Books on the Saints

This learned book traces the course of mystical theology which led up to St John of the Cross. It studies Hugh and Richard of St Victor, St Bonaventure, important writings which long passed under his name, Hugh of Balma, a Carthusian Prior it seems of the thirteenth century, Tauler's authentic sermons and his Institutiones, a compilation by St Peter Canisius passing under his name, Ruysbroeck, Denis the Carthusian, Kastl's De Adhaerendo Deo, and finally a brief notice of Spanish writers of th...

St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) displayed mystical gifts from childhood. Though she longed to remain a virgin, her parents arranged a marriage for her, and, as a wife and mother, she led a devout life that mirrored that of a consecrated religious, through fervent prayer and tireless works of charity. In fact, she founded a community of Benedictine oblates who live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, each according to her own state in life; the community now counts thousands of members worl...

Meet a Doctor of the Church whose wisdom on health and nutrition will aid you in everything from better digestion and sleep to improved mood, memory, and pain relief. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) was a mystic and scholar who chronicled more than six hundred pages of visions, wrote cantatas, and even devised her own language. She authored The Book of Divine Works, Causes and Cures, and Scivias and corresponded with the greatest intellectuals, theologians, and royals of her time.As a pioneer...

Leaving no stone unturned, this authoritative book offers fresh perspectives on the life, times, and zealous ministry of St. Paul. Historian and professor Rev. Waldemar Chrostowski provides the chronology of the luminary apostle's life in fascinating detail, from his transformation at Damascus to his numerous escapes from mortal danger that rivaled those of an action-film hero. But these stories of persecutions, trials, sentencings, tumultuous missionary journeys, and encounters with remarkab...

The Mass is a central and essential part of the Christian life, the very source and summit of our devotion and piety. Instituted by Jesus Himself at the Last Supper and faithfully passed on by the apostles and their successors, it is not merely a memorial of the passion, death, and resurrection of our Savior, but a true participation in His one redeeming sacrifice. It does not merely praise and invoke God, but causes Him to be really, truly, and substantially present. It is through the Mass t...

Discover the Seraphic Doctor's Profound Reflections on Our Blessed Mother In Mirror of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Bonaventure, the "Seraphic Doctor," offers a profound investigation into the Blessed Virgin Mary's distinctive role in humanity's redemption. Originally penned as a humble tribute to Mary's virtues and divine favor, this work illuminates the depths of her sanctity and her pivotal role in the salvation of souls. Beginning with meditations on the angelic salutation, this endurin...

This book examines how thirteen extraordinary men and women from apostolic times to the present--most of them canonized saints--came to see how God wanted them to organize their lives and, seeing that, set out to shape their lives accordingly. It adopts a new and illuminating approach to a familiar literary genre--the lives of the saints and what the turning points were in their dedicating themselves to God. Instead of concentrating on the question of vocation, the book situates the thirteen ...

In sixth-century Ireland, the memory of the great missionary Saint Patrick was strong, but so was the influence of the old pagan religion. There was still much work to be done to spread the Christian faith.This book tells the story of one of the greatest saints of the Emerald Isle after Patrick, Saint Kevin, whose monastery at Glendalough was a beacon of light for eight hundred years. Saint Kevin worked miracles, communed with animals, and inspired thousands to leave everything to follow Chri...

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen was one of the greatest spiritual leaders--and entertainers--in America's tumultuous twentieth century. His television shows, for which he eventually won an Emmy Award, reached millions of viewers, and in the 1950s and '60s, "Fulton Sheen" was a household name.But his greatest gift was in finding lost sheep. Through his thought, wit, and compassion, many thousands of people likely entered the Church, from all walks of life. Among them were jazz legend Ada "Bricktop" ...

"Let us leave a saint to write the life of a saint."--St. Thomas Aquinas In the annals of Christian sanctity, Dominic Savio emerges as a luminary, guiding the path of the faithful with the light of his youthful innocence and zeal. St. John Bosco, the venerable servant of God, chronicles the life of his spiritual son, offering us a window into a soul graced with divine favor. Born to Italian peasants, Dominic's journey mirrored that of St. Pius X, sharing humble origins, a love for learning, a...

Maximilian Kolbe's decision to take the place of a condemned man in the Auschwitz concentration camp is one of the greatest stories of heroism to emerge from the Holocaust. This book brings to life for a younger audience the incredible story of a Polish weaver's son who grew up to be a priest, a missionary, and a martyr.Kolbe lived amid the political unrest, the social change, and the spiritual battles that shaped the modern world. In the thick of it all, he had one goal--to share the love of...

The Church is a city set on a hill and on that hill there is a lighthouse. The Church directs her light this way and that as occasion warrants. That we might not make a shipwreck of our faith (see 1 Tm 1:19), she illuminates dangerous crags and reefs when all the world would tell us the water is clear. Each age has its heresies, and ours is a hatred of origin, of fatherhood. But if we come from somewhere and someone, we cannot be self-made. As an anchor against the wave of patricide, a light ...

With such a great cloud of witnesses, we have much to learn from the saints. Allow the saints to be your child's example for meeting Christ in the Eucharist.' In Eucharistic Saints, your children will encounter stories of saints they may already know, like Pope Saint John Paul II and St. Thomas Aquinas, and they will become familiar with saints they may not know yet, like St. Peter Julian Eymard and St. Tarcisius. This book also introduces your children to holy souls who were their own age, l...

St Therese of Lisieux is one of the best-loved saints of the Church. Her writings are amongst the most popular works of spirituality the world has ever known. Admitted to Carmel in 1888 at the age of fifteen, she only lived nine more years. St Therese wrote with utter simplicity, and yet, because of her outstanding spiritual discernment, Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church. Her gifts as a poet, however, have remained largely unknown to English-speaking readers - here for the...

In this colorful and vibrant graphic novel, St. Thérèse of Lisieux reveals to children the story of her soul and her secret to holiness: "To love is to give everything and to give yourself." Children will come to understand that the "Little Way" of St. Thérèse consists of trust, love, and generosity, and they will learn how to abandon themselves in the arms of Jesus like the Little Flower. Never before has the life and spirituality of St. Thérèse of Lisieux been presented in such a beautiful ...

"Aquinas's Lenten Meditations: 40 Days with the Angelic Doctor" by Saint Thomas Aquinas is a profound journey through Lent, guided by one of the Church's greatest minds. This book offers a collection of sixty-three Scripture-based sermons tailored for the Lenten season, from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. Aquinas explores themes such as deepening prayer life, conquering temptation, and the virtues cultivated through reflection on Christ's Passion. Designed to detach readers from worldly conc...

This book introduces the reader to thirteen Christian spiritual classics that illustrate the ordinary steps we can take toward living the Gospel life more fully.Drawing on the rich teaching of a particular saint or mystic, each chapter helps us grow in a different aspect of holiness, of intimacy with God. Archbishop Hughes offers an itinerary for becoming a good disciple of the Lord, giving the reader access to an impressive spiritual library that can support and strengthen progress in discip...

Saint Joseph stands close to Jesus and Mary at the heart of the gospel story. Yet he remains largely in the background, silent and steady. Not surprisingly, Christians throughout the ages have pondered deeply this mystery that is Joseph.Many have speculated about the unknown details of his life, and several mystics were granted visions that portrayed the hidden days--both the ordinary and the extraordinary--of Our Lord's appointed guardian vividly and profoundly. The Life of Saint Joseph as S...

Color, learn, pray! Father Donald Calloway, MIC, presents a fun way for children of all ages to grow closer to St. Joseph, the ultimate superhero and the "Terror of Demons." Learn more about this great Saint by coloring the wonderful illustrations by Sam Estrada, each portraying a different title of St. Joseph.

Saint John of the Cross is the Church's premier teacher on contemplative prayer. Catholic tradition even calls him the Mystical Doctor. The sixteenth-century Carmelite priest not only wrote four massive treatises on the spiritual life, along with some of the finest poetry in the Spanish language, but also worked alongside Teresa of Ávila in renewing the Carmelite order. Thérèse of Lisieux claimed she found no other spiritual reading that could satisfy her soul like John of the Cross.Yet the v...

St. Francis Solano: A Captivating Story of Adventure! Parents and children alike will be captivated by the incredible stories of St. Francis Solano, the amazing 16th-century Jesuit saint. From his unparalleled ability to convert thousands of slaves on a sinking ship with just one sermon to his own selfless acts of healing the sick and lost, even finding a spring in the desert, this enthralling book is sure to entertain and inspire children 10 and up. With detailed illustrations, captivating n...

The Acts of St. Sebastian and His CompanionsIn his illustrious life, Saint Sebastian was the senior commanding officer of the elite forces for the greatest military power on the planet--the Roman Empire. By his glorious death, he became a commander in the greatest military power in the universe--the communion of saints of the Roman Catholic Church. Throughout the Church's history, countless martyrs have offered their lives to Christ rather than deny Him. One of the most revered is Saint Sebas...

"Many of us give up on prayer when we don't get the answer we want WHEN we want it." For nearly two decades, Saint Monica prayed for her wayward son. Years and years of prayers, seemingly unanswered. Countless tears shed with no relief. Yet she would not give up. That very act of persistent prayer blessed the entire Church, for we have all benefitted from the conversion of her son, Augustine, who became one of the most revered saints of all time. Parents of any age or at any stage can cultiva...

Italian Carmelite Antonio Maria Sicari''s vibrant biographies of saints--from Augustine to Catherine of Siena to Faustina Kowalska--have been read across Europe for decades. In How Saints Die, Sicari turns to the most difficult challenge in the life of a Christian: the hour of death.What he uncovers in this darkest moment, however, is not desolation, but inexplicable joy. I have recounted the death of many saints, he writes, but all of them have confirmed for me the truth of this ancient Chri...

How to Master 12 Essential Virtues in 12 Months On every page Cultivating Virtue imparts the true spirit of the Catholic Faith. This book takes 12 Christian virtues one for each month, with a reading for each day of the year and shows you how to master each one. Featuring episodes and sayings from the lives of the Saints, it covers Perfection, Humility, Mortification, Patience, Meekness, Confidence, Charity, among others. Master the virtues and set out on your road to becoming a saint by lear...

There have been very few books that offer a serious, reliable, thoughtful look at stigmatists, and specifically, what I call visionary stigmatists. Interestingly, almost all Church-approved stigmatists have been just that: visionaries as well as stigmatists. This book focuses on Church-approved stigmatists and their visions, revelations, and prophecies and warnings. In some cases, the prophecies and warnings relate to the End Times and Second Coming of Christ. That includes the striking revel...

Embark on an inspirational journey with this classic best seller about the life of Francesca Cabrini. Angel Studios is proud to bring you a special edition of this biography--and the new motion picture, Cabrini--to tell her story and inspire all people to love with unstoppable determination, as she did. This gripping biography unveils the extraordinary adventures of Mother Cabrini, a visionary Italian American religious sister who defied the odds, founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred ...

Based upon Richard Johnson's work, which first appeared in print in the 1590s and was widely read for over three centuries after its publication, The Seven Champions of Christendom whisks the reader away to a bygone age of mythic heroes and warrior saints engaged in earthly battle against evil. The Seven are St. George of England, St. Denis of France, St. James of Spain, St. Anthony of Italy, St. Andrew of Scotland, St. Patrick of Ireland, and St. David of Wales. Subsequently rewritten in mod...

Awarded the James Tait Black Memorial Prize in 1935, Raymond Chambers's acclaimed biography of Saint Thomas More stands as one of the finest accounts of this great figure of English history. Beginning with his early life in late 15th century England, Chambers tracks More's rise through Parliament and the British social hierarchy, culminating in his appointment as Lord Chancellor in 1529. The result of this chancellorship is of course widely known: following the disagreement between King Henry...

The spiritual wisdom of Saint Benedict has endured for centuries and quite literally shaped Western culture from its inception. Tenets of the order, like its motto and Saint Benedict's Rule, are just as influential for lay people as they are for the Benedictine monks and nuns. The cross and medal of St. Benedict is also among the gifts bestowed by the Benedictine Order. For centuries, it has been a conduit for God's power against malicious spirits.The history of this cross and medal--how it f...

Augustine's Quest for Wisdom, originally published in 1945, is a veritable encyclopedia of Augustinian thought. Meticulously tracing the saint's intellectual and spiritual conversions toward God, Vernon J. Bourke develops a rich study of Augustine as the original Christian philosopher--a man wholly devoted to the love of wisdom. This study has two parts: first, the scholarly career of one of the brightest intellects the Western world has ever known; second, the ecclesial and pastoral ministry...

No matter the stage, the career of Saint Gregory the Great was marked consistently by excellence. Appointed Prefect of Rome around the age of thirty, Gregory forsook his worldly success in favor of monastic silence and communion with God, establishing at his ancestral home the Monastery of St. Andrew. There, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI, he lived a "life of permanent dialogue with the Lord in listening to his word." Providentially, Gregory was called in turn to leave the monastery for th...

In his Confessions, Saint Augustine of Hippo wrote to God, "Allow me to speak: for I am addressing your Mercy, not a man who would laugh at me." The Confessions have been read by countless readers, but Augustine wrote to communicate with God about his childhood, his gratitude to his mother, his friends, his triumphs and tragedies, and his hope for eternal life. Like Augustine, we can pray in a similar way, writing to God and sharing our innermost thoughts, feelings, dreams, despairs, and hope...

The words of Jesus form the very heart of St. Faustinas Diary, as the Merciful Savior calls her and each of us to an intimacy with Him and the mission of bringing mercy to the whole world. Jesus tells her, I see your efforts to please Me, and they delight My Heart (Diary, 1061). He also instructs her, My daughter, do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My merciful Heart and I will fill it with ...

St. Rose of Lima (1586-1617), Patroness of the Americas, is the first canonized saint of the New World. She was the tenth of thirteen children, and her mother experienced no pain at her birth. Though exquisitely beautiful (hence her nickname, Rose), she refused to marry, and while helping support her family by needlework and growing flowers, she practiced heroic charity and lived as a Dominican Tertiary in her parents' home. Rose tenderly cared for the sick, even those with repulsive wounds, ...

It's no secret we live in a time of confusion, scandal, and chaos. Our response is often despair, hopelessness, or uncertainty of what to do next. The world, however, needs to be repaired; what is broken needs to be rebuilt. Jesus famously asked Saint Francis of Assisi to rebuild his Church. Today, so many Catholics want their lives, families, nation, and Church repaired as well.Let Us Begin highlights the unmatched witness of Francis on how to repair the brokenness of the human heart as well...

While many Catholics are aware of great female saints such as Catherine of Siena and Thérèse of Lisieux, a view persists that, over the centuries, women played a limited role in the development of Catholic traditions and institutions. In this innovative survey of Church history, Bronwen McShea demonstrates instead that faithful women have always been at the heart of the Church's common life, shaping it and the course of entire civilizations.In Women of the Church, McShea presents a wide array...

In the heart of faith, amidst trials and tribulations, lies the inspiration of the Eucharistic martyrs--men, women, and children whose love for the Blessed Sacrament led them to the ultimate sacrifice. Martyrs of the Eucharist: Stories to Inspire Eucharistic Amazement is a profound collection of twenty-nine stirring stories, curated into four distinct sections: those who died attending Mass, those who died celebrating Mass, those who risked their lives defending or protecting the Eucharist, a...

Many are well aware of St. Thomas Aquinas's intellectual prowess -- his genius in metaphysics and supernatural theology that pierced the depths of truth. However, few know about the private spiritual life of this illustrious Doctor of the Church. This work, written by Msgr. Martin Grabmann, a foremost authority on Aquinas, is unique in its telling of the holiness of St. Thomas's priestly soul. Neither a purely devotional nor a strictly scientific treatment of the interior life of St. Thomas, ...

Padre Pio was well known during his lifetime as a spiritual director to many souls all over the world. What if you, too, could receive his guidance and counsel? You will find just that in the treasures of his letters, written about 100 years ago to his spiritual directors and to his spiritual daughters.Dearest Soul offers spiritual guidance for every soul in Padre Pio's own words, drawn from those letters. This book illustrates his journey as a prophet of our time, as one who is so similar and...

How much do you really know about St. Joseph? He was once a little boy and played like all children. He had royal blood, and could have been a king. He was a young man when he married Mary. He was a wonderful father to Jesus. He was the brave and steadfast protector of the Holy Family. He's the model of manhood. He's worked many miracles and is a powerful intercessor for us . . . And he had a pure, chaste heart. Join Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, as he tells the dynamic and inspiring story of St....

Protect your family! Entrust your family to St. Joseph. Why? Because God, Himself, did. God entrusted the Holy Family to St. Joseph to keep them safe, and so should you. Drawing on the wealth of the Church's living tradition, Fr. Donald H. Calloway, MIC and co-author Scott L. Smith, Jr., call on all of us to turn to St. Joseph, entrust ourselves, our children and families, our Church, and our world to our spiritual father's loving care. Watch for wonders when the Universal Patron of the Churc...

In An Exemplary Couple: Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla, you will read the story of the spouses Saint Gianna Beretta and Pietro Molla, and with an account, through direct testimonies, of the most significant moments of their married life. This is followed by an analysis of their marital journey through their own correspondence, highlighting the distinctive features of their relationship as fiancés, spouses, and parents. Finally, their daily spirituality is linked with the texts of the M...

In the battle for our children's souls, Catholic parents have a key advantage over the world: our families are destined for heaven. God willed us to exist now--in a world that celebrates sin as virtue and punishes Christians as "haters"--as part of His saving plan. In His abundant generosity, He confers on all His children the power to know, love, and serve Him. But His plan requires our participation. To spend eternity with Him in heaven, we must answer His call, now. Unbreakable is a resour...

"The world is too small," Saint Frances Cabrini (1850-1917) once declared. "I would like to embrace it all, to reach every corner." This compelling, authoritative biography chronicles the astounding life of a petite Italian-born religious sister who, with the heart of a missionary, conquered all odds to become the first American citizen canonized a saint.Theodore Maynard traces Cabrini's journey from her humble beginnings in northern Italy to her pioneering mission across the United States se...

To help celebrate the fourth centenary of the birth of St. John of the Cross in 1542, Edith Stein received the task of preparing a study of his writings. She uses her skill as a philosopher to enter into an illuminating reflection on the difference between the two symbols of cross and night. Pointing out how entering the night is synonymous with carrying the cross, she provides a condensed presentation of John's thought on the active and passive nights, as discussed in The Ascent of Mount Car...

Several popes have referred to St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) as "the Apostle of the Eucharist." Nonetheless, he is not that well known in the universal Church. When it comes to worldwide recognition of his extraordinary life, as well as the many amazing things he did to foster a greater love for the Blessed Sacrament, most Catholics are unfamiliar with him and have never heard his name. That is about to change. 30-Day Eucharistic Revival is intended to help you, your children, your gran...

Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the most popular modern saints in the world, but the details of her life and spirituality are still not widely known and are somewhat of a mystery even to her devoted followers.With over 150 stunning photographs, in-depth text, and plentiful sidebars on history, geography, and themes, this gorgeous work helps us enter into the universe of the greatest saint of modern times to discover the simplicity, yet depth of her daily life and of her relationships, both human...