Lives of the Saints : From Mary and Francis of Assisi to John XXIII and Mother Teresa

Rating:
Summary: Succinct and ecumenical
Review: Lives of the Saints
Richard McBrien

McBrien's compilation of saints for each day covers a multitude of canonized and non-canonized people. He also offers saints who are recognized by the Anglican/Episcopalian, Lutheran and Greek Orthodox churches. His descriptions are short, comparatively with Butler's descriptions, but non-devotional. He includes in his short essays references to history, legend and myth. This book can exist along side other longer works and can offer some perspectives that others do not.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh
Review: This book is a worthwhile guide to McBrien's odd biases. As a noted 'dissenter', this book should be a great comfort and resource to like-minded people.

To those looking for a credible, well-written guide to Saints - those chosen by God as exemplars off heroic virtue, the book will not do at all. A few lines on great, wildly popular modern saints such as Faustina and Padre Pio? But longer disquisitions on McBrien hobbyhorses such as Albert Schweitzer. Martin Luther King, and Cardinal Bernardin? Please.

Rating:
Summary: No Thank You
Review: This book should be carefully avoided. It has a modernist bias and seems to almost criticize the Church's holy saints. A perfect example is the passage on St. Louis Grignion de Montfort and his treatise on the Virgin Mary "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin", which according to the author, "waned considerably in influence after Vatican II, when emphasis was placed more on Jesus and the Bible". Pope John Paul II has used De Montfort's motto "Totus Tuus" throughout his pontificate, not to mention the fact that "True Devotion" is interlaced with exhaustive scripture quotes and references, from both the Old and New Testaments. "Lives of the Saints" is not a Catholic book; I don't know what it is, but don't line a birdcage with it. Don't buy this book, but do pray for the author!!!!!