Faced with a gruesome end, countless Christians have chosen—even embraced—death rather than avoid it. This program seeks to understand the psychology of Christian martyrdom and the factors affecting canonization by examining the lives and historical contexts of numerous saints, ranging through time from Stephen and Lawrence, to Thomas Becket and Joan of Arc, to Maximilian Kolbe. Featured commentators include Eugene Kennedy, one of the nation’s most respected writers on religious topics; the University of Notre Dame’s Lawrence Cunningham; and Father Peter Gumpel, of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, in Vatican City. A Discovery Channel Production. (53 minutes)