If you are interested in better understanding the Church’s formal process of naming a saint, called canonization, then consider saints to be like “superstar” athletes. In this analogy, though limited it may be, the recognition of athletic achievement is comparable to achievement in holy intervention. The first two titles of the canonization process give recognition for having lived a holy earthly life, while the top two titles are for heavenly intervention in our earthly existence.
The person honored with the title of “Servant of God” is like the State Champion. He or she is recognized in a very specific area, most often from their native residence. And the person honored with the title of “Venerable” is like the “All-American” athlete, recognized in their division or age-group. Such titles are definitely honorable and respectable yet they are limited in their recognition for achievement at the local levels and in the here and now, that is while they lived on Earth.
The person honored with the title of “Blessed” is like the professional athlete who has earned a Championship ring (e.g. Super Bowl ring). The person is regionally recognized as one of the “best in class.” Some may see him or her as a “World Champion” yet the athlete has truly only competed in a single sport against other professional athletes who are not from all over the world. So consider the one miracle necessary for this recognition as that “once in a lifetime bling.” Such a title would be definitely “out of this world" given the heavenly intervention necessary for a miraculous event. This kind of saint must be living it up on “cloud 9.”
The person honored with the title of “Saint” is like an Olympic World Record Gold Medalist. This person is universally recognized as one of the “best in the world” because he or she “competed against” others from around the world and was found “healthiest victor.” So consider the two miracles necessary for this recognition as “double gold.” Just when you thought one miracle couldn’t be topped, these “real saints” reign down from above with a second miracle after having demonstrated their first heavenly touch. These best of the bests have more than a golden ticket, they shown their two tickets to paradise!
Throughout this process, always keep in mind that the faithful fans are the ones promoting these holy people as saints. The Church is simply recognizing what is already a reality: the holy person is experiencing eternal life with God in Heaven. The sense of faith from the everyday members of the Church propel the “popularity” of these holy men and women to be officially recognized by the hierarchy of the Church. We believe this to be true because of what God has revealed through this person in their life of imitating Christ. And we can look to these “saintly athletes” with admiration and inspiration because in them we can see Christ. And this is why the Church in her wisdom, guided by grace, dispenses out such titles.
