This collection investigates the complex process by which colonized peoples in the New World adopted and transformed Old World saints and religious practices. The essays explore the dynamic interplay between local agendas, colonial powers, and Rome, examining how indigenous spirits were transfigured into Christian saints and the implications of canonization. It delves into the connections between confessional writing, the Inquisition, slavery, spirituality, and the sacred-political nexus.

This collection offers a nuanced perspective on religious syncretism and the agency of colonized populations in shaping their spiritual landscape. The essays highlight the intricate negotiations between indigenous beliefs and imposed Christianity, revealing how local agendas influenced the adoption and adaptation of saints and religious figures. The work underscores the complex relationship between religious devotion, colonial administration, and the exercise of power, demonstrating that conversion was a dynamic and often contested process. It provides a rich historical account of how the sacred and the political were intertwined in the colonial Americas.