In His saints, God is manifest as goodness, power and truth. The variety of saints reflects the infinite beauty and love of the God whose image they most perfectly reflect. It is not enough, therefore, to know one or two or even a few saints. We must have a wide acquaintance with them. Of the multitude of saints and beati in the Church, it is but a mere handful of whom the majority of Catholics possess any knowledge. These studies of nine saints are an attempt to enlarge this narrow vision.

The saints whose portraits are sketched here are either practically unknown or, if their identity is common knowledge - St. Martin of Tours, for example, or St. Bruno - knowledge is confined to one or two outstanding facts. The author's scope is to paint a true and lifelike picture of a saint whose life has much more inspiration to offer today's Christian than has previously been widely known.

"Each saint mirrors the beauty of God in some special way. All saints concur in seeking God's will and trying to carry it out. Lovers of the lives of the saints will find much food for thought and prayer in these well-researched, inspiring lives of nine saints. Ideal for bedtime reading."
- Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J.
Editor, Homiletic and Pastoral Review

"Ignatius Press has done us all a favor in reprinting this classic on 'neglected saints', for thus are we given the opportunity to gaze afresh on the meaning of sanctity. Watkin's work does not exhibit the saccharine qualities which have given hagiography a bad name. But why all this emphasis on saints? The author gives the answer, which should equally provide the stimulus for reading this collection: 'Since on earth we cannot see God in His own glory, we can ill afford to dispense with the sight of His glory reflected in His saints.' That 'glory of God' is well shared here and offers us an invitation to enter into it ourselves."
- Fr. Peter Stravinskas
Editor, The Catholic Answer