It is a challenge to provide inspiration in a brief and daily format. Robert Ellsberg's writing does so, exposing us to numerous little-known saints, with a generous sprinkling of contemporary saintly lives, his signature contribution. This book is a keeper. Pat Farrell, OSF, Past President of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious Saints are the ... Read moreliving Word of God, the Word made flesh, but their biographies are often too encrusted within sentimentality and piety to serve as an inspiration for us. Ellsberg gives us their essence in this treasure of a book! Nobody writes better about the lives of the saints than Robert Ellsberg. Ronald Rolheiser OMI, President of the Oblate School of Theology, and author of The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire Robert Ellsberg is way up there in my pantheon of spiritual writers. He's especially good at connecting us with the divine spark in practitioners of every spiritual tradition. These very human stories of the holy ones among us have a special knack of enlivening my spirit. Helen Prejean, CSJ, author of Dead Man Walking This is not only a classic collection of lives of the saints but also an introduction to many un-canonized holy lives, producing such delightful juxtapositions as St. Nicholas and Mozart, St. Mary Magdalene and Albert Luthuli, St. Monica and Helder Camara. As a reader of Give Us This Day, from which these are drawn, I've enjoyed meeting new holy men and women and am now delighted to have them alongside traditional saints of the day. Thank you for this literary treat. Christopher Jamison, OSB, Director of the National Office of Vocation, London, and author of Finding Sanctuary The diversity of these holy men and women calls out my own gifts, and their total dedication alerts me to put my yes into motion for the day. Thank you for being a companion and inspiration for my faith journey! Carolyn Y. Woo, President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, and author of Working for a Better World This delightful book reminds us how blessed we are, in every age, to have people of good faith who are called to love and serve people in need. They call us all to a greater purpose. Kathleen Norris, author of The Cloister Walk and Acedia and Me Every single day I read Robert Ellsberg's concise, fascinating, and inspiring lives of the saints in my copy of Give Us This Day. And every single day I am amazed by the astounding lives that have been lived out of love for Christ. Happily, many of these wonderful stories are now gathered together in this marvelous new book, which will guide you through the year with the help of these patrons and companions. James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage. Show Less