LETTERS TO SAINTS AND OTHER SINNERS

Letters suggests a spiritual Dear Abby out of Andrew Greeley's Letters to Nancy. That is, it is a collection of 16 fictive letters to Christians in distress over a variety of situations -- marital problems, the loss of a son in Vietnam, alcoholism, imprisonment, spiritual aridity, and other more or less common problems. Obviously, the value of such letters can be judged solely on the basis of their impact upon people with such problems. Those people must be convinced Christians amenable to a combination of after-dinner psychology and inspirational guidance, with heavy emphasis upon the latter. Within those limitations, Vigeveno proves himself an articulate and compassionate counselor. But the question remains: is there still an audience for a work whose basic solution to the most complex personal problems is ""Watch and pray""?