Description
Canonizations are about “saintly” individuals but also about Vatican and national politics. They manifest evolving values and sometimes challenge preconceived ideas about countries and groups within them. The canonization of some Americans by the Roman Catholic Church served as an anchor for U.S. Catholics who had not been perceived as “true” Americans by their fellow citizens. It influenced their identity as Americans and Catholics and, in turn, influenced how they were perceived by non-Catholics in this country. But the process was fraught with contradictions that reflected society’s inequalities and prejudices. We will look at some U.S. saints from different ethnic backgrounds, at the impact of their activities, and at the interesting fact that most canonized Americans are women.