[stripes1776]

Beatification is the LAST, i.e., ultimate, step *Before* sainthood.

Isn't canonization the last step before sainthood? In that case, canonization is the ultimate step, and beatification is the penultimate step.

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Isn't canonization the last step before sainthood?"

I looked at it as canonization was sainthood, therefore it wasn't a step *before* sainthood.