1. Introduction

Saints are persons who by various means have demonstrated such worth in their lifetimes as to posthumously merit the company of God. The saint is a ‘holy one’, someone whose exemplary and exceptional qualities bring him or her close to God. But how is saintly merit defined and acquired? How can one be sure of a saint’s closeness to God and posthumous presence in heaven? Do saints need official endorsement, or special witnesses or followers to confirm their status? Or is saintliness an intensely private and mysterious relationship that need concern none but an individual and their god? The Introduction explains how this VSI will help answer these questions.