The purpose of this book is to call your attention to twenty men and women whose lives can provide inspiration and examples for those trying to follow Christ today as best they can. They are real, flesh-and-blood people, human beings with the same weaknesses we all possess as human beings, but with an inner strength and purposefulness that can serve as examples to us in the daily struggle that is life today.

A major part of the annual worship experiences in the Catholic Church revolves around the commemoration of the saints. This book gives a brief history of these outstanding personalities who have been enrolled in the church's "hall of fame." They cover the period from the first to the twentieth century. Some are household names as St. Peter, the first pope, St. Patrick of Ireland, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Therese, the Little Flower, of France and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton of Baltimore, Maryland. Some others are lesser known to us but equally known to the Lord, to whom they dedicated their lives, love and daily service. Their way of life can be both a guide and inspiration to us on our pilgrim journey through this world. Just as there are four seasons in our calendar year, so there are four seasons in the church year. These are Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter. This book gives a short commentary on the weekday scripture readings for these four liturgical seasons. Many people have found these spiritual thoughts enlightening and very helpful in living the particular seasons in union with the liturgy of the church.

Brief biographies of saints, Biblical characters, and angels.

The prophet Brigham Young taught the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in a basic, practical way that gave inspiration and hope to the Saints struggling to build a home in the wilderness. Though more than a century has now passed, his words are still fresh and appropriate for us today as we continue the work of building the kingdom of God. President Young declared that as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we possess the “doctrine of life and salvation for all the honest-in-heart” (DBY, 7). He promised that those who receive the gospel in their hearts will have awakened “within them a desire to know and understand the things of God more than they ever did before in their lives” and will begin to “inquire, read and search and when they go to their Father in the name of Jesus he will not leave them without a witness” (DBY, 450). This book reflects the desire of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles to deepen the doctrinal understanding of Church members and to awaken within them a greater desire to know the things of God. It will inspire and motivate individuals, priesthood quorums, and Relief Society classes to inquire, read, search, and then go to their Father in Heaven for a witness of the truth of these teachings. Each chapter contains two sections—“Teachings of Brigham Young” and “Suggestions for Study.” The first section consists of extracts from Brigham Young’s sermons to the early Saints. Each statement has been referenced, and the original spelling and punctuation have been preserved; however, the sources cited will not be readily available to most members. These original sources are not necessary to have in order to effectively study or teach from this book. Members need not purchase additional references and commentaries to study or teach these chapters. The text provided in this book, accompanied by the scriptures, is sufficient for instruction. Members should prayerfully read and study President Young’s teachings in order to gain new insights into gospel principles and discover how those principles apply to their everyday lives. By faithfully and prayerfully studying these selections, Latter-day Saints will have a greater understanding of gospel principles and will more fully appreciate the profound and inspired teachings of this great prophet. The second section of each chapter offers a series of questions that will encourage thoughtful contemplation, personal application, and discussion of President Young’s teachings. Members should refer to and carefully reread his words on the principle being discussed. Deep and prayerful study of these teachings will inspire members to greater personal commitment and will help them resolve to follow the teachings of the Savior, Jesus Christ. If individuals and families prayerfully follow the principles in this book, they will be blessed and inspired to greater dedication and spirituality, as were the early Saints who heard these words directly from the lips of the “Lion of the Lord” (HC, 7:434)—the prophet, seer, and revelator, President Brigham Young.

Catholic social teaching has explosive power for changing not just individuals, but whole societies. And it's the saints who light the fuse. - Brandon Vogt The value of human life. The call to family and community. Serving the poor. The rights of workers. Care for creation. The church has always taught certain undeniable truths that can and should affect our society. But over the years, these teachings have been distorted, misunderstood, and forgotten. With the help of fourteen saints, it's time we reclaim Catholic social teaching and rediscover it through the lives of those who best lived it out. Follow in the saints' footsteps, learn from their example, and become the spark of authentic social justice that sets the world on fire. Learn from heroes like: Bl. Teresa of Calcutta St. Peter Claver St. Frances of Rome St. Roque Gonzalez Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati St. Damien of Molokai St. John Paul II Goodreads Review for Saints and Social Justice Reviews from Goodreads.com

With humor and a prayerful spirit, Jeanne Hunt taps into her experience and creativity as mother, grandmother, catechist, artist, and writer to show us in easy and practical ways how to look deeper at these ordinary things surrounding us in order to enter into the sacred way. She encourages parents and grandparents, teachers, and religious educators to use this as a handy resource for celebrating in your home and classroom settings the seasons and special people of the calendar year and the church's liturgical year. She offers hundreds of activities, rituals, and prayers to make living our faith tangible, spiritually enriching--and fun! Activities include a New Year's campout, morning prayer for Christian Unity week, a Lent poor box, an Emmaus walk, a Pentecost meal, an All Saints' festival, a St. John the Baptist Advent wreath--and many more.

The lives of the saints are either too grisly for little kids or too saccharine for older ones. But this collection appeals to both groups with a combination of gentle humor and frankness – battle-tested at the author’s weekly chapel services at the school where she teaches. It’s organized into two full school years, with each saint’s story falling on or near his or her special day so that each story can be a springboard to a creative seasonal teaching unit or small festival. Saints represent a wide variety of ethnic and geographic backgrounds.