THE SAINT MAKERS

The road to sainthood for a chaplain in the Korean War.

New York Times sportswriter Drape tells the story of Father Emil Kapaun (1916-1951), a Roman Catholic priest from Kansas who, as a chaplain in Korea, displayed remarkable courage under fire and as a POW. Kapaun is now a candidate for sainthood, and the author provides a multilevel exposition of his impressive life, the dedicated individuals advancing his cause for sainthood, the role and process of sainthood in Catholicism, and the author’s own spiritual longings. Drape begins by introducing Father John Hotze, who was charged with the task of gathering information about Kapaun for Rome. Hotze’s quest for records, background, and witnesses leads into the biographical portions of the book, which describe the remarkably pious and mature young Kapaun, his training for the priesthood, and then the story of his heroism in Korea. For his valor, he received numerous awards, including a Purple Heart, Legion of Merit, and posthumous Medal of Honor. Kapaun’s legendary spiritual and moral leadership, especially as a POW, affected the lives of not only the soldiers who served with him, but also the residents of his small Kansas community. The medically unexplained recoveries of two young people—one traumatically injured in a pole-vaulting accident, the other near death due to lung and kidney problems—were attributed by family and friends to Kapaun’s prayers. These miracle stories, in addition to the testimony of a virtuous life provided by Hotze’s research, provide the solid background of the case for Kapaun’s sainthood, a case most recently stalled by the pandemic. At points, the author discusses how Kapaun’s story and the experiences of others have reawakened his own sense of faith and hunger for a deeper spiritual life. Drape attempts to cover so many angles and viewpoints that the narrative is occasionally choppy—but it’s engaging nonetheless.

Though sometimes roughly spliced together, this profile in sainthood is humane and compelling.