Saints

“Literature on the saints, especially those written for children and families, tend to turn these holy men and women into cartoon characters from another era. Saint: A Family Story avoids this misstep, letting the saints become wonderfully beautiful and strange icons of holiness for our day. The lives of the saints are easy to read, but they never reduce the saints to models for living. You feel like you get to know these holy men and women, what they cared about, and why it matters to your life. The art throughout the volume captivates. The saints look like people, but the kind of people who have been forever transformed through an encounter with Christ. I feel, at last, there is a book on the saints that adults, adolescents, and young children alike can get excited about. Every family should own a copy of this book.”

Timothy P. O’Malley

“This is destined to become a classic in the genre. There is simply no other book of which we are aware on the topic of Catholic Saints that is so informative and so exquisitely captivating with this realistic, superb portrait art. In a way this is not a typical children's book, although the writing is upbeat and lovely. It is designed to be read together, to help encourage families to read about saints (from history or from the Bible.) The art is stunning, and somewhat diverse. Besides a wild, wild-eyed, long-haired John the Baptist, on the other page there is a big bug, I'm guessing, uh, a locust. Yep, there are these smaller depictions and insets. A few of the pictures are edgy and iconographic, others (like the cover) more realistic. The picture of blessed Franz Jaegerstaetter hugging his wife over his scrippled letters is heartbreakingly powerful. There is a great bibliography at the end. An excellent resource for families with older kids. Or no kids. It's amazing.”

Byron Borger

“This book is full of life. Christ promised to bring his disciples life in abundance and his saints are the shining testaments to the fulfillment of that promise. By word and image, this book reveres the beauty of Christ’s life in his saints, teaching us, delighting us, and inspiring us in the way of sanctity. This book stands apart from others because of its spiritual warmth, theological sensitivity, and artistic beauty.”

Leonard J. DeLorenzo

“With graceful simplicity, this extraordinary little book introduces the communion of saints in a voice brimming over with wonder at and gratitude for the goodness of the Catholic faith. The luminous reality of the lives of these saints—brave, kind, true, and holy—shines through every loving word and beautiful image. An instant classic!”

Jennifer Newsome Martin

“Saints: A Family Story breathes new life into hagiography, making it a golden legend for our times. John and Catherine Cavadini recount the grace-filled lives of thirty-four men and women ranging from apostolic times to the present, from Chicago to Nagasaki, from martyrs to contemplatives, forming an extraordinary community of holy friendships for young and old. Each biography in S aints is unique, like the path to sanctity it sketches, and written in an engaging style sure to captivate the modern reader. Anastassia Cassady's illustrations, drawing on the rich traditions of Christian art for each distinctive and compelling portrait, are magnificent.”

Liz Lev