It is a religious expression which can be used only when referring to deceased people. It comes from Latin ‘beatus’ which means blessed. In order for a person to be beatified the Catholic Church has to declare that person as one of the blessed, so he or she is allowed to enter heaven and has the capacity to intercede on behalf of the individuals who pray in his or her name. To be beatified or the act of beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process. A person who is beatified is given the title "Blessed”. In earlier ages this honour was entirely local and passed from one diocese to another with the permission of their bishops. For that reason early Christian cemeteries contain paintings only of local martyrs. Since the Catholic Church reform of 1983, a person can be declared beatified or blessed only if one miracle can be proven to have taken place through the intercession of that person. Though, this requirement is not necessary for those who died a martyr, as their sanctity is already evident because they were killed clearly out of hatred for the faith. The beatification is not universal and is celebrated only in regions where the person receives particular worship. For instance, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha is honoured in the United States of America and Canada. The person may also be honoured in a particular religious order. For instance, veneration of John Duns Scotus is found in the Archdiocese of Cologne, Germany, and among the Franciscans.
