Edward S. Stanton was born to Mary Elizabeth (Sullivan) and Dr. Joseph Stanton in 1916. He grew up with four brothers and five sisters in Brookline and Newton, Massachusetts.

Stanton graduated from Boston College High School. In 1935, he entered the Society of Jesus at Lenox, Massachusetts. Stanton received from Boston College both his Bachelor of Arts and his Masters of Arts in 1941 and 1942, respectively. Upon college graduation, Stanton taught high school in Fairfield, Connecticut from 1942 to 1945.

In 1948, he was ordained a priest in the Roman Catholic Church. He received his Licentiate in Theology, with honors, from Weston College in 1949. After studying in both Ireland and France, Stanton taught theology at Holy Cross College from 1951 to 1957. He was the New England Promoter of Sodalities, directing retreats, organizing conventions, and counseling from 1957 to 1967.

While serving as the summer editor of America in 1963, Stanton met John La Farge, SJ. Impressed by La Farge’s character and work, Stanton began to study his life. Stanton participated in the Third World Congress for the Lay Apostolate in Rome in 1967. In the early 1970s, Stanton began work on his doctorate at Saint Paul University in Ottawa. He chose La Farge as the subject of his doctoral dissertation. After completion of his doctorate in philosophy, Stanton returned to teaching. He was a member of Boston College’s Theology Department and conducted numerous student retreats.

Over his long career, Stanton published a number of articles in journals such as America, Christian Action, and The Pilot. Among his work was a chapter about La Farge for a book titled Saints Are Now. Between 1963 and 1976, Stanton wrote over three hundred and thirty-three book reviews for America. He also prepared manuscripts on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the life of John LaFarge.

Stanton died on March 13, 1983.