Dictionary of Saints

by John J. Delaney

The preeminent resource guide for more than twenty years, this one-of-a-kind book, now available in paperback, has been updated to include those recently canonized and beatified.

Since its original publication in 1980, John J. Delaney’s Dictionary of Saints (more than 200,000 copies sold) has become the leading reference book for the scholar and general reader alike. With more than five thousand biographies of the saints—from the well known to the obscure—this new edition brings to life the inspiring accomplishments of these men and women of God. The martyrs and the monks, the mystics and the virgins, the doctors and the peasants are all contained in this essential volume. To know the saints, how they thrived in their achievements, how they lived in destitution, is to meet a fascinating company of people whose actions have influenced and enriched the history of the world.

Reset in an easy-to use-format, it contains substantial listings for the more popular saints, and thumbnail sketches for those less well known. From Aaron to Zosimus, this modern dictionary has been updated with the entries for the newly canonized, including Italian mystic Padre Pio, Mexican Nahuatl Juan Diego, Polish Franciscan Maximilian Kolbe, and Americans Katharine Drexel and Rose Philippine Duchesne. It also contains a complete listing of feast days, an index of patron saints, and several other useful appendixes.

Genres: Reference, Religion, Nonfiction, Catholic, Dictionaries, Christianity, Theology

720 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Siobhain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is based on the entries of 19 saints read today. The rating of 4 stars is not because any one of those entries was fantastic. They are basic, comprehensive but dry, entries, but the book is a good reference. I am reviewing the original edition published in 1980 so it is only helpful for saints canonized before then. Each page of entries is a two column page with entries arranged alphabetically by first name, except when the saint has a last name. This can be a bit tricky. For example, St. John of the Cross is listed under John, but St. Louis de Montfort is listed under Grignion. Often there is a cross reference to guide one, but not always.

I'm going through my saint books for two reasons. First, I have a list of saints that I am trying to learn about. Secondly, I'm assessing the many saint books that I have with the plan to discard some. I have gone back and forth on whether or not to keep this book as every saint I found in it can be "googled" to learn what is in this book. However, in the end, I have decided to keep it. I learned many new details that I hadn't yet picked up. There is nothing particularly inspiring about any entry, but there is something inspiring about seeing a book full of saints, knowing it is not even a complete listing. It's also nice to see so many St. Johns (or any other name with multiple saints) listed over numerous pages, or many of the saints whose names start with a particular letter grouped together. There are some appendices included after the entries. A sampling of those includes: The Saints as Patrons and Intercessors, As Patrons of Countries and Places, a Chronological Chart of Popes and World Rulers, and The Roman Calendar.

There is a newer version which I assume includes saints and blesseds more recently designated. However, if you see this copy for sale at a thrift store, and you like reference materials on Catholic subjects, I would recommend it.

[Anne]

About what one would expect. I was looking for some interesting stories but the entries are too short to have anything particularly interesting.

[Cws]

282.09