All Christians share ancient traditions of making saints and practicing faith in the midst of a cloud of witnesses. We also share the heritage of the Protestant Reformation and the sometimes radical change in attitudes toward saints that resulted from those upheavals. What does this shared history tell us about what it means to be a saint today? Full of colorful characters, wise insights, and profound appreciation for faith, The Lure of Saints is an exploration of how these exemplary men and women have impacted both the Church and the world. This compelling guide includes profiles of ancient, medieval and modern figures, East and West, the sublime and the unusual, with special chapters exploring: ' Differences between Catholic and Protestant imaginations  ' How saints were made in the past and how they are today.  ' The radical triumph of the Protestant idea.  ' Ancient, spiritual practices of relating to saints. ' Miracles, apparitions, stigmatas, and more strange, saintly behavior. Also included are the personal reflections of other religious teachers and writers who have daily practices of relating to the saints, including Abbot M. Basil Pennington, Mitch Finley, Fr. Murray Bodo, Rev. Mary E. Haddad, and others; a helpful glossary of terms; and annotated reflections on resources for further reading.Visit Jon Sweeney's blog at www.jonmsweeney.wordpress.com. Read Less