Father Alban Butler’s Lives of the Saints is one of the most well-known and well-loved Catholic books. It has been a perpetual best-seller and a supply of edifying knowledge for over two-hundred years!

Many have even said that Lives of the Saints is the only book to rank immediately after the Bible and The Imitation of Christ as the most important, popular, and authoritative work of Catholic literature.

Father Butler’s style is uniquely reverent and prayerful. For each day of the year, he includes a saint and lesson that helps us imitate the saints and their virtues. Reading these lessons and stories will help you to not only know the saints, but to become one.

This version does not include any edits that have been made to Father Butler’s work in the past. Instead, it showcases all of his original brilliant work and his classic style. Additions have been made to include more modern saints, such as St. Catherine Labouré, St. Thérèse of the Little Flower, and Pope St. Pius X in keeping with Father Butler’s holy and prayerful style.

“The saints are like the stars. In his providence Christ conceals them in a hidden place that they may not shine before others when they might wish to do so. Yet they are always ready to exchange the quiet of contemplation for the works of mercy as soon as they perceive in their heart the invitation of Christ.” 

– St. Anthony of Padua