Noted for piety and accuracy, this is a reprint of the last full edition (1956) of the most comprehensive guide in English to the saints of the Catholic Church.
Originally written in the eighteenth century, this four-volume edition of Butler’s Lives of the Saints features 2,565 saints, significantly more than the original 1,486. The saints are arranged according to the day of the year on which their feast is celebrated according to the liturgical calendar of the pre-Vatican II Roman Rite.
Edited by Herbert J. Thurston, S.J., and Donald Attwater, this edition captures the charm of Butler’s prose, making it ideal for both daily meditation and study. Each biography highlights the saint’s key virtues, accompanied by a summary of trustworthy information about their life, and concludes with a brief overview of additional sources and related saints. More than just a collection of facts, this work aims to inspire readers by showing the greatness of the saints, encouraging them to deepen their love for God and to strive for holiness.