Saints: Lives and Illuminations

by Ruth Sanderson

This combined edition or our picture books Saints & More Saints presents the stories of remarkable people — martyrs, hermits, miracle workers, scholars, and evangelists — who were the pioneers of the early Church and who spread the Christian faith to the rest of the world. / With brief biographical sketches and lush pencil and oil portraits, author and illustrator Ruth Sanderson stokes the flame of our centuries old and ongoing interest in the faith and lives of these spiritual examples — saints who have forever changed the way we look at and live our lives in relationship to God.

Genres: Picture Books, Christian, Religion, History, Childrens, Nonfiction, Catholic

160 pages, Hardcover

First published February 7, 2003

Reviews

[Set · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can tell that the early saints were worshipers or martyrs of Jesus, and in later centuries commenced the idolatry of Mary. In this book we see the early centuries of saints dying after the fall of the Roman empire for their faith and in the next book we see people that say that Mary supposedly appeared to them or they were made saints after their death by the church for their deeds (most saints were already in the church).
The Catholic Vatican says that Saints are not idles because they are not worshiped but only a symbol of a godly and saintly life. This isn't true, they are idles when people put a shrine in their house and pray to the saints.
Anyone that dies and goes to Heaven is considered a saint according to the Holy Bible so that means that your family that died in Christ are saints. Are you going to start lighting candles and praying to your aunt that dedicated her life to Christ? No.
I like to see the lives of the saints because they are a good example of people that dedicated their lives to a christian purpose whether it be something I approve of or not.
My favorite saint is Saint George from the fourth century, patron saint of England. He saved the king's daughter from being sacrificed to the Dragon.
I also love St. Patrick, we drink to his honor. Patrick may be patron saint of Ireland but saint Brigid is saint of Ireland and she can turn water into beer.
I do wish that they would have added Santa Lucia, Saint Elizabeth of hungry and her miracle of the roses. I wish Æthelstan was a saint but he's fictional, you know. haha

[booklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book on saints for all ages. Each landscape spread features two saints, a picture of each and text describing his/her life and significant accomplishments. The book progresses from the first to the tenth century; I've discovered there is a second book which presumably covers the saints of second millennium of Christendom. Lovely book for meditation, browsing or curling up with a couple of little ones.

God bless you Krista for another treasure!

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought about reading this (and the other one: More Saints) to the girls, but I noticed all the halos and thought I should take a look first. I like learning history about the church. For example, there's interesting stuff in here about St. George and the dragon, St. Nick (Father Christmas), Constantine and Helen, Basil, Chrysostom, Jerome, Augustine and Monica, Patrick, Benedict, Columba, Gregory the Great, Brenden, Bede, Edmund, and others. There's even a Saint Kevin! Who knew?

But I'd rather learn church history without the superstition. I don't want to be so modern that I'm skeptical about anything supernatural, but to believe that when Saint Catherine was beheaded that milk flowed from her body instead of blood . . . c'mon, man.

2.5 stars

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

The paintings were really well done. I wish the Saints venerated in other Churches than the Roman Catholic Church had been marked and the writing was dull. I'm confused at the details the author chose to keep versus leave out or paraphrase for each Saint since some of the stories for the Saints I know of would've made more sense with a couple more details.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading a saint each night at dinner time to the family. Gorgeous illustrations.

[Ann Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, with brief, insightful descriptions of some of the major saints. Good information for the young adult reader, without being too over the top.

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Saints Lives and Illumination”

Delightful illustrations and interesting catalogue of saints. But, c’mon, cannot be taken seriously. I mean, this takes hagiography to a whole new level of superstition and make-believe. ***

[The author has already published work on Cinderella and the Twelve Dancing Princesses]

If these events were even remotely true they would not be described as miracle-workers (do they point to God? To love?) but magic-makers.

Saint Constantine and his mother Helen. Come on!

Saint Brigid, cows gave extra milk and tubs of water became beer. Haha!

Saint Cecilia, an angel told her to tell her groom she was to remain untouched. How’s the husband expected to respond to that?

Saint Catherine was beheaded that milk flowed from her body instead of blood.

Saint Columba made the sign of the cross and the barred gates opened! So what? Big deal! Doctor Who’s sonic-screwdriver does this stuff!

Saint Mary of Egypt – possibly a desperate child prostitute, yet one of the few in this book to be described as “sin .. shame .. caused others to commit evil deeds … wicked life..” Misogynist!

Saint Kevin had a blackbird lay an egg in his open-prayerful-hand and remained motionless until the hatch hatched! Bullsh**!

[Jessica Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked out this book because I love illustrations by Ruth Sanderson. Her illustrations in this book are nice, but not her best work. The stories about the saints are alright too. Some are a little, violent? But that happens when you are a Christian being persecuted I suppose. I will admit that part of it is probably that while I am a Christian, I don't recognize saints in the same way that other major Christian religions do. So while the stories were interesting, and some inspiring I don't think they hit the same chord with me that it would with others. I'd allow my kids to check this out from the library if he or she was interested, and I'm glad my library had a copy.

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. it is beautiful, and it contains so many saints I've never heard of, including many women and minorities. I love that they span all the time of Christianity, instead of just the 1500s like so many saint books I've encountered as I search for my patron saint for joining the Church.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Familiar and unfamiliar saints are presented chronologically through beautiful illustrations and inspiring stories. Information about the feast day of the saint and who they are intercessors for is included.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations. Stories could be better. They are short and sweet for small ones, though!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful stories and pictures.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Ruth Sanderson is just a wonderful illustrator. Each saint's portrait was unique and personal. I found it interesting how saints changed over the centuries, having different theologies and such, and even more interesting how they didn't change. Over and over the phrase giving to the poor and nursing the sick was used. It was at the beginning of the book and the very end. I was surprised by how many saints valued education and learning, so many were teachers. Sometimes I think the modern church, all denominations, needs to look back at the heroes of the faith or saints and remember what it was that made them great. Then we need to emulate them. Give to the poor, nurse the sick, teacher, and above all pray. Every saint was known for prayer.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the beautiful artwork on the cover (I admit, I did judge it accordingly), but I found the illustrations much less lovely inside the book. Once I started browsing, though, I became interested in the stories of the Catholic saints, and I enjoyed reading the whole book. It's nice to have a new set of references for these historical and canonical personalities.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more appropriate for the 7+ crowd, but the illustrations alone make it worth it for younger kids, too. My preschooler was at least able to grasp my distilled versions of Sanderson's page-long bios of each saint.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would probably work best for grades 3-6th. I tried it with Kindergarteners (too much text and small pictures). It covers saints from the well known (St. Patrick) to the obscure (St. Moses?) from the early martyrs to the middles ages.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruth Sanderson is a wonderful illustrator!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was looking for-but the artwork was lovely. This was written more for someone who is Catholic-for children to learn about saints.

[Mckinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations. Summaries of saints are brief and easy to understand.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover picture is way prettier than the pictures in the book. Neat little stories about a bunch of Saints, some I hadn't heard of.

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful and the concise biographies are well written. I recommend this book if you want a overview and a sense some of the saints and why they were granted sainthood.