Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need [Paperback]

Sean Kelly (Author), Rosemary Rogers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 19, 1993

Hilarious and comprehensive, the ultimate guide to the universe of saints--and what each one means. Cross-referenced by birthdays, professions, and ailments, this is a must-have for any true believer with a proper sense of fun. Illustrated throughout. The authors will appear on Today.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Who is the patron saint of arms dealers? Of oversleeping? If you were throwing a party, who would you invoke for new wine and the hangover the next morning? The answers are found in this lighthearted look at the saints written by former National Lampoon editor Kelly and New York humor writer Rogers. Approximately 585 saints are listed alphabetically and cross-referenced by birthdays, ethnicity, disease, and occupation (sailors seem to implore the saints most often). Most entries list some cruel and unusual torture leading to martyrdom, including hot nails driven through flesh, skinning alive, and the old standby, crucifixion. This guide won't replace Butler's Lives of the Saints , but it gives a fresh take on saint biographies.
- L. Kriz, Sioux City P.L., Ia.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In this entertaining record of saints from A (Abdon--patron saint of barrel makers) to Z (Zoe--martyred in 135), Kelly and Rogers supply snatches of religious, family, and period history for hundreds of saints. They tell bizarre, moving, and incredible stories with a droll, occasionally derisive, wit; Kelly's background as a writer for National Lampoon and "Saturday Night Live" is in evidence. Extremely useful are the appendixes, which contain an annual calendar (with suggestions to look up today's saint or find a patron saint based on one's birthday) and a lengthy list of the saints to pray to for various issues, causes, careers, problems, recreational activities, and miscellaneous needs. The authors state that "they haven't made anything up" while admitting that their sources range from pious tomes to parochial school recollections. As if to compensate, many reputable books can be spotted in the bibliography. Denise Perry Donavin

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Random House; 1st edition (October 19, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067975038X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679750383
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 7.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #860,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's funny, satirical *and* informative!, February 29, 2000

By 

Christine A. Lehman "stoogeswoman" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need (Paperback)

A previous reviewer gave this book one star and wrote: "I am disappointed in this book. It is not appropriate for teaching children about the Saints." Well, duh! This isn't *intended* for teaching children about the saints! It's intended to be *humorous*! So if you're expecting a textbook, yeah, you're going to be disappointed, but if you want a funny, irreverent, and yet surprisingly respectful (sometimes!) overview of the wonderful, wacky world of saints - you will *love* this! :-)

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heard any good Saint Peter jokes, lately?, February 23, 2001

By 

Mary Esterhammer-Fic (Morgan Park, Chicago IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need (Paperback)

This is the hippest hagiography I've seen so far, although the subtitle is a little misleading. For instance, the book doesn't even mention St. Joan de Chantal, who so fervently wanted to join the convent that she supposedly stepped over her children as they clung to her apron, pleading with her not to leave. (I know exactly how this woman felt.) Nor is St. Albans mentioned as patron saint of falconry; his life was allegedly spared as he was about to be burned at the stake, when a pure white gyrfalcon landed on his head. Some of the information is interesting--who knew St. Augustine is the patron saint of brewers?--and it really does flesh out the lives of saints we've heard about while growing up, like Saint Nick. And yes, there is a St. Wolfgang and (goll-eee!!) a St. Gomer. There are also appendices of name saints and patron saints, and scanning through the list leads me to believe that mad dogs and the Evil Eye were big concerns back in the Dark Ages.

I wish it were a little more inclusive. But as one who has experienced personal intercessions by several saints--and is therefore intrigued by this subject--I found this book very enjoyable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Fun!, December 9, 2001

By 

apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Saints Preserve Us!: Everything You Need to Know About Every Saint You'll Ever Need (Paperback)

Although not every saint is listed here there are a lot of saints in this book! The blurbs on each saint are short and easy to read. They are interesting and informative. I appreciated the lists in the back fo the book that told me what saint was my birthday saint, my name saint, and other patron saints I might have based on career, nationality etc. A neat little book.