The Way of the Saints

Throughout Christian history, the saints have helped to shape our ideas about God, life, death, love, suffering, joy, and the meaning of human existence. And now, in The Way of the Saints, Tom Cowan uses his unique perspective as both a scholar and a mystic to make the lives of the saints relevant to contemporary readers.The book gives a history of sainthood from the martyrs of the early church to the twentieth century, explaining the origin of the saints' feast days and how to disentangle facts from fiction in their legends. It then features more than 200 short biographies of both well-known and obscure saints, chosen because of their significance to our times. Each entry also includes a prayer and a devotional practice, shaped toward a particular concern of modern readers. The story of St. Francis is presented as an example of distinguishing between needs and wants in a materialistic world, while Mary Magdalen's statement "I have seen the Lord" is an impetus to help us to recognize the divine in ourselves and everyone around us.The Way of the Saints is the first book to combine solid scholarship with new spirituality, bringing together the best elements of the classic hagiographies and popular meditation guides in beautifully-designed package. With its heartfelt spiritual perspective and an impressive range and authority of information, The Way of the Saints is a timely and engaging look at a perennially appealing subject.