Saint of the Day: Lives, Lessons, and Feasts

by Leonard Foley (Editor), Pat McCloskey (Editor)

This Classic Best-Seller has been revised for a fifth time to include those recently canonized, beatified or recognized as persons of heroic virtue. There are 13 new entries, including Saints Josephine Bakhita, Adalbert, Louis Mary de Montfort, Our Lady of Fatima, Christopher Magellanes, Rita of Cascia, Augustine Zhao Rong, Apollinarius, Sharbel Makhluf and Catherine of Alexandria, and two new celebrations for the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Most Holy Name of Jesus.

"Most saints weren't private people concerned with 'saving their soul,'" said Father Foley. "There were a few hermits, of course, but so many of them were out there in the front lines doing the Church's work, at times in spite of the Church itself. Because there were reformers, prophets, leaders, people who did what was right regardless of opposition, they were controversial. Some were even dismissed from their religious orders for being troublemakers."

Each of the more than two hundred entries includes a short biography of the saint, a comment linking the example of this life relevant to our own and an appropriate quotation from Scripture, the words of the saint or another spiritual writer for reflection.

Genres: Christian, Catholic, Nonfiction, History, Religion, Faith, Biography

365 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Ana StPaul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Franciscans concise overview of many of our great saints. Well written and never boring.

[Joann10 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is all right, but not great. I got it through Catholic Company as a review book thinking it would be good for morning prayers and a discussion of the saint of the day, but the first problem is that it doesn't have a saint for everyday...it also is over the head of my 9 year old, who generally has very good comprehension. It doesn't contain enough information for adults and older kids.

I did enjoy the comment and quotation for each entry. "a comment on the example of this life relevant to our own and an appropriate quotation from Scripture, the words of the saint or another spiritual writer for reflection.

[Jim Gallen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read “Saint of the Day” throughout the year and, with a little catching up, kept to schedule. It generally provides up to a two-page biography of a saint for most days of the year. Some are popular while others are obscure but all are interesting. I liked it because it refreshed my memory of some with whom I was familiar, introduced me to new saints and inspired me by the accounts of so many heroes and heroines who made the Church through out the Christian era. You could read this through but I recommend using it as I did, as a daily spiritual touchstone.

[John E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Guide to the Saints

This book, although not an encyclopedia of all of the Saints, provides an excellent history of some of the most important Saints. The descriptions are brief, well written and interesting. I just completed reading it and plan to read it again next year.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the saints by taking you through the calendar year. I enjoyed reading this (mostly) along with the day of the year this year, and I learned about a lot of saints and feasts of the Catholic church that I hadn't been familiar with before.

[Big H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not comprehensive by any means, but incredibly informational!

[Cori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does not have a Saint for every day. I initially bought a digital version with the intention of using it as a daily morning reflection. I really enjoyed the format, some history, comments, and quotes for each Saint. Unfortunately, the seeming randomness of the "days" made it impossible to read in any sort of routine, so I eventually just started reading it when I just had time for a short reflection. This book had a wide variety of Saints from different time periods and locations, but it seemed to have more of a focus on North American Saints than most Catholic resources and to be written for an American audience. Overall I enjoyed this book, but the false "of the day" made it frustrating.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this book does not have a Saint for everyday of the year. I found only the “popular” saints were focused on in this book, and the writings on the saints were very textbook like and bland. It would have been nice to brighten up the biographies with pictures. If anyone is using this book to find any additional information about a Saint not found in other places, you probably won’t find too many unique facts, but the book is a good one for anyone who is interested in finding out who some of the saints are and what they did in their lives.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was just going to take in a saint a day for 365 days, but the Saints are just too interesting. Quick sketches are conveyed but a great deal is achieved in that economical use.

I learned a lot.

My new favorite quote from the new-to-me, extremely impressive, and so wonderfully-named,
Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen:

“Woe to me if I prove myself but a half-hearted soldier in the service of my thorn- crowned captain.”

Amen!

Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen,
pray for us!

All the Holy Souls, The Church Triumphant,
pray for us!

Mary, Queen & Mother of All Saints,
pray for us!

[Ivan Krpan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read

Easy to read and really interesting. You could probably read it twice it’s almost like a daily ritual of remembrance.

[Ted Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative daily meditation on Saints

Interesting reflection on the Saint of the Day with informative description of each and suggestions for the reader to model.

[Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was not a cover to cover read, actually got this title from the saint of the day website where you can daily check the saint of the day. Hoping for more patron saint information as well, not much extra here.