The Bookshelf

Everything is Grace: the LIfe and Way of Therese of Lisieux

One of my favorite saints is St. Therese of Lisieux. She is known for her “little way” that strives to find joy in all the little things as an expression and appreciation for God’s love. Recently, I picked up a book as a spiritual read titled, "Everything is Grace: the Life and Way of Therese of Lisieux." by Joseph Schmidt, FSC. One of the pages I marked as being significant. I sat on this paragraph for quite a bit and share it with you for your own pondering:

Therese says to modern people, burdened with a sense of homelessness in life and suffering a sense of quiet despair, "You are searching in the face of death for meaning in your life, for authentic existence, for liberation, for happiness, for freedom, and for truth; you are looking for love and transcendence, for connectedness and companionship, for affirmation and a sense of fulfillment. I have discovered what you search for: it is God, it is divine love stooping down to embrace you. And I know a way that will lead you out of your darkness and suffering. The way is the path of accepting divine love into your life. Of willing to be available to the beloved God even in our weakness and despair. It is the way of being aware of your need for love, willing to give yourself to God’s loving embrace like a child abandons itself with confidence and love into the arms of its loving parent, and the freely sharing love with others in creative good works of peace and justice. It is the willingness to be the person God calls you to be."

There is so much in our world that zaps us of the simplicity required to put God first. Just imagine if we focused on nothing but loving God and loving others what a wonderful world this would be.

My Life with the Saints

In his book, "My Life with the Saints," James Martin SJ shares his personal connection and stories related to particular saints or Saints. It is a very engaging and easy to read book. It is my favorites book written by him so far. I have recommended this book to others and given it as a gift. 

He gives you just enough information to want to learn more, way more, about each of these amazing people, and what’s more, you want to have the same type of relationships with the saints as he does.

I also found myself needing to stop and write down the names and authors of books that he was recommending about this saint or that saint. I might go so far as to say, “My Life with the Saint’s" helped me appreciate the wonderful communion of saints available to us on our daily journey.

Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage

Stories of the Saints: Bold and Inspiring Tales of Adventure, Grace, and Courage by Carey Wallace and illustrated by Nick Thornburrow is a unique saint book that brings to life many Catholic saints that young readers will be familiar with, as well as others that will be introduced to them for the first time, through dramatized yet realistic retellings of their life stories. 

Proceeding chronologically from Polycarp to Mother Teresa, each saint’s humanity and faith become tangible in a very real way in the space of just a few pages.  Coupled with the dramatic and mythological illustrations of Thornburrow, this book is different from most every other book on the lives of saints. Boys and girls alike will find new heroes or a new understanding of favorite saints, as well as find themselves captivated by the beautiful illustrations. 

While some parents may be uncomfortable with the honesty that Wallace treats the hardships the saints have endured, from early Christians’ martyrdom to the plague, I found it to be refreshing and a great conversation starter with my children on the trials and tribulations of the Christian life, especially those prior to modern times.

This is an excellent book to breathe life into the saints for children so they are able to vividly imagine the heroic faith of those good Catholics whom the Church has canonized.