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How the Quest for Holy Heroes Helped Catholics Become American

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Published in A Saint Of Our Own: How The Quest For A Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American

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A Saint of Our Own: How the Quest for a Holy Hero Helped Catholics Become American

by Kathleen Sprows Cummings

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4409 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	320 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

In her new book, How the Quest for Holy Heroes Helped Catholics Become American, Kathleen Sprows Cummings explores the role of Catholic saints in the formation of American Catholic identity. She argues that the veneration of saints provided a way for Catholics to connect with their faith and to feel a sense of belonging in a predominantly Protestant society.

Cummings traces the history of Catholic sainthood in the United States from the colonial era to the present day. She shows how the veneration of saints has changed over time, reflecting the changing needs of the Catholic community. In the early days of the republic, Catholics were a small and marginalized group. They were often the targets of discrimination and prejudice. The veneration of saints provided them with a way to assert their faith and to feel connected to a larger community of believers.

As the Catholic population grew in the 19th and 20th centuries, the veneration of saints became more widespread. Catholic churches and schools were built across the country, and many of them were named after saints. Saints' images were displayed in homes and businesses. Catholics also began to organize pilgrimages to holy sites in the United States and abroad.

The veneration of saints has played a vital role in the formation of American Catholic identity. Saints provide Catholics with role models to emulate and intercessors to pray to. They also help Catholics to connect with their faith and to feel a sense of belonging to a larger community of believers.

Cummings' book is a fascinating and informative look at the role of Catholic saints in American history. It is a must-read for anyone interested in American Catholicism or the history of religion in the United States.

Reviews

"Cummings has written a brilliant and deeply researched book that sheds new light on the role of Catholic saints in American history. This is a must-read for anyone interested in American Catholicism or the history of religion in the United States."
—John McGreevy, author of Catholicism and American Freedom

"Cummings' book is a fascinating and informative look at the role of Catholic saints in American history. It is a valuable contribution to the scholarship on American Catholicism and the history of religion in the United States."
—R. Scott Appleby, author of The Ambivalence of the Sacred

"Cummings' book is a timely and important contribution to the understanding of American Catholic identity. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of religion in the United States."
—David J. O'Brien, author of The Renewal of American Catholicism

About the Author

Kathleen Sprows Cummings is a professor of American studies at the University of Notre Dame. She is the author of several books on American Catholic history, including The Exile of Erin: Irish Immigrants in Victorian New York and Daughters of the Church: Women in American Catholicism.