Saint Biography

A great gift for Communion and confirmation! Performing Miracles. Facing Wild Lions. Confronting Demons. Transforming the World. From Augustine to Mother Teresa, officially canonized as St. Teresa of Calcutta, discover seventy of the best-known and best-loved saints and read their riveting stories. Meet Joan of Arc, whose transcendent faith compelled her to lead an army when the king’s courage failed. Francis of Assisi, whose gentleness tamed a man-eating wolf.

As “Mormon royalty” within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Martha Beck was raised in a home frequented by the Church’s high elders—known as the apostles—and her existence was framed by their strict code of conduct. Wearing her sacred garments, she married in a secret temple ceremony—but only after two Mormon leaders ascertained that her “past contained no flirtation with serious sins, such as committing murder or drinking coffee.” She went to church faithfully with the other brothers and sisters of her ward.

L’histoire d’une femme compliquée dont les décennies de dévouement indéfectible et d’engagement envers l’éducation des enfants à travers le monde démentent une vie personnelle intrigante, imprévisible et parfois inexplicable. Après la vie tumultueuse et inattendue de cette enseignante extraordinaire, la biographie de Simmonds tisse des fils disparates de Russie, de Chine, du Chili, de France et de Saint-Kitts dans une tapisserie vibrante, révélant une femme surprenante et exceptionnelle.

After a lifetime of putting his body on the line to entertain his dozens (and dozens!) of fans, the Hardcore Legend is paying the price - physically and emotionally. When the final bell on Mick's career tolls, not in the ring, but in a neurologist's office, his future seems far from merry and bright. Until Mick is given the chance to become Santa Claus - not dress up, not pretend, but become Santa - allowing him to rediscover the joy of performing. Fully committing to his new mission, Mick details the drastic measures he takes to keep the Christmas magic alive.

In this beautiful spiritual travelogue, New York Times best-selling author George Weigel leads listeners through the historic streets of Kraków, Poland, introducing one of the world's great cities through the life of one of the most influential Catholic leaders of all time.

Men and women of God have been studying the life of Paul the Apostle since the dawn of the New Covenant. Having written 13 (or perhaps 14 if you include Hebrews) of the 27 books of the New Testament, his writings, breathed by the Holy Spirit, are vital to Christians everywhere. His boldness in proclaiming the truths of the New Covenant was not only revolutionary, but caused him to live in constant threat of death.

The Life of Saint Macrina is a significant work of early Christian literature written by Bishop Gregory of Nyssa. In the form of a letter to the monk Olympus, Gregory describes the life and influence of his sister Macrina. Macrina – also known as "Macrina the Younger" – had helped to establish a monastery and convent in Pontus (in modern-day Turkey) in the fourth century AD. The story centres on Gregory’s final visit to Macrina and is written as testimony to her piety, sanctity, and holy influence.

There are many editions of the writings of St. Francis, and many biographies about him, but here in one volume are both, plus the complete text of the late medieval work The Little Flowers, which did more to establish the legend of the man than any other work. This edition includes the complete Road to Assisi, Paul Sabatier's groundbreaking and foundational biography of the saint, first published in French in 1894; the complete Francis in His Own Words: The Essential Writings; and The Little Flowers, thus offering the best introduction to St. Francis yet available between two covers.

Born Helena Kowalska on a clear August day in 1905, to a poor Polish family, she was the third of 10 children. When Helena turned 19, she felt called by Jesus to go to Warsaw and enter a convent. After arriving, she was turned down by convent after convent, until finally, one accepted her. She took the name Faustina and stayed in the convent until her death in 1938.

Frère François naît à la fin du XIIe siècle, dans une Italie divisée par les guerres, entre les murs d'une petite cité moyenâgeuse : Assise...

"Un génie mystique". Ainsi parlait le Pape Paul VI de celui qui prêcha, à sa demande, sa retraite au Vatican en 1972. Maurice Zundel, ce prêtre suisse né en 1897, vit depuis sa mort en 1975, un succès grandissant. Cela s'explique par l'aspect prophétique de cet étonnant mystique qui, dès le début de ses prédications, a placé l'homme au centre et au cœur de sa spiritualité. Transcendant les frontières humaines et religieuses, celui qui fut, entre autres, le confesseur de l'abbé Pierre, rejoint chacun d'entre nous, au travers de ses homélies (éditées), de ses livres (une vingtaine), et ses conférences (retranscrites).

The Little Flowers of St. Francis is a classic collection of popular legends about the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Composed at the end of the 14th century by an unknown author, this manuscript is a version of the Latin Actus beati Francisci et sociorum eius, which can be dated to 1390 AD. Most scholars are now agreed that the author was Ugolino Brunforte (1262-1348). The text was the inspiration for Roberto Rossellini’s 1950 film Francesco, giullare di Dio (Francis, God’s Jester), which was co-written by Federico Fellini.

In C. S. Lewis and the Catholic Church, Joseph Pearce delves into Lewis's life, writings, and spiritual influences to shed light on the matter. Although C. S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity was greatly influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien, a Catholic, and although Lewis embraced many distinctively Catholic teachings, such as purgatory and the sacrament of Confession, he never formally entered the Church.

One part biography, one part prayer book, The Life and Prayers of Saint Padre Pio is an essential for any Christian. The foundation for Padre Pio's work in the world was love. His love of God became intertwined with his love of humanity so that the two became inseparable and unwavering. Padre Pio is notable not for his erudition or even his teachings, per se, but for the man he was and the intercessor he continues to be. Pio gave himself to Christ as a spiritual victim for the souls of sinners.

St. Ignatius, first-century Bishop of Antioch, called the “God-bearer”, is one of the earliest witnesses to the truth of Christ and the nature of the Christian life. Tradition tells us that as a small child, Ignatius was singled out by Jesus himself as an example of the childlike faith all Christians must possess. In Bearing God, Father Andrew Damick recounts the life of this great pastor, martyr, and saint, and interprets for the modern listener five major themes in the pastoral letters he wrote.

Histoire d'une âme a fait de la petite Thérèse, experte en sciencia amoris, l'une des plus grandes saintes du xxº siècle tant la nouveauté de sa spiritualité, appelée la « petite voie », a inspiré nombre de croyants: elle propose de rechercher la sainteté non pas dans les grandes actions, mais dans les actes du quotidien même les plus insignifiants, à condition de les accomplir pour l'Amour de Dieu. En 1997, le pape Jean-Paul II fait d'elle le 33º docteur de l'église reconnaissant par-là même l'exemplarité de sa vie et de ses écrits.

An introduction to the life, ministry, and spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola, this book also emphasizes the importance of a personal experience of God.

In this riveting biography, author Bret Thoman accomplishes what few biographers have. He pierces the inner life of Francis, revealing his deepest passions, his unquenchable love for poverty, and his unshakable grip on the core of the Gospel. The life of Francis, so often festooned with spectacle and miracle, is in reality the story of a soul yearning for God in every moment and glimpsing his presence in all creation.

St. Peter, also known as Simon Peter of Cephas, is considered the first Pope of Rome, yet St. Peter had humble beginnings as a fisherman. Later he became one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus. He was ordained by Jesus Christ as "the Rock of My Church" (Matt 16:17). Jesus said further, "Simon son of Jonah, you are blessed!" "Because it was no human agency that revealed this to you but my father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church. And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it."

The Confessions by Saint Augustine is considered an all-time number one Christian classic. Augustine undertook his greatest piece of writing with the conviction that God wanted him to make this confession. The Confessions is, in fact, an extended poetic, passionate, intimate prayer.