One of the benefits American Saints and Causes can provide the Catholic Church in the United States is insights that only are possible after compiling a comprehensive database of all United States saints and causes. On this page, we capture some observations seen in the data (updated as of 8/20/2024).
First, the database currently contains the following number of entries:
Second, we present a breakdown of the saints and causes by the type of cause:
Third, we present a breakdown of the saints and causes by “state of life”:
Are examples of heroic virtue that rare among the laity or is the laity underrepresented because of the lack of institutional structures prone to fund and promote their causes? With the emphasis in Christifideles Laici on the laity’s important and unique vocation, this seems like an area worthy of some attention by the Church.
Fourth, we present a breakdown of the saints and causes by gender:
While there is a pretty even number of men and women among the declared saints, the pipeline of causes is overwhelmingly male.
Fifth, we present a breakdown of the saints and causes by geography:
Quite a few states have at least one saint or a cause open, but a handful of states have most of the saints and causes in our database.
More analysis of our database is possible. If you are a diocese or cause that is interested in a different view of the data, drop us a note through our Contact Us - General page and we will look into it.
