sanctifying

transitive verb sanctified, sanctifying

1. to make holy; specif.,
   1. to set apart as holy; consecrate
   2. to make free from sin; purify
2. to make binding or inviolable by a religious sanction
3. to make productive of spiritual blessing
4. to make seem morally right or binding: a practice sanctified by custom

Origin: ME sanctifien, altered (infl. by L) < OFr saintifier < LL(Ec) sanctificare: see saint & -fy