Moreover, saints - as opposed to angels - are fully human, inadequacies, vulnerabilities, weaknesses, doubts, vices, warts, and all. It is easy to identify with them because they are very much like us. They constitute a bridge between the mortal and the immortal, one foot firmly printed on either side of the divide. Coyle writes:
"... (T)here is one thing that is the same for all the saints, and that is their strength made from weakness, the great things that happened to them the result of struggles and the practice of virtue in their ordinary lives."
It is an open question how would modern psychology classify saintly conduct (probably as a form of mental illness). Some saints are hopelessly delusional, others narcissistic, all are compulsive, and many are reckless. But in this colorless, uniform, bureaucracy-laden, stifled world of ours, one cannot but regret that there aren't more of them around.
Averse as I am to religion and all things religious, I still greatly enjoyed this book. If nothing else, it is great entertainment. To true believers, it is an enchanting mini-cyclopedia of people dedicated to their calling and to others. Recommended.
More about this topic here:
http://www.narcissistic-abuse.com
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