Butler's "Lives of the Saints" is without doubt the most highly rated collection of the stories of the Saints in the English language. Written in the early 19th Century by Alban Butler, and English convert to Catholicism, this twelve volume collection was a collection of the stories of the lives of all the Saints that existed at that time. The collection is organized by date, so that the reader can read the lives of all of the saints whose feast days fall upon that particular day. This makes this collection easy to use for those who want to deepen their devotion to the Saints. It also treats the entire history of the Church through the eyes of the Saints. When a reader completes all of the articles, he or she has a very good grasp, not just of hagiography, but also of Church history. While these 1,458 entries are composed from a distinctly 18th-century Catholic perspective, Alban’s syntheses of multitudinous histories result in an enlightenment of the ecclesiastical side of Western cultural development, with particular emphasis on the early Christian era. How to live a Christian life of faith is a question every generation has sought to answer. Invariably, they have turned to the lives of the saints. They offer inspiration, hope, and a clear challenge to us all.

Ward, Bernard (25 March 1909). "The Dawn Of The Catholic Revival In England, 1781-1803 Volume 1". London, New York: Longmans, Green . Retrieved 25 March 2023– via Internet Archive. I was taken by one story; the story of Alban; a man who came to know Christ by the praises of a fugitive; a story that made the words of 2 Samuel 22:50 come to life proving yet again the power of Gods word! Having read through the book once, I now look forward to being reacquainted with each new day's Saint.Around 1746, Butler served as tutor and guide on the Grand Tour to James and Thomas Talbot, nephews of Gilbert Talbot, 13th Earl of Shrewsbury. Their elder brother, George, succeeded their uncle as 14th Earl of Shrewsbury. Both James and Thomas Talbot later became Catholic bishops. [4] Heimann, Mary (23 September 2004). "Thurston, Herbert Henry Charles (1856–1939) | Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford University Press . Retrieved 29 March 2010. Charles Butler's assertion that "all the notes" were left out of the first edition at the suggestion of Bishop Challoner is exaggerated. There are many useful, and even extended, notes in the first edition, but not to the extent that they appear in the second, and succeeding editions. According to Charles Knight, the 1847 edition published in twelve volumes is considered the best and most complete. [1] Modern editions [ edit ]

The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints", Complete text of the 12 vol. ed. of 1866 at Bartleby.com I love what Alban said after a flogging "I worship and adore the true and living God, who created all things!" The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints Compiled from Original Monuments and Authentic Records In Twelve Volumes Rev. Alban Butler Provides period of time lived, a little of family and contributions helping to earn sainthood. Just … Read More Butler's Lives of the Saints includes information on a variety of men and women who lived the gospel-from the first to the twentieth century-from such diverse areas as Western and Eastern Europe, and the Near East. Readers will find information on such well-known saints as Ignatius of Antioch and Catherine of Siena, as well as lesser-known saints such as St. Bertilia of Mareuil, and St. Aldric.This book is a daily devotional. (The author, Father Alban Butler, was born in England in 1710 and the copy I have is not written in American English.) The traditional stories of these Roman Catholic Saints are presented on their feast days 1January through And the endnotes, did I mention them? Numbering nearly 5400, they put the copious and quirky footnotes of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell completely in the shade. The publishers of this work forced Fr. Butler to prune the fruits of his erudition, which I thought was a shame when I first read it. But having completed the book, I understand their point of view more than I did at first.