Recently someone in this thread described Mr. Rogers as "as close as America has ever come to producing a real-life saint". Can anyone suggest other Americans deserving of the title?
posted by It ain't over yet on Apr 6, 2009 - 59 answers

I came across this shrine in Arizona. The statue on the left (decapitated, though the head is still present and can be seen in the detail photo) is the only one I can't identify, not being too familiar with Catholicism and Latin American folk practices. Can anyone tell me who (which saint?) this is? Here's an image of the entire shrine; and here's some detail. (Click on "all sizes" above the image for a larger view.) Thanks (comments on the shrine are welcome, as well.)
posted by soulbarn on Mar 17, 2009 - 6 answers

I sometimes see announcements in the newspaper praising saints and listing prayers or novenas with instructions to publish the same ad in a future edition of the paper if the prayers work for you. Who places these ads? What purpose do they serve? What's the deal?
posted by lysistrata on Jul 14, 2008 - 8 answers

Who are the lowest regarded saints? Not just of the Catholic Church, but of all denominations that claim saints (Methodist, Anglican, Orthodox, etc.)? [more inside]
posted by parmanparman on Jun 12, 2008 - 31 answers

Is there a specific name for the Catholic candles you can get at Mexican grocery stores? The ones in glass jars with pictures of saints, Marias, or Jesus? And can anyone tell me more about them, such as how they fit into Catholicism or their cultural resonances? I'm curious about them, and I've found remarkably little info on the internet-- which leads me to wonder if I'm not using the right search term, or if (egads!) there actually is not a website out there with information.
posted by bookish on Sep 5, 2007 - 27 answers

HagiographyFilter: Looking for a reference for Catholic Saints' Days in Hispanic cultures. [more inside]
posted by nkknkk on May 1, 2007 - 10 answers

I am looking for information on "cowled" children, that is, children born with a defect characterized by a loose flap of skin attached to the forehead. [more inside]
posted by undule on Sep 30, 2005 - 11 answers