Books on the Saints

"Women Mystics" by Louis Bouyer explores the lives and contributions of five women mystics who have significantly influenced Christianity. Through the stories of Hadewijch of Antwerp, Teresa of Avila, Thérèse of Lisieux, Elizabeth of the Trinity, and Edith Stein, Bouyer illustrates the unique and creative spiritual missions of these women, emphasizing their role in shaping and steering Christianity. Highlighting the continuity and individuality of their experiences, Bouyer presents these myst...

Among the giants of the Benedictine Order in modern times, Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster stands out as a scholar, churchman, and saint—one who deeply researched monasticism and liturgy, and, in spite of being elevated to the archbishopric of Milan, kept the heart of a monk whose childlike faith, ascetical self-denial, and all-embracing charity were recognized in his beatification. Schuster's commentary on the Holy Rule of St Benedict of Nursia (first published in Italian at the end of W...

A Pope for All Seasons: Testimonies Inspired by Saint John Paul II contains reminiscences by people who admired this saintly man as student, actor, professor, mentor, author, priest, pope, political leader, uncle, and friend. Among the nearly 50 men and women who share their intimate thoughts on the Polish pontiff are internationally recognized figures such as Maestro Placido Domingo, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Michael Reagan, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Newt...

Priest of the Eucharist From a young age, (now St) Pierre-Julien Eymard wanted nothing more than to be a priest. Once ordained, young Fr Eymard quickly developed a deep devotion to his Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Consumed by his great love, Fr Eymard devoted his life to increasing devotion to Jesus in all tabernacles. In this biography of the "Priest of the Eucharist", Fr Tesnière, a novice trained by St Pierre-Julien, showcases the prayerful devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament that charac...

Reflections on Society Beatified in Warsaw in 2021, Blessed Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński (1901-1981) is widely recognized as one of Poland's greatest heroes of the twentieth century. Exercising the function of Primate of Poland from 1948 until his death, he reminded the Polish people of their Christian heritage and opposed the abuses of the communist regime; his popularity made him the Polish communist's worst nightmare. In this collection, which is bound to become a classic, Cardinal Wyszyński ...

Poems by Saint John of the Cross Regarded by many as one of the finest Spanish poets, the 16th century mystic St. John of the Cross wrote sublime poems that chronicle the soul's purificatory pilgrimage through the dark night of the soul to the joy of mystical union with the Creator. To translate such works, with their passionate, intimate intensity, requires both boldness and delicacy. The translator of poetry faces many challenges. As the late poet Timothy Murphy notes in his introduction, s...

 "Blessed be the Child who today delights Bethlehem. Blessed be the Newborn Who today made the humanity young again. Blessed be the Fruit Who Bowed Himself down for our hunger. Blessed be the Gracious One Who suddenly enriched all of our poverty and filled our need." Ephrem the Syrian (c.306-373) Ephrem was born in the Mesopotamian city of Nisibis toward the end of the third century. An outpost of the Roman Empire, Nisibis and its Christian citizens were to be formed by the reign of Constant...

An Unabridged Edition with The Original Four Parts and All Chapters, Table of Contents: On Selection of Men for The Work of The Church - On the Sort of Life, The Pastor Ought to Live - On the Best Methods of Dealing with The Various Types of People Which Every Pastor Will be Likely to Encounter - On the Necessity That the Pastor Guard Himself Against Egotism and Personal Ambition, with footnotes.

Joseph's Donkey is the heartwarming tale of a noble donkey purchased by St. Joseph shortly before his marriage to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The trusted creature helps Joseph in his carpentry business by hauling wood and stones, but he also plays a key role in all the major events recorded in the Infancy Narratives in the Gospels: he carries Mary to Bethlehem, where she gives birth to Jesus; he takes the Holy Family to Egypt to escape the evil king Herod; and he shuttles the family to Jerusalem...

This book tells the story of a girl from a small convent in Normandy, who lived a life of complete seclusion, known only by a few close friends, and yet today is a canonized saint known throughout the world. Her convent in Lisieux is visited by pilgrims from around the globe, churches in nearly every country are dedicated to her, and her simple spirituality has resonated with people from all walks of life. This is the story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Yet, as with any person of such fame, it...

The life of St. John Vianney, also known as the Curé d'Ars (priest of Ars), is marked by boundless humility and obedience to God. When this simple French priest was assigned in 1818 to the parish of Ars, a town of just 250 people, few would have guessed that it would lead to his international recognition. Disturbed by the religious ignorance and indifference brought about by the French Revolution and openly displayed by his congregation, John Vianney began work in his parish that quickly flow...

Edith Stein was a figure most singular and rare. Even within the purview of the illustrious history of the Church's saints, few can lay claim to so powerful a marriage of faith and intellect. Born into a devout Jewish family in 1891, her intellectual abilities did not long go unnoticed and in 1913 she moved to Göttingen in Germany to study philosophy under Edmund Husserl. There, as destiny would have it, she encountered a work on the life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, which lead her to a profound...

Few religious figures have enjoyed such notoriety as John Henry Newman. His conversion from Anglicanism to the Catholic Church, chronicled in his extensive writing, has been the source of endless debate and discussion. The difficulty confronting the modern reader when faced with such a controversial figure is the task of accurately deciphering his precise thoughts and ideas. In A Newman Synthesis, Erich Przywara has done us exactly this service. In these pages the reader will find an extensiv...

For the Salvation of the DyingThe Pious Union of St. Joseph was founded many years ago for the purpose of effectually helping the Dying to obtain through the intercession of St. Joseph, the Patron of the Dying, the grace of a Happy Death. This Pious Union already existed some years when Pope St. Pius X, by an Apostolic Letter, dated February 12, 1914, raised a similar Association, erected in the newly built church of St. Joseph in Rome, to the dignity of an Arch-Confraternity with the faculty...

St. Thomas More, by E.E. Reynolds, is a complete life of the saint based on primary source accounts, state papers and contemporary registers. Reynolds leaves no written source uncovered in drawing together for us the man who became one of the most famous men not only in England, but even in Europe, who gave his life for the rights of the Church over the tyranny of the state. Reynolds traces More's life and environs, as well as More's writings and poetry, to bring out the man and the hour in w...

Discover the life of Benedict of Nursia in a unique and insightful way with Saint Benedict and His Times, written by Ildefonso Schuster, one of the outstanding ecclesiastical scholars of the twentieth century. Piece together the puzzle of one of the most important figures in Church history with this comprehensive look at the times he lived. A millennium and a half have passed since Benedict penned his great Rule that has guided countless God-seeking souls ever since. Dig deep into history, ju...

C. Bernard Ruffin's Padre Pio: The True Story is a captivating account of the life of one of the most revered Catholic figures of the 20th century. From his humble beginnings as a Italian farm boy to his years as a beloved spiritual leader, Padre Pio's journey is one of deep faith and miraculous deeds.Ruffin draws on extensive research and interviews with those who knew Padre Pio best to paint a intimate portrait of a man whose intense spirituality and holiness transformed the lives of all wh...

St. John Vianney, the Cure d'Ars, though he was not thought competent to preach or hear confessions, became one of the greatest preachers and confessors of his age.The 19th century was one of optimism for French Catholicism, but, following the horrors of the French Revolution, there was also a feeling of lukewarmness and an approach to the moral life that felt sin could not be all that bad.St. John Vianney, on the other hand, would not suffer to see souls be damned for lukewarmness. His preac...

Saints for Every Member of Your Family, Every Profession, Every Ailment, Every Emergency, and Even Every AmusementWho would have guessed that there is a patron saint for astronauts, or zookeepers, or the internet? You know that you can pray to St. Blaise to help protect you from a sore throat, but which saint will protect you from a snakebite or from being struck by lightning?With hundreds of listings of patron saints, you'll find heavenly helpers for just about anything and everything.You'll...

It's easy to recognize Saint Francis of Assisi as one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. His story and legacy are retold in Fr. Candide Challipe’s The Life of St. Francis of Assisi, translated into English by the Oratorians of London for our enjoyment and spiritual benefit. This work is a classic, written in the 1700's, that compiles all available sources at that time to provide a balanced narrative about his life. It combines two distinct elements: immense spirituality with...

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved religious figures in history, celebrated for his connection to nature and inspiring devotion to Christian service. Get an exclusive view into the life of this 13th century saint with Michael de la Bedoyere's book 'Francis of Assisi'. Uncovering mystical events such as his legendary Sermon to the Birds and meeting with a leper, you will be taken on a life-changing journey through St. Francis' unparalleled spiritual journey for sainthood, as back...