The Saint Makers: Inside the Catholic Church and How a War Hero Inspired a Journey of Faith

The Saint Makers is a book that explores the unlikely alliance between Father Hotze and Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, as they piece together the life of a long-dead Korean War hero and military chaplain to make a case for eternal divinity. It follows the stories of Avery Gerleman and Chase Kear, who were miraculously brought back to life with the intercession of the divine, and examines how faith and science can co-exist. The book is an uplifting story about a priest who continues to be an example of goodness and faith, at a time when the church has faced scandal and damage.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 28 April 2022
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

The Saint Makers is a captivating novel that delves into the unlikely alliance between Father Hotze and Dr. Andrea Ambrosi, a country priest and a cosmopolitan Italian canon lawyer. Together, they embark on a mission to unravel the life of a long-dead Korean War hero and military chaplain, shaping it into a compelling case for eternal divinity. Joe Drape provides a front-row seat into the intricate workings of the Catholic Church's saint-making machinery, which, despite its age, has remained largely unchanged over the centuries. Through this narrative, he explores the delicate balance between faith and science and questions whether they can coexist harmoniously.

The story unfolds from the plains of Kansas to the opulent halls of the Vatican, encompassing the brutal Korean War prison camps where Father Kapaun served. It revolves around two individuals, Avery Gerleman and Chase Kear, whose lives were threatened by illness and injury. Their families and friends prayed to Father Kapaun, seeking his intercession, and miraculously, they experienced remarkable recoveries. Gerleman now works as a nurse, while Kear pursues a career in the aerospace industry. Their devotion to Father Kapaun hinges on their belief and the medical charts that document his miraculous interventions.

In a time when the Catholic Church has faced significant scandal and challenges, The Saint Makers offers an uplifting tale of a priest who continues to exemplify goodness and faith. The novel explores the journey of faith not only for the two priests, who are separated by seventy years, but also for the two young athletes who were miraculously brought back to life with or without the intercession of the divine. It invites readers to contemplate what truly makes a person worthy of the Congregation of Saints in the eyes of the Catholic Church.

Through its rich narrative and compelling characters, The Saint Makers invites us to reflect on the power of faith, the significance of sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. It is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the enduring belief in the divine.

Weight: 240g
Dimension: 208 x 138 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780316268820