Saints

Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio

Book cover: 'Saint John Bosco and Saint Dominic Savio'
Author(s): 
Catherine Beebe
Number of pages: 
157 pages
Copyright: 
1955
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
19th century
Italy
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Review: 
This was the book that got our family "hooked" on the Vision Series. I happened to find it at a Used Book store (Ignatius Press books are fairly easy to spot because of the contrasting color around the author's name on the spine of the book). I didn't expect my children to be interested in full-length books at such a young age (my oldest had just turned five). Somehow we got started and they loved it. This is a particularly good Saint story to start with because St. John Bosco is a special patron of children and especially boys. Any child will delight in the stories of how he taught himself juggling and other tricks in order to teach catechism and morals to the troublesome boys in town. We also enjoyed the stories of the dog who followed Don Bosco through the streets of the city late at night and protected him from danger.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Saint Margaret Mary, Apostle of the Sacred Heart

Author(s): 
Ruth Fox Home
Number of pages: 
187 pages
Copyright: 
1960
Publisher: 
Farrar Straus and Cudahy
Binding: 
Sewn Hardcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
17th century
France
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Review: 
This is such a beautiful story of a simple, humble nun who was chosen by Jesus to spread devotion to his most Sacred Heart. I especially like how the author presents God's plan and how He had specially prepared Sr. Alocoque and Father de la Columbiere for this important mission. As Ignatius Press is reprinting many books from the Vision series, I hope this will be back in print sometime soon.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1998-99

Saint Philip of the Joyous Heart

Author(s): 
Francis X. Connolly
Number of pages: 
168 pages
Copyright: 
1957
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
16th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Review: 
The lovely story of the 16th century priest and saint of Rome whose joy brought many away from the evils of the day. He patiently bore a great deal of emotional persecution from some fellow priests, but eventually won his tormentors over to the love of Christ. Many insights into the meaning of a vocation and how to spread the joy of Christ.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
4-26-01

Saint Thomas More of London

Book cover: 'Saint Thomas More of London'
Author(s): 
Elizabeth Ince
Number of pages: 
188 pages
Copyright: 
1957
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
16th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Review: 
An interesting and readable life of Thomas More (1477-1535): the great saint, scholar, father, lawyer, statesman, author, patriot and lover of the Church. The author, a descendant of Thomas More, has included many interesting details and anecdotes that bring this great man to life and help us better understand who he was. Even as an adult who became interested in St. Thomas More from the movie A Man for All Seasons, I found many tidbits that helped fill in the details not present in the movie - particularly regarding More's life before he became Chancellor of England. We also get more of a sense of his holiness and spirituality. Highly Recommended.

Part of the Vision series from Ignatius Press, this book best for upper grade school and high school.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
9-29-03

Saints of the Church

Book cover: 'Saints of the Church'
Author(s): 
Michael G. Allen
Number of pages: 
184 pages
Copyright: 
2000
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Saints
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Resource Type: 
General Resource
Review: 
This book is a companion to the Vision series of saint's biographies (also published by Ignatius Press). It is a wonderful help to extending the biographies into a full-blown unit study, if you wish, or just to help enrich the reading. For each of the 17 books covered in Saints of the Church , the author includes:
  • an overview of the book
  • vocabulary lists broken out by chapter
  • quotations from the books called "Language in Context" that develop comprehension and illustrate various literary devices
  • Time Line information
  • Outline Map information
  • Numerous topics for written reports on various levels
  • Biographical sketches of other famous people in the book
  • "Turning to Scripture and Catechism" which requires looking up various verses or topics in the Bible and the Catechism; this is done to "make connections between the saint's life and the living tradition of the Catholic Church."
  • Discussion questions

This is a wonderful, well-organized, and thorough guide to really getting the most out of the Vision books...likely just the kind of thing we would do on our own if we had the time.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Susan Kalis
First reviewed: 
1998-99

St. Therese and the Roses

Book cover: 'St. Therese and the Roses'
Author(s): 
Helen Walker Homan
Number of pages: 
149 pages
Copyright: 
1955
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Sample Pages
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
19th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Review: 
Therese Martin (1873 - 1897) was the youngest of five girls growing up in a devout Catholic family in France in the late nineteenth century. We all know how, in just over one hundred years she has become one of the most beloved Saints in the Church and has recently been named "Doctor of the Church" by Pope John Paul II. This is the delightful and moving story of a little girl who became a great saint; of five sisters who were all called to religious vocations. The story focuses on her family life and the little details that make an interesting story and when added together make sense out of who she was. Although the Vision Series was intended for ages nine to fifteen, this story is one of my six year old daughter's favorites (we've had to read it aloud twice so far). It is an excellent read-aloud book for the whole family, which allows moms (and dads too) to benefit from the story and become more acquainted with Saint Therese's Little Way.
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
11-16-99

The Cure of Ars

The Priest Who Outtalked the Devil
Book cover: 'The Cure of Ars: The Priest Who Outtalked the Devil'
Author(s): 
Milton Lomask
Number of pages: 
190 pages
Copyright: 
1958
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Sample Pages
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
19th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
Elementary
Review: 
This is a quicker and slightly easier read than the title by Mary Fabyan Windeatt. It lacks the richness of explanations about the priesthood, but I thought that it portrayed St. John Vianney's humility and simplicity a little more clearly. It's also clearly written to be interesting even to those who are not accustomed to reading saint stories, so there is more emphasis on exciting events, such as when John Vianney, as a young boy, helped to hide a hunted priest from the authorities.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-7-01

Links of Interest

Excerpts from a Letter from St. Bernadette about the Apparitions I had gone down one day with two other girls to the bank of the river Gave when suddenly I heard a kind of rustling sound. I turned my head toward the field by the side of the river but the trees seemed quite still and the noise was evidently not from them. Then I looked up and caught sight of the cave where I saw a lady wearing a lovely white dress with a bright belt. On top of each of her feet was a pale yellow rose, the same color as her rosary beads. Our Lady of Lourdes Novena Beautiful Photos from Lourdes Prayers and Devotions for the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Pope John Paul II Angelus Message on His Pilgrimage to Lourdes, 2004 Encyclical of Pope Pius XII Warning Against Materialism on the Centenary of the Apparitions at Lourdes Clairity Daily: Our Lady's Place Rock of Massabielle, Poem Castle of the Immaculate: St. Bernadette and the Marian Vow Pope Benedict XVI on the Message of Lourdes "The message that the Madonna continues to spread at Lourdes recalls the words Jesus pronounced at the beginning of his public mission and that we hear again often during these days of Lent: 'Convert and believe in the Gospel,' pray and do penance."

Pages