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A Year With the Saints: Daily Meditations With the Holy Ones of God.
"Those who follow the saints", said Pope Clement I, "will themselves become saints". Their words and deeds provide a treasury of time-tested wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration for the pursuit of holiness.
Best-selling Catholic author Paul Thigpen opens up that treasury in A Year With the Saints: Daily Meditations With the Holy Ones of God. These 365 reflections draw from the writings and lives of holy men and women across two thousand years. Their spiritual and practical insights for Christian living are as fresh and relevant today as they were when they were first written.
When you pray to the saints, you speak to them. Read A Year With the Saints , and let them speak to you.
Best-selling Catholic author Paul Thigpen opens up that treasury in A Year With the Saints: Daily Meditations With the Holy Ones of God. These 365 reflections draw from the writings and lives of holy men and women across two thousand years. Their spiritual and practical insights for Christian living are as fresh and relevant today as they were when they were first written.
When you pray to the saints, you speak to them. Read A Year With the Saints , and let them speak to you.
769 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 5, 2013
47 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Paul Thigpen
62 books71 followersPaul Thigpen, Ph.D., is the editor of TAN Books. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has published forty-two books. His work has been translated into twelve languages and circulated worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 25, 2016
Paul Thigpen is a favorite author of mine from way back in the days when his books in The Saints Speak Today series were my favorites (St. Thomas More and St. Augustine). In fact, I still grab copies of those to give to new converts since they were key to my own experience.
All of which is beside the point, I guess, except to help explain that I've been eagerly awaiting this book ever since I first saw it mentioned.
Like the other books in Tan Book's "A Year With ..." series, it has 365 one-page meditations. As is obvious from the name, it takes you through a year with the saints as your spiritual guides.
Each reading begins with a brief summary from Thigpen to orient the reader to the subject. Then an excerpt from a saint's writings brings a topic to light. This is followed by a question or two which help readers relate fully to what was just read. A brief prayer ends the session. In case you want to know a bit more about a particular saint, there is a brief biography of each in the back of the book.
Tan Books has done this book proud, as with all those in the series. Even if you prefer e-books, this is one you want to hold in your hands, just trust me on this. The cover may not be actual leather but it certainly feels like it. Pages are gilt-edged and the ribbon marker is sturdy. Moreover, the book design is elegant and decorative in an understated but classic way. A Year with the Saints is not only useful but a book that could become an heirloom in your family. Readers will know that I do not give this praise lightly.
I've been reading an entry a day since I received the book, which means I'm up to the 7th or 8th one. So far I've been reminded of the marvel that Scripture achieves in having simple meanings and complex meanings in the same passages, perfect for whichever need you have. I've been reminded of the fact that the reason God can work miracles is because he made nature ... and so he has power over it.
And, I've been reminded that faith and reason go hand in hand. I'll be honest. I didn't need reminding of this particular concept, but I like how St. Thomas More says it so much that this is the one I'm going to share. For one thing, look at his commonplace examples of the handmaid and of eating. They get the point across perfectly and also make me laugh just thinking of them.
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All of which is beside the point, I guess, except to help explain that I've been eagerly awaiting this book ever since I first saw it mentioned.
Like the other books in Tan Book's "A Year With ..." series, it has 365 one-page meditations. As is obvious from the name, it takes you through a year with the saints as your spiritual guides.
Each reading begins with a brief summary from Thigpen to orient the reader to the subject. Then an excerpt from a saint's writings brings a topic to light. This is followed by a question or two which help readers relate fully to what was just read. A brief prayer ends the session. In case you want to know a bit more about a particular saint, there is a brief biography of each in the back of the book.
Tan Books has done this book proud, as with all those in the series. Even if you prefer e-books, this is one you want to hold in your hands, just trust me on this. The cover may not be actual leather but it certainly feels like it. Pages are gilt-edged and the ribbon marker is sturdy. Moreover, the book design is elegant and decorative in an understated but classic way. A Year with the Saints is not only useful but a book that could become an heirloom in your family. Readers will know that I do not give this praise lightly.
I've been reading an entry a day since I received the book, which means I'm up to the 7th or 8th one. So far I've been reminded of the marvel that Scripture achieves in having simple meanings and complex meanings in the same passages, perfect for whichever need you have. I've been reminded of the fact that the reason God can work miracles is because he made nature ... and so he has power over it.
And, I've been reminded that faith and reason go hand in hand. I'll be honest. I didn't need reminding of this particular concept, but I like how St. Thomas More says it so much that this is the one I'm going to share. For one thing, look at his commonplace examples of the handmaid and of eating. They get the point across perfectly and also make me laugh just thinking of them.
==========
Day 4
Faith and reason
Faith and reason should not be opposed, St. Thomas More reminds us; they should go hand in hand. The use of reason is necessary in matters of faith, but it must always be in service to faith.
Whoever would grasp what he must believe must use reason. Yet reason must not resist faith, but rather walk with her, waiting on her as her handmaid. And even though at times reason seems contrary to faith, yet in truth faith never gets along without her.
The handmaid who loses all restraint, or gets drunk, or grows too proud, will then chatter too much and argue with her mistress, and act sometimes as if she were insane. In the same way, reason--if it's allowed to run riot and lift up its heart in pride--won't fail to rebel against her mistress, faith. On the other hand, if she's brought up well, and guided well, and kept in good temper, she'll never disobey faith because she'll be in her right mind. So let your powers of reason be well trained, for surely faith never gets along without her.
The study of Scripture involves deciphering its meaning, considering what you read, pondering the purpose of various commentaries, and comparing various texts that seem contradictory, even when they aren't. Now in doing all this, I don't deny that the most important thing is to have grace and God's special help. But at the same time, in our Scripture study he uses our human reason as an instrument as well. After all: God also helps us to eat--but not without our mouth!
-St. Thomas More, A Dialogue Concerning Heresies,
I, 23; Letter to William Gonell
In God's Presence Consider...
Do I consider my reason a gift from God to be used in support of my faith? Do I make the best of my reasoning skills when interpreting Scripture by using helpful commentaries and other study resources?
Closing Prayer
Lord, let the reasoning powers you've given me always be employed in the lively service of the faith that's also your gift.
March 5, 2015
I have really enjoyed contemplating the wisdom of great saints on a daily basis for the last year. I bookmarked so many passages that I plan to revisit again and again. This book has been a gift in my life. Highly recommend.
May 20, 2016
This book was given to me as a gift, and it is full of quotes by various saints on various topics, and many of them were memorable and impactful on my own studies and reflections.
Then I gave it as a gift to a good friend because I felt it had such significant spiritual value.
Then I gave it as a gift to a good friend because I felt it had such significant spiritual value.
May 4, 2025
Amazing wisdom. There are short half page readings for every day. It's definitely a book to be read that way to absorb a bit of the deep meanings of the writings. Lots of saints represented -St Augustine. St Thomas More, St Francis, Catherine of Siena and many, many more in the 365 days. My favorite was St John Chrysostom, a father of the Byzantine church. Although he lived in the 4th century, his thoughts are often modern and practical showing that people haven't changed much over the centuries. He talks about people socializing too much during church and people only attending mass on feast days (he's looking at you Christmas and Easter Catholics).
December 31, 2025
This type of one day reminder of God is so nice. Although it is not a replacement for reading the Bible the thoughtfulness of the writing always picks up my day with a new perspective. I will read another of Paul Thigpen next year every morning.
January 11, 2026
While this took me a lot longer than a year to read this is my very favorite devotional! So much wisdom from the saints in this one - considering purchasing the nicer version because it is one I will continue to read and come back to! Highly recommend this one!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews