Philip Caraman (1911–1998)

Saints and Ourselves is a collection of essays by various notables (mostly writers) about a saint that means something to them. Evelyn Waugh and Antonia White are probably the contributors with the most name recognition today; the only other name I recognized with Sheila Kaye-Smith's. But obscurity does not mean they can't write a good essay.

Originally published serially in a magazine, there is a saint for everyone here, from the obvious ones like Francis, Therese, or Thomas Aquinas, to the show more surprising like Gregory of Tours. The only non-saint was the then Ven. Marie of the Incarnation, who was eventually canonized by Pope Francis in 2014, she also happens to be the one I'm most leery of, but even the writer admits that the situation with her son was incredibly awkward (she'd never be allowed to join a convent in that situation today, for good reason). Overall, it's a nice set of essays about an interesting topic. Recommended for those who enjoy well-written saints lives or Catholic spiritual reading. show less

Saints and Ourselves, Second Series continues in the same mode as the first book, and while the authors and the saints may be a bit more obscure this time, I think this the better book. The work is a collection of essays that were previously published in a magazine, in which notable Catholics write about their favorite saint. Boniface, Louis, Margaret of Scotland, and Alphonsus Liguori, all make an appearance this time, as do several others with interesting lives. Recommended for those show more interested in the saints or looking for good spiritual reading materials. show less

12 meditations, includig those regarding Christ Our Lord, Suffering and Redemption, and Living and Dying.

To Ed- With thanks for all you do for Regis. Mike Sheeran, Christmas 1997