Cultures of Devotion: Folk Saints of Spanish America. FRANK GRAZIANO: Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Abstract

Frank Graziano's study of folk saints examines the common Latin American devotion to unofficial "saints" who have not been recognized and almost certainly never will be recognized by the Vatican. After a long introductory essay that familiarizes readers with the basics of popular Roman Catholicism and gives the author's framework for viewing folk saints, Graziano presents five striking in-depth studies, three from Argentina and one each from Peru and Mexico. Saints, devotees, and devotional practices vary greatly throughout the region, which is not surprising since there is of course no hierarchical regulation or standardization of these sites; however, the detailed description of each saint ultimately paints a revealing picture of this integral aspect of religion as it is lived in contemporary Latin America.