The Encyclopedia of Saints [Paperback]

Rosemary Ellen Guiley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

Prior to his religious conversion, St. Francis of Assisi was a liar, thief, and virtual madman known for running naked in the streets. Teresa of Avila healed herself on her deathbed by praying to her patron saint. St. Augustine converted after a terrifying dream in which God beat him black and blue for his pagan beliefs.

These are just some of the colorful and riveting details that can be found in the Encyclopedia of Saints. This single-volume guide includes more than 400 entries that offer detailed biographical accounts of principal saints of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Drawing on extensive research, the book explores their lives and religious journeys, mystical experiences, philosophies, and important influences. Appendixes include information on patron saints by topic, a calendar of feast days, beatified and canonized popes, an explanation of the canonization process, a glossary of terms, and a glossary of heresies.

Saints profiled include:
Blessed Andre Bessette, Anselm. Barnabas, Catherine of Sweden, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Fabian, Pope Gregory I, Hildegard of Bingen, John of the Cross, Lucy of Syracuse, Mark the Evangelist, Nicodemus, Rose of Lima, Simon Stylites, Thomas Aquinas, William of Norwich, Zita.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This alphabetical compendium profiles more than 400 saints recognized by either the Catholic or the Orthodox Church. Entries range from a brief paragraph to several pages and provide complete name, alternative names and spellings, biographical information, summation of religious experiences, reports of miracles or apparitions, and, when available, noteworthy dates: beatification, canonization, and feast day. Each saint's area of patronage is also noted. Some longer entries feature further reading citations listing books, journal articles, and Web sites. Occasional black-and-white illustrations--photographs, woodcuts and reproductions--appear throughout.

Twelve appendixes supplement the data. Three list Doctors of the Church, Fathers of the Church, and canonized popes. Others identify patron saints by topic or place, provide a chronological calendar of feast days, or explain the processes of beatification and canonization. Three are devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary: feast days, authenticated apparitions, and unauthenticated apparitions. There is one glossary of general terms and another glossary of heresies. A detailed index completes the work.

Written for the general public, the readable entries establish social and historical context and do not shy away from identifying controversial or unsubstantiated claims. In her introduction, the author tells that she was motivated to produce this work by a personal mystical experience. Despite this, she does not attempt to interpret or proselytize. Instead, she allows the facts to speak for themselves, as she has in her previous Facts On File publications, including Encyclopedia of Angels (1997) and Atlas of the Mysterious in North America (1994).

Readers seeking inspiration through the lives and examples of historical figures have a multitude of titles to choose from. Recent offerings range from Richard P. McBrien's Lives of the Saints: From Mary and Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa (Harper, 2001) to Heaven Help Us: The Worrier's Guide to the Patron Saints, by Alice La Plante and Clare La Plante (Dell, 1999). Public libraries in need of a basic, accessible resource for the reference collection, or collections that need to update (Guiley includes saints canonized as recently as 2000), will be well served by this volume. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 419 pages
• Publisher: Checkmark Books (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816041342
• ISBN-13: 978-0816041343
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I work fulltime investigating and writing about all things paranormal, which means I lead a most unusual and highly adventurous life. I have written more than 45 books, including single-volume encyclopedias, on a variety of topics, A-Z, angels to zombies and everything in between. I'm interested in the entire spectrum of the paranormal, for everything fits together. I go off in the field to investigate reports of ghosts, UFOs, aliens, ultraterrestrials, Shadow People, Bigfoot, mysterious creatures, Djinn, demons, angels, fairies and more. I am frequently out on the road, and I've had plenty of first-hand experiences of many of the things I document in my books. My work is part of my spiritual journey; probing into the Unknown, the Other Side, and other dimensions is my search for Truth.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent comprehensive look, April 8, 2005

By 

R. Treynor (Columbus, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Saints (Paperback)

I received this book as a gift when I converted to Catholicism several years ago. In recent days, I've read much more of this book than the occasional glance-through I originally had done.

The book offers little that cannot be found online for free, but it is nice to have a handy reference in book form. Just in case the conversation turns to "Who's the patron saint for greeting card makers?" (St. Valentine) - you can look it up, along with brief (often frustratingly too-brief) bios on the saints.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Reference Book on Saints, February 16, 2006

By 

Chris X. Moloney "Chris X. Moloney" (Saint Louis, MO (formerly Newport Beach, CA)) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Encyclopedia of Saints (Paperback)

I purchased this book as a gift for a friend and wound up buying a copy for myself as well. It's a great reference book with interesting, factual and easy-to-read backgrounds on hundreds of well known and many lesser known Saints. Each Saint gets about a page of intersting biographical information and and overview of their lives.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for Catholics learning about their faith!!!, February 28, 2009

By 

M. Benincasa "Student of the Faith" (Silverwood, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saints, Encyclopedia of (Hardcover)

Well worth the money, while researching the Catholic faith this book has been an excellent tool. Highly recommend!