A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms: 52 Companions for Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul

by Lisa M. Hendey

Lisa M. Hendey, founder of the award-winning CatholicMom.com and bestselling author of The Handbook for Catholic Moms and The Grace of Yes shares her passion for the saints by introducing fifty-two holy companions as guides for the amazing vocation of Catholic motherhood. Guided by the example of the saints, Hendey eloquently links personal stories, scripture, prayer, and soul-strengthening exercises into a spiritually rich and deeply practical resource for Catholic women. This edition includes a new preface and cover and is updated with information about saints canonized since the first edition. Allow The Book of Saints for Catholic Moms to help you grow in your faith and enrich your heart, mind, body, and soul by spending each week of the year with Lisa M. Hendey and a different saint. This award-winning spiritual guidebook introduces you to popular saints such as Thérèse of Lisieux, Teresa of Calcutta, John Paul II, and Patrick, as well as lesser known but equally inspiring saints such as Gianna Beretta Molla and Damien of Molokai. Each week Hendey

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Faith, Spirituality, Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 17, 2011

About the author

Lisa M. Hendey is the founder of CatholicMom.com and the bestselling author of multiple books for adults and children, including I'm a Saint in the Making, Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way, The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living, The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion, and the "Chime Travelers" children's fiction series that dynamically combines time travel and the lives of the saints.

Lisa was diagnosed with stage III Invasive Lobular Carcinoma in early 2023. Determined to face cancer with hope, determination, and gratitude, Lisa shares her path to wholeness through her writing and speaking to encourage others to seek regular screening, adopt overall wellness strategies, and build a supportive community. For Lisa, cancer has been an open door to new opportunities, lifestyle changes, terrific friends, and unexpected blessings. Sharing with equal parts lighthearted humor and openhearted realism, Lisa desires to serve others and walk alongside them toward extraordinary grace and unexpected dreams.

Lisa has produced and hosted multiple television programs and podcasts. She currently serves as a Writer for the Chime Travelers television series and tours schools internationally, both in-person and virtually, speaking about literacy, storytelling, care for our natural world, and living with purpose. She has appeared on CNN, EWTN, CatholicTV, KNXT, and in the "Momnipotent" DVD series. She served for years as the technology contributor for EWTN's SonRise Morning Show and has served as a regular family correspondent on Relevant Radio. Lisa's writing has been published at a variety of online venues, and her articles have appeared in Catholic Digest, National Catholic Register, and Our Sunday Visitor.

Lisa travels internationally, giving workshops on living with gratitude, service, love, and hope. Selected as an Egan Journalism Fellow with Catholic Relief Services, Hendey has traveled, written, and spoken on behalf of non-profit organizations in Rwanda, the Philippines, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Australia, the Dominican Republic, and Colombia to support their humanitarian missions worldwide. Lisa's speaking schedule has included the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Catholic Marketing Network, the University of Dallas Ministry Conference, the Midwest Family Conference, and the National Council of Catholic Women.

Lisa and her husband, Greg, reside in Los Angeles, California.

Lisa M. Hendey is available to speak to your group on faith, family, media, personal productivity, and healthy living topics. Lisa also conducts in-person and virtual author visits to schools to encourage children and to promote reading and writing.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books like this. A short chapter filled with facts and bible verses. Added activities for children make it a little more fun and easier to remember names and what they are famous for. We had a priest that would do a saint a week and many of them still remain in my memories. I can see he could have gotten his lesson from this or a similar book. A nice table of contents lets you pick and choose from the 52 Saints in this book. A good gift item for a friend or family member that is interested in the church. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Hendey is the creator of the website Catholic Mom, a go to source for moms (and even dads) looking for great advice on parenting, Catholic family life, and Catholic cultural topics. She also wrote perhaps one of the greatest book for Catholic moms, The Handbook for Catholic Moms: Nurturing Your Heart, Mind, Body, and Soul.

As you can probably guess from the title, there are 52 chapters, one saint for each week of the year. Each chapter begins with a brief blurb telling you the specific saint's feast day(s) and what (s)he is the patron saint of, i.e., St. Mary is the patron saint of mothers. The chapter then gives a few pages of biography, lessons we can learn from each saint, and traditions associated with the saint.

This book is chock full of positives. I loved the saint inspired activities for moms and to do with children. They are not only activities that are each beautiful, but they are practical and easy to accomplish, like visiting someone in a nursing home or parishioner who is confined to their home and bringing them a warm meal. I also liked that there is a prayer in each chapter for the saint of the week. The icing on the cake is that all the saints in here aren't just female. There are male saints too, which means dads can read this book as well as moms.

The only negative I could find in this book was the daily reading. Each reading is only one to two verses, with a very brief prayer. I understand that you can spend a lot of time meditating on a brief reading, but I wish the readings were at least a little bit longer. In spite of this one negative, I still give this book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a beautiful book for moms or dads. Check out my other reviews at stuartsstudy.blogspot.com

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wonderful collection guides readers through fifty-two saints. Some are famous, like Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and some are virtually unknown, like Chiara Badano. Each entry discusses a saint's life, how their experiences give special insights for living a holy family life, a pertinent quote by that saint, devotional suggestions for individual and family use, and daily scripture meditations and prayers. I have been using this for weeks and it is a real treasure. I especially appreciate the section where Hendey shares how she applies a saint's lesson to her life.

Most refreshingly, Lisa Hendey surprises me when I open A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. For example, choosing Blessed John Paul II for inclusion is not surprising, but noting the way he glorified God with his physical body definitely was. This great pope did so many wonderful things that it is difficult to say which I'd choose to discuss but Hendey, with this emphasis reminds us of how those wonderful things often keyed off of a big message in a way that we truly needed to hear in our day and age. God sends us the saints we need and Hendey's week spent with John Paul II reminds us of how women, spouses, parents, and families can learn so much from him, often in surprising ways.

This isn't the only saint which Hendey shows us from a new angle. Time and again I'd come upon a saint and think that I knew all about their main ministry only to have Hendey pick up a thread that I hadn't thought of in terms of my own life. A few examples:

St. Thomas More: loving, wise parenthood and blended families

St. Matthew: good money management and a proper perspective on money's place in the overall scheme of things

Elizabeth Ann Seton: the difference a housewife makes in daily routines and steadfast witness

Hendey also infuses the book with her gentle way of living her faith. This is something that I welcome more often than I care to admit when I open the book every day to see the daily scripture and prayer for the week's saint. Hendey's prayers avoid the too frequent modern tendency for long, explanatory prayers while simply and elegantly stating just what we ask for help with. So often, I would open this book and literally feel myself relaxing as I focused on the scripture and prayer which were just what I needed to refocus myself on God's will rather than the challenges or frustrations of the day.

I'm just going to say, you need a copy. Don't let the "Moms" on the cover fool you. This is for anyone in a family ... wives, husbands, grown children ... it is simply fantastic. Trust me on this.

[Ellen Gable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms by Lisa Hendey is a beautifully written, well-researched and extraordinary book which showcases 52 saints. The reader can focus on one saint per week (although some people might prefer to read it straight through). I especially like the format. Each chapter begins with basic information about the saint, their feasts, patronages, etc. A story of the saint follows, with lessons, traditions, quotes from the saint, then a week of scripture passages, saint-inspired activities for Mom and children and ends with a prayer and something to ponder.

This is is an outstanding book with inspiring quotes from the saints and scripture passages unique to each saints’ lives and traditions.

The list of 52 saints is not meant to be all inclusive, although I did notice that six of my favorite saints are included: Virgin Mary, St. Anthony, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Gianna Molla, Blessed John Paul II and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

This is a wonderful, inspiring and informative book that should be on every family’s bookshelf. I highly recommend it!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years, I've come to know and love Lisa Hendey. It was a joy and a blessing to read her latest book.

Lisa inspires me with her intimate view of the saints. She not only makes them accessible and relateable from a mom's point of view, she brings us an opportunity to learn more about the saints in a way that's uniquely suited for the nitty-gritty of everyday family life. You'll experience the saints as real people even as you grow in your faith journey.

One of my favorite books this year, and perfect for a group study, an individual devotional, or a gift.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about and praying with the saints over the last year. The format of meeting a new saint each week and daily prayers and meditations was wonderful. My one small criticism is that I would have liked the saint bios to be longer. I was longing for a bit more background information for each one of them. Now that I finished the book, I'm contemplating starting over at the beginning in 2013.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for a busy Catholic mom who wants some spiritual theme for her day, but doesn't have much time or quiet for reading. There is one saint per week, and one Scripture verse and short meditation per day. I kept up with it for an entire year, and I look forward to repeating it again eventually.

[Trish Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! It has helped my grow spiritually, There are 53 saints so each week we focus on a different saint. There is information about the saints, what they contributed and then there are daily scripture passages a challenge for mom and kids and prayer to the saint. We pray to the saint at dinner time right after grace.

[Irma Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm reading this more on an "as needed" basis. Great stories of saints who mothers can pray to for support of different aspects of motherhood. I'm loving it! I will always come back to it when I need a little pick me up.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book you read straight through. It is a resource to be used on a weekly basis, a different Saint each week. I loved the format, with prayers and activities. It is an excellent way to get to know some of our most loved Saints!

[Kerry Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a wonderful reference. it is heart warming and applicable source of encouragement. It was a huge comfort to me when my husband was in the hospital after a serious injury. It kept me company on many sleepless nights by his hospital bedside.

[Sarah Romero]

Love the grateful spirit of the preface!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST book out there for Catholic women who are interested in learning more about the Saints. I am contemplating reading it again in 2013...

[Amy Mumaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy learning more about the saints and love the prayers at the end of each chapter. This is a book I know I will be reading and rereading for a very long time.

[Elizabeth Scalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully done; excellent resource

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great addition to my books on saints

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book to read as a family with older children to introduce them to a new saint each week.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting activities and meditations for any woman.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in record time; it is just THAT good!! As a new Catholic, I find myself completely obsessed with learning about the saints. I just love them so much. To know that I have a team of holy men and women rooting me on, praying for me, and willing to teach me? Guys, that's amazing. (You've heard of girls and their tribe? The saints are my tribe. Yours, too!) A BOOK OF SAINTS FOR CATHOLIC MOMS was not only edifying, informative and easy to read, but extremely encouraging and reassuring. I love being a mama to 5 humans, but it is definitely not easy. Having the help of the saints is a huge gift from the Lord. This book I will keep with me always!

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Introduction to the Saints

What a wonderful introduction to the lives of the saints! Written primarily for Catholic moms, but a good book for anyone wanting to know more about who these holy ones are, this book goes thru 52 saints with life stories, their prayers, and how our lives can reflect their work. The author provides Bible readings for each day of the week with these saints, and a weekly activity for mom and for the family to become more familiar with these saints. Great book!

[Laura McAninch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this a few years back, and I've enjoyed it even more reading it over again. The saints humbly lived their lives as lights for us to see Christ better. I always feel compelled to be clear that we as Catholics do not worship saints, but rather they lived lives that we want to emulate in order to live more in union with God.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional about Catholic Saints for Mom’s was just what I needed every morning. Sometimes learning about Saints and theology is very hard to read, understand and sometime relate to. This book broke it down into segments and each week was a new Saint and there were prayers for everyday of that week. There were also stories from the author that made this book relatable and so helpful. The prayers are short and doable for a busy everyday schedule.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful guide that took me on a journey that lasted a whole year. There is enough meat here to satisfy, but it's also bite-sized; perfect for the busy mom. I didn't always follow through with the actions, but the daily prayers were a nice meditation.

[Catherine E. Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical Inspiration

Practical inspiration for moms. Good short daily biographies of saints with information on how to apply the virtues of their in their lives to ours.

[Ally G · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for getting to know a variety of saints. There are 52 saints so you could do one a week, or just use the book to find out a bit more about some of the saints.

[Kelly Veatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me well over a year to read. There are 52 saints in this book, and by taking one a week (and missing a few weeks here and there), it took awhile. I learned so much about the lives of these holy men and women. Each week gave me something to learn and something to think about as a mom. I'm going to start this book back over and do it again because I loved it that much! I highly recommend this one to Catholic moms with children of any age.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful prayer companion that you can pick up again and again! Beautifully written and thoroughly researched. It gives the reader an opportunity to get to know saints as well as reflect upon different aspects of life that make up a mother's vocation.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've held onto and read this book off and on but I love it and continue referencing back to it. It's a great source for learning about saints, reflection, prayers, and family activities. Lisa Hendey has handed Catholic a wonderful book of saints we can turn to for any prayer need.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, however I didn't care for the writers personal reflections.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as a basis for a family saint of the week. I read parts of it at breakfast every day.