The Voices of the Saints: A Year of Readings

I am immensely impressed with Voices of the Saints, which I began reading on January 1 of this year. I have been reading the lives of the Saints by various authors and publishers, including Butler, every day for the past two decades of my life, but I can wholeheartedly proclaim that this book is by far the best, bar none. Most of the renditions I have read paint the Saints with hard to reach (and even harder to obtain) halos, like Blessed Fra Angelico paintings set to words. Bert Ghezzi's account brings the Saints to life--to ordinary human life, with all of its foibles, struggles, and in the end for them...victory. The truly human element in each of these literary portraits, which is brought home by the well-chosen quotations, makes each Saint a true inspiration to the "bumbling their way through" masses like me. His comments on each Saint are insightful and inspired, the writing and research are scholarly yet approachable, and the organization of the book (which allows one to read it by any one of three logical methods) makes this an immensely satisfying book to read. My wife and I look forward to delving into it each day, as Bert Ghezzi invites us to share the lot of the Saints in Light!

I was given this book as a gift and picked it up with the intention of giving it a welcoming glance and, then, putting it away to use as my devotional book for 2001. I couldn't put the book down. It is a wonderful book--at turns profound, intelligent, poignant, and witty (Yes, witty). Ghezzi's style is concise, graceful, and articulate. This book would make a great present, one your loved ones will enjoy for many years.

Reading "Voices of the Saints" is like taking a nostalgic trip back into history with a personal tour guide and meeting some of the most colorful and heroic personalities who ever lived. Bert Ghezzi recreates the lives and character of the saints so vividly I felt I were meeting each saint in the flesh. Ghezzi places the saints in their native settings and skillfully reconstructs their worlds through the sights, sounds, and political and religious sensitivities of their times. I especially liked the quotes and writings in the saint's own "voices," providing relevant glimpses of their joys, hardships and aspirations through their own passionate hearts and keen intellects. More than just a digest, this book opens a door to a close association with each saint that intrigues, touches and teaches. Sitting down with "Voices" creates a way to know these grand and holy people in intimate ways not otherwise possible. Pass this one down. Worthwhile, for years to come.

Bert Ghezzi makes saints interesting. He introduces us to 365 saintly men and women as if they were old friends of his that he wants us to meet. He not only writes about saints with clarity and flashes of humor, he also allows them to speak to us in their own words. Various indexes and cross reference systems make his book even more reader friendly. Voices of the Saints is a marvelous achievement, and I expect that it will be THE book on saints for many years to come.

I am a convert to Catholicism and therefore I did not grow up knowing about many of the saints of the Church. This book is helping to acquaint myself to the richness and wisdom of these holy men and women of God in a way that is refreshing and easy to understand.Bert's style of mixing various quotes from the saints' writings with a short story of their situation is especially inspiring and leads to quality time of reflection. In addition, I enjoy the various "road maps" within the book allowing me several options for reading.Great job, Mr. Ghezzi! When's the sequel coming out?