If for a second Óscar Romero had glanced through the open doors of the chapel, would he have seen the young man taking aim? Would he have been afraid? Would he have been tempted to flee?

Serra is known today as the “Apostle of California,” having built in the late 18th century a network of 21 missions that stretched the entire southern half of the state from San Diego to San Francisco.

What appeared externally on Francis' body was reflective of his interior conformity to the lived example of Jesus Christ.

The real Francis is far more compelling and important than the imaginary one.

Robert Bartlett’s book will also be welcome to those who have experienced something of the power of the cult of the saints in their own time and place.

From 2014: In honor of the upcoming canonization of Pope John XXIII, Loyola Press and James Martin, S.J., have graciously allowed us to print this chapter from Father Martin's book, My Life with the Saints.