Saints: Ancient & Modern

This book is the visual equivalent of a chocolate bar--very lush and rich, with the most elegant artwork. The stories are wonderful, too. Each saint covered has a few pages devoted to him or her, starting with Saint Michael the archangel, and ending with photographs and a biography of that most beloved saint of modern times, Padre Pio. This would be a great book to give to an adoration chapel or to a grandchild.

The formidable partnership of Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua has joined forces again to create a new resource on the lives of the saints. Saints: Ancient and Modern (Viking Studio, March 2007, hardcover, 149 pages) offers the reader tremendous detail on the lives of over twenty saints, both well known and lesser known, who have an ongoing significance in today's modern world. The roster of saints includes popular patrons such as St. Therese of Lisieux and less frequently discussed intercessors such as St. Ursula. The authors have divided the book into two chronological sections, with "Ancient" saints from pre-history to 1000 AD and "Modern" saints whose lives may have been more historically documented. The book also includes two wonderful appendix resources: a comprehensive list of written works by the saints included and an overview of the process of canonization. For each saint memorialized in the book, a thorough chapter gives more than the typical "sound bite" overview of the saint's life. Along with chronological information, feast days, and information about patronage, a detailed biography is given including historical and legendary documentation. Each section includes an inspiring quote from the saint profiled and ends with a prayer or novena seeking the intercession of that holy man or woman. What sets this book apart from the countless other resources on the saints is the stunning design and presentation of the content. From the small details such as layout and typeface to the incredible artistic images selected, Saints: Ancient and Modern is a work of art in and of itself. For each saint, co-author Sandra DiPasqua has selected either a painting or a photograph which truly speaks to the unique holiness of each individual. Another highlight of the book is the discussion of the reasons behind artistic depictions of these individuals. For example, why is St. Clare of Assisi frequently depicting holding the monstrance or why do portraits of St. Lucy show her holding a dish of eyeballs? These questions and more are answered thoughtfully and with an artist's insight and perspective. Saints: Ancient and Modern is beautiful enough to grace your formal coffee table, but filled with so much information that you will want to use it as a frequent reference. It would make an excellent gift for any faith-filled person or those interested in learning more about the stories behind so much of the artwork that permeates our cultural world. This reviewer hopes that authors Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua will consider expanding their treatment of this topic with a sequel including more saints.

Calamari and DiPasqua's books work on many levels--historical, spiritual and aesthetic. This is the third of theirs that I have bought and the most visually compelling. As someone who only recently became interested in hagiography, I really enjoy and appreciate the straightforward presentation of when you would invoke a saint's protection and the depth of the descriptions. These books also make elegant gifts without being heavy-handed and self-righteous on the religion end.

This is a beautiful book. The stories of the saints are some of the most amazing, fabulous stories imaginable. Saint Ursula had an army of eleven thousand virgins, and after she died, in Cologne, an army of eleven thousand angels chased the Huns out of the city. When a wanderer named Reprobus carried a little boy across the river and the child grew as heavy as lead, Reprobus said, "If I had the whole world on my back I could not have felt it a heavier burden!" The child said, "You were not only carrying the whole world, you had Him who created the world upon your shoulders! I am Christ your king." And so Reprobus became Saint Christopher. Most of these stories I had never heard before, and every one is fascinating. And the pictures are just amazing. Look at that glorious angel on the cover. That is the archangel Michael, hurling Lucifer out of heaven, painted by Giordano in 1650. The book is full of gorgeous images like that, all just as lovingly presented. Looking at them, and reading Barbara Calamari's text, you come to realize that these saints contain all the variety and emotion of the whole panoply of faith. Whether you are deeply religious or just curious, whether more drawn to words or to art, you will find this book packed full of discoveries. It tells you all about more than twenty saints, from the pre-Christian Michael to Padre Pio, the Italian holy man who died in the 1960s and became a saint only five years ago. Every one is utterly worth learning about, and I can't conceive of a better way to do so.

I wasn't raised in a church that honored the saints and it was my curiosity about how they became woven into even our secular daily lives that first led me to the work of duo Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. I have since collected all of their books and this one by far is the most stunning of their collaboration, and most relevant to my life. The design of the book - clever layering of bold graphics and exquisite portraits - is deserving of an award. Their selection of saints is fresh and translates well to the 21st century. The section on modern saints spoke most directly to me. Reading about the brilliant philosopher Edith Stein, aka Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, moved me. Born a Jew, she declared herself an atheist and dedicated herself to the study of philosophy. Later, her thirst for God led her to convert to Catholicism, but ironically, she was martyred in 1942 at Auschwitz for being born a Jew. Lives such as these make even non-believers assess the passivity of their own walks through life. These were extraordinarily intelligent and/or strong people of faith who became powerful solution-oriented leaders of their times. I anticipate that the friends and family I give this book to will be inspired by the saints' tenacity and altruism. Even if we are not destined to be leaders, at the very least we can begin to respond to the many opportunities we are given to make life for those who cross our own paths better. A beautiful book to get us started!