Like many people with Catholic backgrounds, Oakland University history Professor Ronald Finucane learned early on that saints are canonized only after living extraordinary lives marked by holiness, benevolence and miraculous works.<\/p>\n
With help from a $24,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, however, the accomplished historian expects to publish research showing that political considerations have been at least equally influential in the canonization process.<\/p>\n
"What I’m suggesting is that the idea of holiness is immaterial in some cases," Finucane said.<\/p>\n
"Through this work, I expect you’ll be able to see a clearer connection between saints and the politics of their times."<\/p>\n
A graduate of Stanford University who conducted doctoral dissertation research at Oxford University, Finucane has done extensive research on belief systems of the 14th through 16th centuries. He has published five books and authored numerous scholarly articles and essays.<\/p>\n
Throughout much of this work, the 13-year Oakland University professor has nurtured a growing interest in ties between significant historical events and papal decisions to canonize certain saintly individuals.<\/p>\n
Finucane cited the example of St. Hyacinth, a 13th century Polish priest whose canonization was not made official until the end of the 16th century.<\/p>\n
Following the Protestant Reformation, the Catholic Church was interested in minimizing the influence of divergent preachers in Poland. Canonization of St. Hyacinth helped convince ruling powers to stamp out Protestant missions.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the church’s favorably received decision bolstered support among the Polish ruling class to join battles against Turks invading Western Europe.<\/p>\n
Finucane explained that some 300 years after his death, St. Hyacinth’s canonization rose from scores of candidates who had been neglected during a dearth of canonizations in the previous six decades.<\/p>\n
"In his own order alone, there were undoubtedly others who were at least as holy," Finucane said.<\/p>\n