LLPOT 664 - Saints and Their Stories

St. Francis of Assisi loved nature, and is often presented in literature and art with birds on his shoulders and animals in his lap. St. Therese of Lisieaux lost her mother as a child; her story is sometimes read to grieving children to help them feel less alone. And St. Sebastian, the patron saint of athletes, is evoked by football players and Olympians alike. Images of and references to saints appear throughout our culture, from stained glass windows in churches and paintings in art museums, to classic and modern literature, film, and theater. But do you know the stories behind these iconic beings? In this class, we will delve into the lives of a dozen or so saints whose fascinating stories lie behind the visual and written images portrayed in our popular culture. Don has a PhD in religion and is the religious education director at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kearns. In addition to his church position, Don hosts a radio travel show and writes a travel column for Salt Lake Enterprise.