Review by Booklist Review
This reference book describes the more popular of the Catholic Church's more than 10,000 recognized saints. The author is the executive editor of Loyola Press and has written and edited religious and spiritual books for more than 15 years. The main body of the book is divided into 3 sections: over 500 saints and a few martyrs, 15 pages of angels with a useful description of the 9 orders of angels, and 24 demons. Each saint's entry includes fast facts (birth and death dates, feast day, patronage, etc.), a biography, and a brief description of legacy. Saints from around the world are represented, although Italy figures heavily, and lesser-known saints are included among the more familiar ones. The book includes small images scattered throughout the main text and 10 stylized, full-page illustrations of 8 saints, the angel Michael, and Satan. Several appendixes (glossary, time lines, calendar of saints and feast days, and more) and an index complete the volume. The writing is clear and straightforward rather than pedantic, making it engaging for the general public, not just Catholics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Jansen's (Meditations at Midnight) book is comprised of short profiles of saints, angels, and demons, primarily from Christianity and Judaism. They include saints whose existence has been doubted, such as St. Christopher; or whose impact on Christian life has been pervasive, such as St. Augustine. Succinct accounts balance their life story with theological and intellectual contributions. The angels section emerges in categories of spiritual entities mentioned in various sources, including the Hebrew scriptures and the Book of Revelation. Jansen argues that the image of angels as God's messengers is still a consistent factor in people's beliefs and relationship with the divine. The demons category introduces some popular lore, along with more accepted versions, about the role and origins of evil. This includes some demons from pagan traditions, such as Dagon of the Philistines and Moloch of the Ammonites. One shortcoming is that bibliographical sources aren't listed on the same page as the entries, but there is a one-page bibliography and an extensive index near the end of the book. VERDICT A solid reference filled with finely crafted profiles of lesser-known saints, angels, and demons.--Zachary Irwin
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