Complaints of the Saints: Stumbling Upon Holiness with a Crabby Mystic

by Mary Lea Hill

Complaints of the Saints by Sr. Mary Lea Hill, FSP, shares some of the saints’ responses to suffering. The witty anecdotes and wisdom Sr. Hill shares are both consoling and relatable, teaching us that the saints experienced the same emotions and feelings we do in the face of hardship. After all, the saints used their human nature, faults, and even complaints, to help them grow closer to God.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Faith

183 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2020

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

With each of the 66 chapters running just over two pages, Complaints of the Saints is an excellent spiritual read for people who don't think they have time for spiritual reading. The last section of the book emphasizes our call to do better: to follow the holy example of the saints who, we have seen throughout the book, have lived with difficulties and challenges and learned to handle those with grace. Sr. Mary Lea offers concrete ideas at the end of each chapter that will help us channel our negativity in a better direction.
Read my full review.

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 The information here is great. I did not love the style. The whole first section is about the nature of complaining. Some of the chapters about saints and their complaints are really comforting if you feel bad sometimes about being irritable. I think there's something genuinely helpful about laying out precisely how complaining is not a vice in and of itself, especially within Catholic circles where bearing with things without a grumble is seen as saintly and grumbling means you're somehow less than that. My penchant to grumble (specifically about the rise in traffic noise around our property. Get off my lawn!) is what drew me to this book and, whereas it did not exactly give me new strategies to complain less (aside from reflection questions that are sometimes quite good), it did introduce me to some helpful saints or perspectives on old "friends." I just think the whole project could have really sung more if it had taken a lighter touch, a la _Between Heaven and Mirth_ and I am not convinced that the philosophical treatise on complaining was the way to start the book. Getting through it was kind of a drag. Perhaps start with the chapter on Mary, then come back to the information on complaining interspersed throughout? In short, good but not as good as it could have been.

[Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book! It is very well written, witty and very thought provoking. I like that each chapter poses a question or two for reflection at the end. Thoroughly enjoyed!

[Keysh Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read and reflect on a daily basis. i wish i committed to it daily but i will reread it and do that.