Why does it matter to explore the personal lives of saints? Janina argues that understanding saints as real people makes their stories more relatable and inspiring for contemporary audiences. “Saints offer models of resilience, compassion, and faith—not as distant, perfect beings, but

Janina Ramirez’s expertise in art history allows her to shed light on how visual culture shaped and reflected the personal images of saints. Medieval art was a powerful tool for communicating saints’ stories to largely illiterate populations. Icons, frescoes, and manuscripts portrayed

The role of family in the lives of saints is often overlooked in popular narratives but was central to their personal stories. Many saints came from influential families that played roles in their path to sanctity, either supporting or opposing their choices. Janina Ramirez notes: “Saint

Gender plays a crucial role in understanding the personal lives of saints, especially women saints whose stories have often been marginalized or reshaped. Women saints frequently had to negotiate restrictive gender norms. Many were daughters of noble families, expected to marry for political alli