ThedefenseofthecultofsaintsandrelicswasanessentialelementoftheCatholicCounter-ReformationinEurope.FacingattacksfromProtestantdenominationsofallkinds,theRomanchurchredoubleditseffortstopromotethevenerationofitsholyfiguresandtohousetheirearthlyremainsindramaticstyle.BedazzledSaintschroniclesthetransfer,distribution,anddisplayofnearlyfourhundred“holybodies“ofancientChristianmartyrs,someofthechurch’smostprestigiousrelics,sentfromtheRomancatacombstotheElectorateofBavariabetween1590and1803.Localcommunities,bothreligiousandsecular,brokewithmedievaltraditionandspentimmenseamountsoftimeandmoneytofuseincompleteskeletonsintolavishlydecoratedwhole-bodysaints.Byexaminingtheseornamentedskeletons--painstakinglyenhancedwithjewelsandfineclothingandstillondisplayatopchurchaltarstothisday--NoriaLitakerelucidatestheinterplaybetweenlocalreligiouspracticeanduniversalchurchdoctrine,sheddingnewlightonthenegotiatednatureofsanctityinearlymodernCatholicism.Insodoing,shechallengesthedominantnarrativeoftheBavarianCatholicReformationasatop-downprocessandprovidesnewinsightsintotherolerelicsandtheirinnovativepresentationplayedinthedevelopmentofCatholicidentityinearlymodernGermanlands.
