Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood

by Michael R. Heinlein - editor

The Church in the United States is greatly blessed by the contributions of Black Catholics and the legacy of holiness of so many men and women of color. These men and women lived lives that are worthy of our study and emulation.

In Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood, Michael R. Heinlein provides the first book to explore the lives of the six Black Catholics from the United States whose causes are under formal consideration by the Catholic Church for canonization. Including biographies and personal reflections from diverse contributors, this book shows how these six men and women provide a model of holiness for all Catholics and people of good will. Venerable Pierre Toussaint, Venerable Henriette Delille, Venerable Father Augustus Tolton, Servant of God Mother Mary Lange, Servant of God Julia Greeley, and Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman are sources of inspiration for us all.

As we continue to pray for the advancement of their causes for canonization, all Catholics of every race can learn a great deal from these holy men and women. By their stories of faith and virtue, they show us how to respond to the call to holiness, bringing healing, reconciliation, and peace to our wounded nation and world.

Genres: Catholic, Biography

Audible Audio

Published December 27, 2022

Reviews

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful. A gift to me and to the Church. Hopefully only the beginning of reading about the lives of these men and women. It has left me inspired and convicted to live heroic virtue amidst my own circumstances. I will be praying the prayers in here as novenas I’m sure.

Maybe my favorite line:

“Julia had been told once by a religious sister that when she got to heaven, her skin would be as white as the angels on the altar. However, on the last say, her skin will be as beautifully Black as God delighted to make it, with her eye healed, as well as every other scar of sin and division that she bore.” // Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN

[Richard Grebenc · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book that can easily be read in one breezy afternoon sitting. A short bio of each of the six featured holy persons is followed by a personal reflection from various personalities. I understand that information on some of these figures is somewhat paltry but there must be much more that could be said. Hopefully, as their causes move forward, the increased research will allow substantially larger works to be written. In the meantime, this little volume serves as a vehicle to raise awareness of these heroic persons and to urge prayers for miracles to advance their causes.

[Rachel Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prior to reading this book I was only familiar (barely familiar) with 3/6 of the Black Catholics introduced in the book. I am grateful to Michael Heinlein and all the contributors for introducing me to all six and holding up new models of holiness for me, especially as a Catholic of colour. May the Church continue to flourish with more saints of colour!

[Chris Merola]

Paltry and performative. I googled to verify and can confirm this book has less information than the wikipedia page for each of its six subjects.

This thing contains zero sources and spends a third of its length waxing lyrical about how racism is bad and love is good and holiness is the antidote. So little of this is information, so much of this is virtue signalling.

It's definitely a worthwhile cause to spread the word about African Americans on the path to canonization - I'm sure that representation would mean something to black Catholics. But these soon to be saints deserve more than a pamphlet and vague compliments. I want to actually know what their lives were like. I know there's not mountains of research available but surely some digging can be done. Many of the statements in here are so hazy they could be swapped out between the venerables and nothing would change.

[Makenzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick book.
I loved learning about these six influential Black Catholics.
My criticisms were that the author and the secondary writers had about the same length of space to share about each person and information got repetitive. While that’s not bad, I wanted so much more. I realize that what is available may not be much— but any type of writings would have enhanced what we read so much.
3.5 simply because I would have loved more primary source quotes.
I still recommend people read the book.

[Odalys · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book with accurate and vivid descriptions of the lives of these hopefully soon to be African American saints. I would really recommend it if you are looking for something to feed your soul and to get you thinking about what does it mean to be a Saint? How are these Holy Men and Women inspiring me to do so? Each chapter ends with a prayer to further the cause of the canonization of each person. I am going to make sure to include an image of one of these men and women in my home in order to ask for their prayer.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I was introduced to a few new Catholic names to research, I finished the book feeling as though I needed to do just that- research. I felt the background of the six Black Catholics in the book was pretty condensed.

It also seemed as though Heinlein wasn’t very comfortable talking about the reality of the racial injustice that permeated the lives of the people he was discussing.

[Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on six Black men and women who are being considered for sainthood in the Catholic Church. This is a great diving off point to learn a little about them. Each of them has a short bio and then a short reflection about that person’s life and spirituality.

[Shopping]

A good high level look at the only African Americans on the path to sainthood in the Catholic Church