Saints For Dummies®

by Rev. John Trigilio, PhD, ThD, and Rev. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD

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About the Authors

Rev. John Trigilio, PhD, ThD: A native of Erie, Pennsylvania, Father Trigilio serves as the pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel (Marysville, Pennsylvania) and St. Bernadette Catholic Churches (Duncannon, Pennsylvania). He is the President of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and Executive Editor of its quarterly journal, Sapientia magazine. Father Trigilio co-hosted several weekly TV series on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN): Web of Faith, Council of Faith, Crash Course in Catholicism, and Crash Course in Pope John Paul II. He also serves as a theological consultant and online spiritual advisor for EWTN. He has been listed in Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Religion and is a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) in 1988.

Rev. Kenneth Brighenti, PhD: A native of New Britain, Connecticut, Father Brighenti is an Assistant Professor and Spiritual Director at Mount Saint Mary University and Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He is the Managing Editor of Sapientia magazine and a member of the Board of Directors for the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. He has co-hosted three weekly TV series on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Father Brighenti also served as a U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain for ten years and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Metuchen (New Jersey) in 1988. He is the author of Marriage as Covenant (CreateSpace), and he and Father Trigilio coauthored The Everything Bible Book (Adams Media), Catholicism For Dummies, Women in the Bible For Dummies, and John Paul II For Dummies (all by Wiley). Fathers Brighenti and Trigilio are also Knights of Columbus and members of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) and the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

Dedication

This book is dedicated:

In honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of all saints, whose maternal intercession and guidance helped us throughout the research, writing, and editing of this project.

In honor of St. Joseph, spouse of the Virgin Mary, head of the Holy Family, and patron of the Universal Church, for his paternal protection of ourselves, our families, and our friends.

In honor of St. John Vianney, patron saint of all priests, and St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, whose examples of personal piety, sacerdotal sanctity, and zeal for souls constantly inspires us in our vocation.

To his holiness Pope Benedict XVI, for his saintly leadership as chief shepherd and supreme pastor of the Universal Church.

To the members of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, a national association of priests and deacons that seeks to foster ongoing spiritual, theological, and pastoral formation of the ordained in a fraternal environment so as to be better prepared and equipped to serve the needs of the souls entrusted to our care.

To the priests, deacons, seminarians, and faculty of Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, for their dedication to forming competent, orthodox, pastoral, and reverent men to serve Holy Mother Church and the people of God.

Acknowledgments

Fathers Brighenti and Trigilio would like to express their deep appreciation and gratitude to the following persons:

Percy and Norma Brighenti (parents); Elizabeth Trigilio (mother); Priscilla Brighenti Collin (sister); Mark Trigilio (brother); Lou and Sandy Falconeri (friends); Keith and Christina Burkhart (friends); Thomas and Bridgette McKenna; Michael Drake; Rev. Fr. Robert Levis, PhD; Rev. Msgr. James Cafone; Rev. Msgr. Steven Rohlfs; Archbishop Edwin O’Brien (Baltimore); Bishop Kevin Rhoades (Harrisburg); and Bishop Paul Bootkoski (Metuchen).

We are also very grateful to Molly Rossiter, Meg Schneider, and Barb Doyen for their invaluable assistance in formatting and editing this book.

And special mention to Mother Angelica of the Poor Clare Nuns in Hanceville, Alabama, and founder of EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network), who often said on her weekly programs, “God calls us all to become great saints. Don’t miss the opportunity.”

Publisher’s Acknowledgments

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