Saints' lives for children
by F. A. Forbes
The Apostle of Charity
St. Vincent de Paul, called the Apostle of Charity, stands as a monument in the life of the Church. He transformed utterly how both the Church and the secular world (copycatting the former) undertook the infrastructure of organized charitable action. Far from doing social work for social work's sake, St. Vincent de Paul sought out the good of souls both temporally and spiritually, as his massive labor and remarkable life attest.
Born to a peasant family, he was ordained in 1600. In 1605, he was captured and taken to Tunis by Turkish pirates as a slave, but he escaped after two years, having converted his master. Later he became the almoner of the French queen, Marguerite of Valois. He performed peasant missions for ten years, eventually gathering a group of priests to go with him; these conferences also involved performing charitable works. Much of his work included going to the convicts in French galleys—ships for transporting prisoners. The prisoners endured squalid conditions, and Vincent took care of both their temporal and spiritual needs, converting many. In time, he founded the Vincentians (known as Lazarists in Vincent's time), a society of priests who gave conferences and spiritual retreats for seminarians, priests, and the laity, especially in the poor peasant regions of the country. As part of his work, he also established seminaries all over France, eventually taking control of 11 seminaries!
He also founded his Daughters of Charity in 1629, mainly for noblewomen who would care for the poor and destitute. Eventually, young women were enlisted to form a legitimate religious order, who would visit prisons, hospitals, and slums to care for tens of thousands of poor, including eventually 4,000 orphan children; 40,000 poor of Paris; and thousands more in rural, war-torn regions of France. The works of charity these sisters undertook included especially soup kitchens and providing some useful means of work for the poor. St. Vincent's concern also reached the poor slaves of Barbary, whose fate he once had shared, and his missions cared for or ransomed up to 30,000 of them. Finally, St. Vincent's works of charity also included occupying himself with caring for Irish and English Catholic refugees and burying many dead from the 30 Years War.
Never neglecting his duties as a priest only for social work, he also undertook to fight the Jansenist heresy in France, ultimately inducing 85 bishops to convince the pope to condemn the errors of the Jansenists. He also acted as spiritual director to many congregations of religious women and sent missionary priests to go to the Roman countryside, Genoa, Savoy, the Piedmont, Ireland, Scotland, the Hebrides, Poland, and even Madagascar. His prayer, modesty, humility, piety, and asceticism were intense and marked despite all his manifold exertions.
Such was the soul of the Apostle of Charity, St. Vincent de Paul. This is the story of the great saint who put charity onto an organized basis and thus transformed not only Paris but the history of the Catholic Church and the world, its imitator.
Paperback, size7" x 4.25", 120 pages, Impr, 5 Illus
Life of St Pius X
by William Hunterman
A biography of St. Pius X for ages 12 and up. The lessons given us by the life of the only Saint-Pope in over 500 years are in his poverty, charity and burning zeal for souls that should animate all of us. The purpose of this biography is to widen the circle of boys and girls, men and women who know him better and love him more.
Hardcover, size 8.25" x 5.75", 269 pages
by F. A. Forbes
Saint Catherine of Siena's life was of such astoundingly glorious sanctity that even the great saints seem to pale in comparison to her magnificence. She was born to a merchant family in Siena in 1347 and dedicated her virginity to God at 7. Around then she also began to have visions of Christ in majesty. In her difficult teenage years, her desired path forward in steadfast religious devotion and stringent fasting was opposed by her family. To her mother's chagrin, she cut her hair to avoid suitors, following her own advice to "build a cell inside [the] mind, from which [one] can never flee." At 21, she experienced a mystical marriage with Christ and soon received the stigmata as well.
Catherine attempted to negotiate peace between Florence, Siena, and the Papal States; she made it her goal to save the papacy from crumbling, inducing the pope to return from Avignon to Rome. In addition, she wrote heavenly tracts, the seraphic wisdom and mystical doctrines of which made her centuries later declared a Doctor of the Church. In her last years, she was summoned to Rome to defend the papacy again when the Great Western Schism broke out. After all that, she died, worn down by her enormous stringencies, at only 33 years old.
In this short, popular biography for young and old alike, meet the saint who saved the papacy and married Christ, who bore His wounds and survived on His Eucharist. In short, meet the saint among saints, surely a "wise virgin of the number of the prudent."
Paperback, size 7" x 4.25", 110 pages, 6 Illustrations,
The Story of a Nun
by Sr Mary Pierre, R.S.M.
Venerable Maria Teresa Quevedo 1930-1950. Maria Teresa Quevedo was a lively modern girl-a talented dancer, an expert swimmer, an outstanding tennis player, who devoted herself to generous works of sacrifice. Her life can be summed up by her own motto, "May all who look at me see you, O Mary."
This book is the first full-length biography of Maria Teresa Quevedo that has been written in English. Teresita, as she was called by her friends and family, was a Spanish girl who was born in 1930 and who died in 1950 at the age of twenty. Throughout her life, Teresita was an inspiration and a delight to everyone around her as she calmly strove to exemplify Christian virtue in her everyday life.
Teresita tried to do everything perfectly. As a girl living with her parents, she was an obedient child. With her friends, she was not only respected but popular. As a sodalist, she gave evidence as being a born leader for Mary. As a tennis player, she was an expert. As captain of her basketball team, she consistently led the group to victory. At any young people's gathering which she attended, she was the life of the party. When Teresita entered the Congregation of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, she did so because she desired to become a saint and to devote all her life to Jesus and Mary. But, in her own words, she wished to become a "little saint, for I cannot do big things." Teresita's cause for canonization is now under examination in the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
Hardcover, size 8.25" x 5.75", 250 pages
A Story of Blessed Marie Leonie PSSF
by Brother Ernest, C.S.C.
Born in 1840 in Canada, Elodia felt called to enter the Marianites of the Holy Cross at the age of 14 and took the name Sister Marie-Leonie. Later she founded a new order, the little Sisters of the Holy Family and they devoted themselves to caring for the household needs of clergy and seminarians.
Level 2
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 96 pages
The Story of St Joseph for Children
by Sister M. Eleanore, C.S.C.
Explains the story of St. Joseph beginning at the betrothal of Virgin to the Finding of Jesus in the Temple to St. Joseph’s death. Includes prayers to St. Joseph, the Litany of St. Joseph, and Hymns to St. Joseph. 13 illustrations. Written in clear language that a child can understand.
Booklet, size 8" x 5.2", 32 pages, Impr 1933
A First Book for Little Catholics
by Father Gales
Beautifully tells the story of St. Bernadette, how she was born in a little town in Lourdes. How she met Our Lady many times and how Our Lady told her that she wanted a church built.
Age range from 2-8
Paperback, size 6.3" x 5.2", 20 pages, Impr 1957
For other titles in this series please click here.
by Msgr Robert Hugh Benson
This book is a reproduction of the original 1905 impression made by Burns and Oates, London, England.
"The twenty-six SAINTS in this volume of rhymes
Lived in various places and various times;
But now they're together in Heaven, and know
All we think, say and do in the world here below;
And since all that you ask - if you pray for good ends -
Will be granted by GOD at the prayer of His friends,
You should call on these SAINTS in the days of your youth
For the Peace of the Church and the Triumph of Truth.
We hope, as these Rhymes are the best we can do,
That the SAINTS will be pleased, and that you'll be pleased, too."
Paperback, size 10.5" x 8.5", 30 pages
Also available in Hardcover.
The Man Who Dared a King
by by Fr Gerald T Brennan
A long time ago - more than 400 years, in fact - there lived in far-off England a man who was not a great soldier, or a sea captain, or explorer but who was a real hero if there ever was one! He was St. John of Rochester and he is honored to this day as a very brave man! Here is why: he dared to say that the King of England was wrong! And in those days that was about the worst thing a man could do because everyone was supposed to believe that “The King can do no wrong!” However, King Henry VIII did do something that the people knew was wrong - yet no one dared to say it for fear of being punished as a traitor! No one, that is, except this John Fisher, the Bishop of Rochester. He dared!
In this little story Father Brennan tells you all about him - what he did and why he did it and what happened to him. You’ll love this great and good man who had the courage to defy his earthly king because that king broke the laws of his heavenly King.
Booklet, size 8.4" x 5.3", 64 pages, Impr 1940
by Msg Robert Hugh Benson
This book is a reproduction of the original 1905 impression made by Burns and Oates, London, England.
"The twenty-six SAINTS in this volume of rhymes
Lived in various places and various times;
But now they're together in Heaven, and know
All we think, say and do in the world here below;
And since all that you ask - if you pray for good ends -
Will be granted by GOD at the prayer of His friends,
You should call on these SAINTS in the days of your youth
For the Peace of the Church and the Triumph of Truth.
We hope, as these Rhymes are the best we can do,
That the SAINTS will be pleased, and that you'll be pleased, too."
Hardcover, size 10.25" x 7.25", 32 pages
Also available in Paperback.
by Tomie dePaola
This beautiful new edition of dePaola's 1978 classic retelling of a French legend stars a little juggler whose unique talent leads him to what might be a Christmas miracle.
Little Giovanni is poor and homeless, but he can do something wonderful: he can juggle.
The people of Sorrento marvel at his talents, and before long, he becomes famous throughout Italy for his rainbow of colored balls that delight the nobility and townspeople alike. But as the years pass, Giovanni grows old, and his talents begin to fail him. No longer a celebrated performer, he is once again poor and homeless, begging for his food.
Until one Christmas Eve, when Giovanni picks up his rainbow of colored balls once more. And what happens next just might be a miracle…
Paperback, size 11.2" x 8.7", 48 pages
A First Book for Little Catholics
by Fr. Gales
A short picture book on the life of Saint Therese. Teaches children about how St. Therese was visited by the vision of the Child Jesus and became a Carmelite nun at a young age to live out her life entirely for God.
Age range 2-10
Paperback, size 6.3" x 5.2", 32 pages, Impr 1957
For other titles in this series please click here.
The Conversion of St. Camillus de Lellis
by Susan Peek
There are very few stories written about the life of St. Camillus, but his life story is one that both the young and old would do well to hear. In a style very captivating, Mrs. Peek imparts the fascinating story of this great saint who - at an early and rebellious age - went off to become a 16th century soldier-of-fortune. A belligerent and often brash young soldier, this self-seeking Camillus de Lellis frequently gives in to his passion for gambling and drinking, leaving him, for the most part, in dire straits. And though he sometimes cooperates with grace, he always seems to find himself back in trouble. Ultimately pushed to the brink of utter despair and humiliation, this stray and obstinate soul finally surrenders to the King of Kings, and the soldier of fortune becomes a soldier of Christ. An inspiring story of perseverance and the eventual surrender to the Divine Will.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 228 pages
by Eva K. Betz
How many things can charity impact? An inspirational story for children, Saint Brigid and the Cows brings to life a young Irish maiden whose life touches everyone, even the animals she tends in the fields. As the story unfolds, all are impacted by her virtues—it is as if even the cows she tends see how pleased God is by her obedience and charity.
Saint Brigid and the Cows is part of Eva K. Betz’s Saints and Friendly Beasts series, entertaining and educating children of all ages. Every book is fully illustrated and displays Charles Vukovich’s artwork on each page of these stories about the saints.
Ages 5 to 10
Hardcover, size 8.25" x 6.7", 48 pages
St Elizabeth of Portugal
by Fr Vincent McNabb, O.P.
Today, people are fond of the saying, “Wherever you find a great man you find a great woman.” Regardless of how true that may be in modern politics, it is certainly true in the case of St. Elizabeth of Portugal. This saintly Queen and mother, worked tirelessly for the good of her subjects and her kingdom. The Author, Fr. Vincent McNabb, has the following to say:
“Gradually as the writer re-read his own story of the Saint’s life, this story of a Wife, a Mother, a Queen in the flagrant setting of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries seemed worth telling not only to the twentieth century but to all time. In the telling of it a thousand things worth man’s thought and scholars’ investigation would be suggested.
There would be the great problem of wedded love and wedded lawlessness which the modern world thinks it is meeting scientifically by a Decree Nisi of a Divorce Court. St. Elizabeth’s manner of dealing with her husband’s infidelities was evidence that the men of those days had no monopoly of heroism and that the home, no less than the Holy Places, could be fit for heroes. It is agreed by historians of King Diniz, her husband, that his public acts were wise enough to earn for him the title of the Portuguese Justinian. Unfortunately, historians of kings, especially of kings renowned for bravery or wisdom, have little to say of the queens who so often have had no little share in their husband’s triumphs if not on the battle-field at least in the council chamber.
It is our opinion—which our readers can reject as they will—that King Diniz’s chief claim to wisdom is that he knew a good wife when he wed her and that he recognized wisdom even when it came from the mouth of a woman whom not love but international politics had given him as a wife.”
Though a short work, Fr. McNabb beautifully elucidates the life of this saint, and makes her life a testament not only of peace in the affairs of the world, but even in the home, by prayer and self sacrifice.
Paperback, size 8" x 5", 55 pages
by Henri Daniel-Rops
"Have you strength to drink of the cup I am to drink of? They said: We have." (Matthew 20:22)
Down through the ages, numerous men and women have devoted themselves totally to the task of spreading the Gospel to the dark corners of the world. To each belonged some definite service, bequeathed by God and unto His glory.
From this immense variety, Henri Daniel-Rops has selected eleven heroes of God: St. Paul, prince of Apostles and proto-missionary; St. Martin of Tours, servant of God to the French countryside; Blessed Ramon Lull, martyr for the Muslims; Bartolomé de las Casas, loving father to the natives of the New World; St. Francis Xavier, intrepid pioneer and preacher to Asia; St. Issac Jogues, priest-unto-death for the Iroquois; St. Junípero Serra, cultivator of California and its harvest for Christ’s Church; Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey, dauntless liberator of the slaves in French Guiana; St. Charles de Foucauld, hermit of the Sahara and disciple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; St. Damien of Molokai, sufferer of living death, leprosy, for the sake of his flock; and Father Nussbaum, indomitable modern martyr of forbidden Tibet.
Originally published in 1959, Heroes of God bears compelling witness to the truth that—despite all differences in time, temperament, and territory—these adventurers had a common design: to live, suffer, and die so that others might know the love and mercy of God.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 238 pages
A First Book for Little Catholics
by Fr. Gales
A short story of St. Joseph and how he came to be Jesus's foster father, and how he protected Jesus after His birth.
Age range 2-10
Paperback, size 6.3" x 5.2", 20 pages, Impr 1956
For other titles in this series please click here.
by Patricia Lee Gauch
Joseph called himself Little Donkey--such a clumsy, foolish fellow, or so everyone thought. That is perhaps why people of Cupertino did not notice what happened whenever Joseph was overjoyed. He did not merely smile or squeeze his sides or rub his hands together. Joseph flew.
The late, beloved children's book illustrator Tomie dePaola's imaginative, colorful artwork, and Patricia Lee Gauch's charming story, offer children a warm, humorous look at Saint Joseph of Cupertino, whose humility and joy made him light enough to float on air.
Hardcover, size 9" x 10.5", 32 pages
With Saints And Symbols Of The Eucharist
by Katherine Sotnik
Presents beautifully detailed pictures, ranging from symbols of the Eucharist to images of the saints who contributed to our understanding and devotion to the Eucharist. Written and illustrated by artist Katherine Sotnik, this book teaches as it entertains, showing the vessels for the liturgy as well as explaining the different names and terms that the Eucharist has.
Paperback, size 11" x 8.5", 72 pages
Sixty Saints For Boys
by Joan Windham
Joan Windham’s Sixty Saints for Boys contains all of her stories of the saints whose names boys are likely to have. The stories are arranged by date, beginning with St. James and finishing with St. Michael. In between is a splendid mix of saints, young and old: soldier saints and schoolboy saints; clowns and kings; noblemen and knights; monks and missionaries; and many others.
These stories are able to inspire readers to fall in love with virtue. No child reading them will ever suppose that saints are all cut to one pattern or that holiness is less interesting than bad behaviour. Anyone who wants to know what a saint is really like will get a clear and beautiful picture by reading these accounts, and they can be enjoyed over and over again by children of all ages, and by adults alike.
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 308 pages
Also available in Hardcover on request (additional cost)