“Voices of the Saints: a 365-day journey” is the third edition of Bert Ghezzi’s book of saints. It is a collection of biographies and selections from what the saint or blessed wrote or said, or something that has been written about the saint or blessed by another author.
The book is not arranged according to the calendar. It is arranged chronologically starting with the Blessed Virgin Mary and ending with Blessed Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized this year. The book has a “How to use this book” followed by an introduction.
Then Ghezzi begins the daily readings. The entry is two pages long. It starts with the saint’s or blessed’s name followed with the dates of their life. This is followed by a biography and then a quote. This could be followed by more biographical information. There is a prayer which is followed by the person’s feast day date and list of the patronages of that saint. There is an index of themes like: poets, married people, fasting and other themes. This is followed by a calendar of saints which one can use to read about a saint or blessed according to the liturgical calendar.
There are bibliographical references, a glossary, and index of saints’ names. Some of the recent beatified and canonized saints are included in this edition like Blessed Stanley Rother, Blessed Solanus Casey, Blessed Carlo Acutis. Saint Titus Brandsma, Blessed Jakob Gapp and others. There are no illustrations. Ghezzi did not include a saint or blessed for every day of the year in his liturgical calendar. Those, like me, would like to have had the book arranged according to the liturgical calendar of saints. Other than that, it is a great book and is highly recommended for those wanting an updated version of “Voices of the Saints” and a book of the saints and blesseds.
Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
Voices of the Saints: a 365-day journey. Third edition; 791 pages. Bert Ghezzi Word on Fire, 2024. ISBN 978-1-68578-116-3.