Celebrating the lives of the saints according to their feast-days (usually the day of their death or, as the Church believes, the day of their entry into Heaven), this book presents biographical accounts and an outline of each saint's importance in the life and work of the Church. The saints are illustrated with details from paintings and stained-glass windows, and these pictures span the centuries from the catacombs of Rome to the present day, thus reflecting the civilization, culture and religious life of the West for almost 2000 years. To complement the illustrations and offer greater understanding of the men and women whose devotion to Christ - even in the face of torture and death - inspired the world, an inspirational message or saying is included on almost every page. The author's other books include Secrets of Mount Sinai and Some Corner of a Foreign Field.