Over 150 Patron Saints for Today

This illustrated book is full of information about the patronages and lives of modern and early saints and how they relate to the world of the 20th century. It brings together image, myth and history, revealing which saints are and have been invoked for particular purposes, and why. Including St Valentine for love, St Jude for lost causes, St Notkar Balbulus for stammering children, St Zita for losing keys, St Bibiana for hangovers and St Gratus of Aosta for insect phobias, all sorts of life's problems, both serious and not-so-serious, can be shared with the appropriate patron saint. Illustrations, including paintings, sculptures, icons and stained glass windows, show how the portrayal of individual saints has evolved over the centuries. Their lives and mythologies are entertainingly sketched and their feast days and symbols authoritatively listed, making this a reference book for the religious and historically minded alike.