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Torch & Lily API

Sanctus Style Guide

When submitting a new saint, follow these conventions precisely. Submissions that do not match will be sent back for correction.

Naming

Section titled “Naming”
  • Standard format: St. First Last (e.g. St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Patrick).
  • Blessed: Use Blessed First Last for beatified-only (not yet canonized).
  • Archangels: Omit St. — use Archangel Michael, not St. Michael the Archangel.
  • Marian titles: The Blessed Virgin Mary, not St. Mary.
  • Numbered saints: Use Roman numerals — St. Pope Pius V, not St. Pope Pius 5.
  • No double-stacking: Choose one prefix. St. Blessed Carlo is wrong — use St. Carlo Acutis.

Title (Honorific)

Section titled “Title (Honorific)”

The title field is for the saint’s traditional sobriquet only — not a generic role.

CorrectIncorrect
The Angelic DoctorSt. Thomas Aquinas (duplicates name)
The Little FlowerSaint Thérèse (contains ‘Saint’)
(blank)Martyr (generic role, not an honorific)

Leave this field blank if no traditional honorific exists. Most saints do not have one.

Ranks

Section titled “Ranks”

Must include at least Saint or Blessed. Combine as needed from:

Saint, Blessed, Doctor of the Church, Martyr, Virgin, Confessor, Apostle, Evangelist, Patriarch, Bishop, Priest, Deacon, Religious, Layperson

Dates

Section titled “Dates”
  • born_year and died_year are required integers. born_year must be less than died_year.
  • For approximate dates, estimate a reasonable integer and fill the display field:
    • “Early 2nd century” → born_year: 120, born_display: "early 2nd century"
    • “c. 340 AD” → born_year: 340, born_display: "c. 340 AD"
  • Leave display fields blank when the date is exact.

Feast Day

Section titled “Feast Day”

Format: Month Day — e.g. January 28, October 4. No year, no ordinal suffix (28th is invalid).

Canonization Year

Section titled “Canonization Year”

The specific year of formal canonization (e.g. 1925, 2025). Leave blank for pre-congregation saints (canonized by tradition before ~1000 AD).

Biography

Section titled “Biography”
  • Length: 300–500 words.
  • Tone: Reverent but clear. Narrative, not a list of dates.
  • Structure: Origins → vocation → works/miracles → death → legacy.
  • Do not reference your source within the text (“According to the Catholic Encyclopedia…” is wrong — just tell the story).
  • Do not copy-paste from your source. Synthesize the facts into your own narrative.
  • Standard Markdown: paragraphs, emphasis, block quotes. No raw HTML.

Patronage, Iconography, and Attributes

Section titled “Patronage, Iconography, and Attributes”
  • Patronage: Traditional patronages only (e.g. Theologians, Students). Do not invent modern ones.
  • Iconography: Visual symbols in art (e.g. Sun on chest, Arrows, Tower). Only attributes associated with this specific saint — not symbols of their city or order.
  • Attributes: Objects or characteristics (e.g. Dominican habit, Ox, Book).

Source Citation

Section titled “Source Citation”

Every submission requires a source — the primary reference you used to write the entry. This becomes the saint’s citation record in the archive.

External Source (default)

Section titled “External Source (default)”

If your source is an external website or publication:

  • Leave Source Type as “External URL” (the default).
  • Provide the Source URL — any stable, publicly accessible URL.
  • Add a brief Source Description (e.g. “Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)”, “Butler’s Lives of the Saints”).

Examples:

  • Catholic Encyclopedia: https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14663b.htm
  • Butler’s Lives: https://www.bartleby.com/210/

Internal Source (Torch record)

Section titled “Internal Source (Torch record)”

If your source is a book already in the archive (e.g. a chapter from Butler’s Lives that was submitted as an Opus):

  • Set Source Type to “Internal Record”.
  • Use the Source Chapter search to find the chapter you’re referencing and select it.
  • Optionally add a Source Description for clarity.