In the 1970s, while translating texts from early Christian writers, Sr. Anne Field rediscovered the sermons of St. Leo the Great, who was elected pope in 1440 and is a Doctor of the Church. "In passage after passage Leo speaks of how, as members of Christ's body, we share in his victory over Satan, his conquest of death, his risen life, his triumphant return to the father, the gift of his spirit," Field writes. Because Leo's original sermons and letters present a "mound of linguistic difficulties" and a mentality perhaps foreign to that of the current day Church, Field worked to make the teachings more accessible. By synthesizing ideas and simplifying language she has produced a resource of relevance and inspiration for today's Catholics.

Field includes scripture references from the originals as well as some of her own to bring us face to face with the notion of "the enemy of humankind" and our need to rely not on our own strength for protection but to turn to God for help. The sermons and commentary are presented in five blocks: Advent and Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, the Triduum, and Easter to Pentecost.