Defects of Saints by Fr. Jesus Urteaga

     Oohhh! The title sounds so contraversial! I really do commend Fr. Jesus Urteaga's market savyness to attract detractors who are looking for ways to critize the Church. I know it worked because some of my relatives bought the book expecting to find potshots against Catholic saints. I don't blame them since the Philippines and the world in general thrives on rumor mongering especially when the target is innocent and good. Anyway, rumor mongering is not a good practice because we don't become any better than the people we talk back against. In fact, finding about good people's follies makes us realize that we are more prone to falling because if saints can fall, what more us? Yet, what we should also realize that the definite term of saint is reserved to the dead of heaven. Thus, the truth is that there are no saints on Earth.

   Before I get preachy, lets move on to the book. Urteaga's Defects of Saints focus on one saint per chapter and starts the book with the Old Testatment and finishes the New Testatment. The read is pretty light and has direct to the point narrative like a children's book. The moral of each story from most chapters is already minced into digestable bullet points. Thus, it is worth picking up just to reflect during your office break, especially for this Lenten season.

  One of the chapter highlights is on Judas Iscariot, the man who was to be saint. The narrative is dramatic and helps you get into the scene of what is happening to the man who would betray Jesus for silver coins. The description is pretty chilling and makes you consider strangling your cubicle mate and the like.

   So, if you are feeling a bit weighed in by the crazy stuff you did last year, I think reading this collection of stories can help you realize things are not so bad and things can be better with a little sacramental push. At least, God won't send a whale after you like he did with Jonah.

Author: Fr.Jesus Urteaga

Publisher's Website: Sinag Tala Publishers

Price: Estimated Php 400.00 or $9.00

Available:National Bookstore or University of Asia and the Pacific