Product Description

This best-selling dictionary brilliantly reveals the lives and works of a host of fascinating individuals, from Biblical saints to those most recently canonised. It is a worthy companion to any study of Biblical or Church history, and includes details of feast days and special patronage to aid personal devotion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #262067 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

From the Publisher

Some sample entries:

ERIC, KING OF SWEDEN

(D. at Uppsala, c. 1160; f.d. 18 May.) He became king of a considerable part of Sweden in 1150, and designed to conquer and to convert to Christianity the neighbouring Finns. He was killed when a Danish prince, reinforced by Swedish rebels, attacked Uppsala. To help consolidate his position, Eric's son Cnut encouraged the cultus of his father as a martyr, and Eric was venerated as the national saint of the Swedes. The ancient belief in a special heavenly destiny, Valhalla, for those killed in battle may have had a part in the idealization of Eric and other Scandinavian heroes.

BARTHOLOMEA CAPITANIO and VINCENTIA GEROSA

(Foundresses, B. 1807, 1784; d. 1833, 1847; both cd 1950; f.d. 26 July, 28 June.) They founded together the Sisters of Charity of Lovere, the town in Lombardy of which they were both natives. They were moved by the state of ignorance and neglect in which so many people lived, and their congregation was designed to teach the young and nurse the sick; it is based on the principles of St Vincent de Paul. Vincentia was already forty when she got to know Bartholomea, and the latter was only twenty-six when she died; it was a partnership of persons of remarkable determination and selflessness, and their foundation has spread widely.

PHILIP, apostle

First century; f.d. 3 May, with St James the Less. He was from Bethsaida, and after he had been called to be an apostle be brought Nathanael to Christ (John i, 43-49). When certain Greeks wanted to see Jesus it was to Philip they applied (John xii, 20-22); and it was his request at the Last Supper, `Lord, shew us the Father', that elicited Christ's declaration, `He that hath seen me hath seen the Father ... I am in the Father, and the Father in me' (John xiv, 8-9). It is possible that Philip preached the gospel in Phrygia and died, whether martyred or not, at Hierapolis, which claimed to have his grave. Philip the Apostle is sometimes said to have been identical with Philip the Deacon (with four daughters), who occurs several times in the Acts of the Apostles; but this view appears to be mistaken. Loaves of bread form his emblem.

About the Author
Donald Attwater was born in 1892 and fought in the Near East in the First World War. During the Second World War he was a civilian lecturer in history and current affairs in H M forces. He wrote widely on Christianity, the Church and the lives of Saints. He died in 1997. Catherine Rachel John is the younger daughter of Donald Attwater. She has great experience in working on the liturgy and history of the Catholic Church. She lives in Lostwithiel, Cornwall.

Customer Reviews

Saints, "warts and all"
A satisfying book of reference which has winnowed out the pious platitudes and wilder legends of those canonised by the Church. There are useful lists of Patronages, though these are tantalisingly arguable, Emblems, and a Calendar of Feast-Days. The Glossary could be expanded as some of the terms are incomprehensible ie. "ecstatic" How does that qualify a person to be a Saint? (Nowadays one might be forgiven for assuming that the subject had been overdosing on the herbs and spices or had a medical condition.) That said, these are only tiny peeves in the face of a work that has plainly been researched well and written by authors who make the Saints come to life as human beings. The "Further Reading" list is helpful, and of realistic length, which has led this reviewer into further purchases! Overall, an excellent working reference book.