As far as I can tell, the process of investigating and documenting every aspect of the life of a prospective saint is relatively new. Until the last century or two, most of these patron designations, and the life stories of the saints, were primarily folklore. When you look at these stories as legend and folklore, it adds a completely different perspective - then you can really enjoy the stories, instead looking at them as some insidious form of religious propaganda.

-Joe Offer-