"Holiness has a place in Christian history ", writes Daniel-Rops in his introduction to this book, “such that to refuse to recognize it would be to condemn oneself not to understand this history at all. Holiness is the chief means of action among us used by God." Roland Cluny shows how holiness has worked in the Church since its earliest years by examining in detail the lives of five saints who were, in their different ways, "archetypal". Their holiness was a response to the special challenges presented by their times as well as to the perennial challenge to all Christians presented by the following of Christ in a world that rejects or is indifferent to him. These saints are Paul, "apostle of the world", Augustine, Bernard of Clairvaux, Francis of Assisi and St lgnatius Loyola. In a final chapter the characteristics of other saints through whom the Church has acted and still acts-martyrs, the great reformers, the Ionely and often "scandalous" witnesses to the need to be holy-are discussed. These range from the early martyrs under the Roman Empire to saints of modern times.