From the Relics of the Saints in the Liturgy, p. 8-9:
The
relic of a holy person is first exposed during the beatification ceremony in
his or her local church. The ceremony is done within a Eucharistic Celebration
after the homily. During the pontificate of John Paul II, beatification was
almost always carried out in Rome to indicate that it was a universal
celebration. In the present norm released by the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, approved by Benedict XVI, beatification must be celebrated in the local
church of the Servant of God.[1] The local Ordinary, representing the local church, presents the
life and the miracle attributed to the Servant of God. After the proclamation
of decree for beatification which comes from the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints and approved by the pope, the recipient of the miracle through the
intercession of the new Blessed or a member of his or her community, brings the
relic forward, a first class, for veneration, to the Cardinal-Prefect of the
Congregation or to the legate of the pope and is enthroned in a proper place,
preferably in the sanctuary. This is an indication that the new Blessed is now
worth of veneration in the local church. After the ceremony, an Apostolic
Letter is given announcing to the world that there is a new Blessed who may be
venerated by the local church or an individual, and a feast day in the local
church is also assigned.
Upon
canonization, the Blessed is elevated to the ranks of saints of the universal
Church. The pope presides at this moving ceremony. The canonization rite is
done after the greeting. The prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of
Saints, who speaks in behalf of the Church, presents the life and miracle
attributed to the candidate. After which, the Litany of the Saints is prayed
(or sung), with the Litany completed, the pope reads the formula of
canonization: “For the honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the
Catholic faith and the fostering of Christian life, by the authority of our
Lord Jesus Christ, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and our own, after due
deliberation and frequent prayers for divine assistance, and having sought the
counsel of many of our brethren in the Episcopate, we declare and define that
Blessed (Name of the Servant of God) is a Saint and we enroll him (her) among
the Saints, decreeing that he is to be venerated in the whole Church as one of
the Saints.”[2] Then all answer by singing: “Amen” accompanied with applause. This
is followed by a procession of the relic of the new saint, carried by the
beneficiaries of the miracle attributed to the saint, or by one from his or her
community. The relic is presented to the pope and enthroned in a proper place,
preferably in the sanctuary. This act means the saint may now be venerated and
celebrated by the universal church, and serve as an inspiration for the
faithful. An Apostolic Letter is then issued indicating the said canonization
ceremony and the date of the feast.
