A study of the making of saintly reputations, showing how sainthood, although frequently seen as a personal trait, is actually the product of negotiations between particular individuals and their communities. This text examines the mechanics of sainthood.

This is a study of the making of saintly reputations, showing how sainthood, although frequently seen as a personal trait, is actually the product of negotiations between particular individuals and their communities. Employing historical and anthropological methods and textual criticism, this text examines the mechanics of sainthood in daily interactions between putative saints and their audiences.