Celebrating the Saints: Devotional Readings for Saints' Days [Hardcover]

Christopher L. Webber (Author), Robert Atwell (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

In the last decade or so books about the saints have risen to the top of bestseller lists nationwide. Today's seekers, looking for meaning and balance in their lives, are trying to glean wisdom from those who have walked the spiritual path before them. Reading centuries-old words written for a different age, however, can prove difficult and frustrating. For these seekers, and for those who desire devotional texts in general, Celebrating the Saints offers the best of Christian spiritual readings.

Using the saint's day calendars of the Church of England and the Episcopal Church in America, Robert Atwell and Christopher Webber provide readings from hymns, sermons, treatises, letters, journals, prayers and poems written by the saint, or writing about that individual. Christian men and women from the last two millennia are included--from Clement of Alexandria and Hippolytus of Rome to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Evelyn Underhill. Brief biographies and an index to the themes covered in the book make this a useful reference tool, as well as a wonderful devotional book.

A beautifully crafted book, with fine hardcover binding and ribbon marker, Celebrating the Saints is an excellent gift for any season or occasion. A perfect companion to anyone observing the Episcopal Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This new collection on the subject of the saints is the latest in a very considerable outpouring of publications on holy men and women. Compilers Robert Atwell and Christopher Webber's assemblage is distinguished from many others by its breadth, generosity of range, and literacy, not least the attention it gives to the eloquence of the saints themselves. So, this devotional includes not only the usual procession of medieval bishops but South African evangelists, Methodist hymnodists, and Catholic educators, complete with often fascinating, and revelatory, quotations from the saints and their admirers. For most collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"... attractive, informative and easy to use... effectively highlights the spiritual traditions of Christianity in general... Jolly good show." -- Publishers Weekly Religion BookLine, June 26, 2001

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Morehouse Pub Co (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0819218839
• ISBN-13: 978-0819218834
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.9 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,543,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good supplement to daily devotionals, July 12, 2005

By 

G. K. Laughlin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Celebrating the Saints: Devotional Readings for Saints' Days (Hardcover)

As a non-liturgical evangelical Christian, I have missed the heritage of honoring those earlier generations of Christians who provide examples of piety, perseverance and sacrifice from which our generation could learn. Webber compiles writings by and about those earlier Christians who are honored by Episcopalians throughout the year, from the earliest martyrs, such as Stephen, James, the brother of Our Lord, and Polycarp, to adversaries in the Reformation such as Luther and Thomas More, to 19th and 20th century Christians. Many of these same figures are honored by Catholics, Orthodox and Lutherans by feasts on their calendars as well.

There are not entries for every day of the year and I do not always read selections on those days with entries. Nonetheless, if one wants to learn more about 2000 years of saints who await us in eternity, this is an excellent resource.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spiritual soil for the soul, November 30, 2011

By 

Backyard Astronomer - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celebrating the Saints: Devotional Readings for Saints' Days (Hardcover)

Non-liturgical evangelical church tradition leaves out 1500+ years of Christian practice. This is a shame. Atwell's Celebrating the Saints, along with Celebrating the Seasons, goes a long way in helping those from evangelical backgrounds discover / rediscover the many heroes of the faith before the reformation. I highly recommend both of these titles for those wanting to sink their roots in fertile spiritual soil for the soul.