."
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1866–1955
Mary Virginia Merrick
Confined to bed for 75 years after a childhood fall, she founded the Christ Child Society from her bed, growing it into a national movement serving poor children.
Archdiocese of Washington
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1912–1944
Fr. Joseph Verbis Lafleur
Army chaplain and POW who refused evacuation in the Philippines. Died on the torpedoed SS Shinyo Maru, staying behind to help others escape. Medal of Honor nominee.
Diocese of Lafayette
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1914–2000
Fr. John Hardon, S.J.
Jesuit theologian and EWTN catechist who wrote The Catholic Catechism at Pope Paul VI's request. Consulted on the Catechism of the Catholic Church for JPII.
Archdiocese of Detroit
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1892–1952
Bp. Francis Xavier Ford, M.M.
Maryknoll's first student and first martyr. Bishop of Kaying, China. Arrested by Communists, paraded through streets, died in prison 1952.
Diocese of Brooklyn
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1867–1908
Fr. Leo Heinrichs, O.F.M.
Franciscan priest shot through the heart while distributing Communion in Denver. With his dying breaths, he recovered the scattered hosts.
Archdiocese of Denver
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1833–1907
Mother Margaret Mary Healy Murphy
Founded the first free school for African Americans in San Antonio and the first religious order in Texas. Established 39 missions serving Black and Mexican American communities.
Archdiocese of San Antonio
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1860–1919
Fr. Thomas Frederick Price, M.M.
"The Tar Heel Apostle." First native North Carolinian priest. Co-founded Maryknoll with Fr. James Walsh in 1911. Died in China on his first foreign mission.
Diocese of Raleigh
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1867–1936
Bp. James Anthony Walsh, M.M.
Co-founded Maryknoll with Fr. Thomas Price in 1911, building it into the largest American Catholic missionary organization.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1939–2002
Gwen Coniker
Mother of 12, co-founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration. Named by Pope John Paul II to advise the Pontifical Council for the Family.
Diocese of Steubenville
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1779–1839
Bp. Simon Bruté de Rémur
First Bishop of Vincennes (Indiana). Called by John Quincy Adams "the most learned man of his day in America." Built the Church on the frontier with only two priests.
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1778–1820
Fr. Felice de Andreis, C.M.
Italian Vincentian, first superior of the Congregation of the Mission in the US. Founded the first seminary west of the Mississippi in Perry County, Missouri.
Archdiocese of St. Louis
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1888–1940
Msgr. Bernard John Quinn
Founded St. Peter Claver, Brooklyn's first parish for African American Catholics. Built an orphanage for Black children; the KKK burned it down twice and he rebuilt it each time.
Diocese of Brooklyn
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1869–1923
Fr. Stephen Eckert, O.F.M. Cap.
Canadian-born Capuchin who devoted his life to African Americans in Milwaukee and Harlem. His tombstone reads: "The Apostle and Champion of the Colored Race."
Archdiocese of Milwaukee
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1863–1940
Fr. Paul James Wattson, S.A.
Founded the Friars and Sisters of the Atonement at Graymoor. Created the Chair of Unity Octave (now the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed worldwide). Convert from Episcopalianism.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1912–1983
Fr. Joseph Múzquiz
Spanish priest sent by St. Josemaria Escriva to bring Opus Dei to the United States in 1949. Former railroad engineer. Established centers in Chicago and Washington.
Archdiocese of Boston
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1834–1905
Mother Mary Magdalene Bentivoglio, O.S.C.
Italian noblewoman sent by Pope Pius IX to establish the Poor Clares in America. Arrived with no money and no English. Founded 20+ monasteries. Body found incorrupt.
Diocese of Evansville
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1906–1982
Bp. Vincent McCauley, C.S.C.
Holy Cross missionary. First Bishop of Fort Portal, Uganda. Served through Idi Amin's dictatorship, refused to leave his people.
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1911–2000
Dr. Gertrude Barber
Founded the Barber National Institute (1952) to serve children with disabilities when most were institutionalized. Received Presidential Citizens Medal from President Clinton.
Diocese of Erie
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1924–2006
Fr. Joseph Walijewski
Wisconsin missionary who hacked through the Bolivian jungle with a machete to build churches. Founded an orphanage in Peru. Died of pneumonia at 82 still on mission.
Diocese of La Crosse
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1913–1974
Fr. Theodore Foley, C.P.
Passionist priest elected Superior General of the worldwide Congregation of the Passion in 1964. Led the order through post-Vatican II renewal.
Rome (Passionist General Curia)
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1897–1974
Fr. George Willmann, S.J.
Brooklyn-born Jesuit who spent 40 years in the Philippines. "Father of the Knights of Columbus in the Philippines." Granted Filipino citizenship for his service.
Archdiocese of Manila
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1848–1923
Br. Columba O'Neill, C.S.C.
"The Holy Cobbler of Notre Dame." Mended shoes for 38 years at the University of Notre Dame while healing the sick through prayer to the Sacred Heart.
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1845–1878
Fr. Patrick Ryan
Irish-born priest in Tennessee who stayed to minister to yellow fever victims and died of the disease himself. Body reinterred at Saints Peter and Paul Basilica, Chattanooga.
Diocese of Knoxville
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1905–1981
Fr. Aloysius Ellacuria, C.M.F.
Basque-born Claretian priest in Southern California renowned for charisms of healing, prophecy, and reading souls. Buried at San Gabriel Mission.
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1895–1982
Fr. William Slattery, C.M.
First American-born Superior General of the Vincentians and Daughters of Charity. Governed 36 provinces and 45,000+ charitable foundations worldwide.
Archdiocese of Baltimore
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
d. 1571
Juan Bautista de Segura and Companions
Eight Jesuit missionaries martyred at the Ajacán Mission in Virginia in 1571. The first Catholic missionaries killed in what became the United States.
Diocese of Richmond
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
c. 1500–1549
Fray Luis de Cáncer, O.P.
Dominican proto-martyr of Florida. Disciple of Bartolomé de Las Casas. Pioneered non-violent evangelization. Martyred on the shores of Tampa Bay.
Diocese of St. Petersburg
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1761–1830
Fr. Magín Catalá, O.F.M.
"The Holy Man of Santa Clara." Catalan Franciscan mystic who served at Mission Santa Clara for 36 years. Reportedly levitated during prayer.
Diocese of San Jose
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1918–1999
Fr. Martin de Porres Ward, O.F.M. Conv.
First African American Conventual Franciscan. Spent 40+ years as missionary in Brazil. Seventh Black Catholic sainthood candidate from the US.
Diocese of São João del Rei (Brazil)
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1941–1975
Friar Casimir Cypher, O.F.M. Conv.
Franciscan from Wisconsin martyred in Honduras at age 34. Stripped, beaten, and executed by soldiers during the Los Horcones massacre.
Diocese of Olancho (Honduras)
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1888–1977
Auguste "Nonco" Pelafigue
Cajun Catholic layman who spent 68 years spreading devotion to the Sacred Heart on foot across rural Louisiana. Died on the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
Diocese of Lafayette
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1925–2009
Irving Houle
Michigan grandfather and stigmatist who spent 16 years praying over tens of thousands of people. Many reported extraordinary healings.
Diocese of Marquette
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
d. 1873
Shreveport Martyrs (5 French Priests)
Five young French missionary priests (ages 26-27) who died serving yellow fever victims in Shreveport, Louisiana. First cause from northern Louisiana.
Diocese of Shreveport
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1905–1994
Fr. John Joseph McKniff, O.S.A.
Augustinian missionary to the Philippines, Cuba (27 years), and Peru. Died on mission at age 88.
Diocese of Chulucanas (Peru)
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1867–1954
Mother Mary Teresa Tallon
Founded the Parish Visitors of Mary Immaculate (1920), a contemplative community devoted to door-to-door evangelization of the lapsed and unchurched.
Archdiocese of New York
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1908–2004
Fr. Joseph Cappel, M.M.
Maryknoll missionary who served 55 years in rural Chile on a bicycle. Arrived in 1935 and never left. Lived to 95.
Diocese of Linares (Chile)
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
b. 1976
Paul Michael Murphy
Member of the Miles Jesu Institute. His cause for canonization has been opened.
Miles Jesu Institute
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Ernő Tindira
Hungarian-born Catholic whose cause for canonization has been opened in the United States.
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
d. 1868
Fr. Jean Martin Eyraud
French missionary priest who served in the United States during the 19th century.
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1896–1985
Catherine de Hueck Doherty
Russian-born laywoman who founded the Madonna House Apostolate in Ontario. Social justice pioneer, author, and spiritual mother.
Diocese of Pembroke
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
1994–2011
Joe Wilson
Scottish teenager whose spiritual diary revealed a soul of extraordinary depth. Named Servant of God by the bishops of Scotland in 2025.
Diocese of Motherwell
Servant of God
Venerable
Blessed
Saint
Causes Concluded
Formal process closed; their spiritual witness endures
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