Paru le 09/10/2012 | Relié sous jaquette 159 pages
Tout public
translated from th french by Kenneth Berri
Saints are once ordinary men and women who, through steadfast devotion and courageous acts, have demonstrated extraordinary faith. Some were thrown to the lions or burned at the stake. Others devoted themselves to God by perching atop columns or by praying while standing motionless for perpetuity, their outstretched arms forming the sign of the cross. They reconciled faith and reason, and dedicated themselves to the poor and the education of impoverished children. They were called John, Nicholas, George, Augustine, Lucy, Catherine, or Bernadette, and they were revered as saints. Their names - which are still popular names for our children today - have been given to countries, towns, and even mountain ranges, and the accounts of their lives, trials, and tribulations have been turned into the most amazing tales.
Author Jacques Duquesne invites readers to discover these men and women of unwavering faith and their exceptional destinies. Following his three illustrated biographies of Mary, Jesus, and iconic women of the Bible, in this work he examines the history of sainthood throughout the ages, from the « red » martyrs who met a violent death to the « white » martyrdom of those who lived a pious and ascetic life. He paints a broad canvas ranging from Christ's contemporaries to modern-day saints and beatified figures such as Mother Teresa. The accounts are illustrated by a rich selection of artworks by celebrated artists inspired by these men and women, whose lives were transfigured as they gave themselves over to others by dedicating themselves to God.
In Saints, author Jacques Duquesne explores the lives and significance of the individuals who had an impact on the Israeli people in the Old Testament or who were instrumental in spreading the Christian message in the New Testament and beyond. He examines critical questions such as what it means to be a saint and what it takes to become one ; who the most important and inspirational saints are ; and how modern-day saints differ from those living centuries ago.
Demystifying the notions of sainthood, martyrdom, beatification, and canonization, Duquesne places the role of saints into its wider historical and social context and examines changing attitudes toward saints over the centuries. The work begins with a study of the first saints who formed Christ's entourage, such as the Virgin Mary or the Apostles, and goes on to portray the first martyrs and the evolution of the concept of martyrdom over time. Continuing the detailed chronological analysis, he explores the lives of saints from the fourth to the twelfth centuries - including members of the clergy as well as kings and laymen, from Edward the Confessor to Louis IX - the period of decline in canonization that followed, up to the contemporary saints who have devoted their lives to the deprived and less fortunate.
Featuring fascinating accounts of saints and other religious heros from all periods - including Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, Thomas Becket, and Francis of Assisi - and illustrated with masterpieces from throughout the history of art, this work recounts the inspirational stories and achievements of those who have been bestowed with the highest honor in the Christian church.
Jacques Duquesne is a journalist and writer. He is the cofounder and former director of French current affairs magazine Le Point and contributes regularly to La Croix and other regional newspapers. He has written numerous essays on the themes of Jesus and Mary and successful novels such as Maria Vandamme, for which he was awarded the Interallié Prize, and Catherine Courage. He is the author of Salve Regina : The Story of Mary (2006), The Messiah : An Illustrated Biography of Jesus Christ (2007), and Women of the Bible (2010), all published by Flammarion.
