I have just finished reading Saints Behaving Badly: The Cutthroats, Crooks, Trollops, Con Men, and Devil-Worshippers Who Became Saints by Thomas J. Craughwell. The book was sent to me a few weeks before its release as a galley in order for me to review for Double Day Publishing. I have been extraordinarily busy these past few months, so I have finally just finished the book.
When I did have a chance to read the book, it went very quickly. I overall enjoyed the book. Each chapter was on a different saint, and the book went into great detail on the saint's sinful life before his/her conversion. It illustrates true accounts of the power of conversion over the centuries. The only thing I would have liked to see better in the book was a basic definition of a saint. A saint is someone that is now in Heaven, and I would have liked that to be more clearly stated.
So, if you'd like to learn more about the sinful lives of saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Patrick, Venerable Matt Talbot, St. Olga, St. Christopher, and many others before their conversions, this is your book! I have to admit that it was a good read and overall a very good book.
When I did have a chance to read the book, it went very quickly. I overall enjoyed the book. Each chapter was on a different saint, and the book went into great detail on the saint's sinful life before his/her conversion. It illustrates true accounts of the power of conversion over the centuries. The only thing I would have liked to see better in the book was a basic definition of a saint. A saint is someone that is now in Heaven, and I would have liked that to be more clearly stated.
So, if you'd like to learn more about the sinful lives of saints like St. Francis of Assisi, St. Patrick, Venerable Matt Talbot, St. Olga, St. Christopher, and many others before their conversions, this is your book! I have to admit that it was a good read and overall a very good book.
8 comment(s):
So this book wasn't anything negative for the Catholic Church, like a work of Dan Brown? I'd be very interested to read more on how I may relate to the Saints. (as long as the book is not set out to mock them or the Church)
No it didn't mock the Church. It did go into great detail on their sinful life and how horrible it was. However, the author made sure to contrast that with the saint's good works after his/her conversion. Sometimes it felt like it was attacking the saint a little too much, but overall it wasn't anti-Catholic at all.
Thomas Craughwell is a popular Catholic author.
Thanks for the info.
I'm adding it to my very long book list. :)
I'm looking forward to reading this book.
I'll have to add this to my ever-growing list as well!
I'm adding to my booklist as well.
Thanks Moneybags! It was the first time I've ever heard of Venerable Matt Talbot -- what a man of God and a new friendly intercessor.
Sounds like a great book. I love hearing about how the saints were not always perfect...gives me inspiration and hope.
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