Description
Synopsis:
An incredibly valuable guide to the best known saints, imaginatively presented so as to offer as many ways into the lives of these saints as possible.
A total of 365 saints are featured here, but this is far more than a daily devotional book. Each entry has a summary of the saint’s life and work but the truly distinctive feature is the addition in every case of extracts from the saint’s own writings, so that today’s reader can really hear the voice of the saint coming through.
The organisation of the book is such that it can be used in five different ways. It can, if desired, be used as a daily readings book. But in addition, the entries are arranged alphabetically, so that it functions as a dictionary; the entries can be followed in historical order, with each entry indicating the previous and next saints in that order; and there are both a calendar of saints and a full thematic index at the beginning of the book, so that they can be accessed by saints day or topic as well.
Thus this well-known US Catholic author has achieved a truly adaptable work which will prove invaluable within the Catholic world and beyond, with a wide general appeal to Christians of all hues and in the general market also, particularly given the backing of The Times.
From the Back Cover:
‘An engaging collection of biographical profiles, quotations from the saints themselves, meditations and prayers.’
In lively profiles written for contemporary readers, Bert Ghezzi presents here the faith and wisdom of familiar and little-known saints alike. There are such well beloved saints as Saint Peter and Saint Catherine of Siena, Aaint Herome and Saint Therese of Lisieux; and humble figures such as Felix of Nola, Pelagia the Penitent, Lenoard of Port Maurice. For each of these Ghezzi chronicles their journey of faith and contribution to the vitality of the church.
The arrangement of ‘The Times Book of Saints’ means that it can be used in several different ways. With the entries organised alphabetically, it serves as a helpful, easy-to-use dictionary; with a day-by-day numbering system, it is ideal for daily devotional use. A calendar of saints’ days is also included, and an index of themes offers a direct route to the lives of saints relevant to a particular issue. Lastly, each entry includes an indication of the last and next saints in chronological order, as a further way through the book.
The widely varied and unusual lives of faith portrayed here offer a glimpse of the breadth of God’s work with mankind, and make this book immensely valuable both as an introduction to the lives of the saints and as a reference companion.
