Lay Saints: Martyrs

by Joan Carroll Cruz

This is the third volume in our “Lay Saints” series.

“The best souls are they that have been travailed in spiritual business, and find most comfort therein.”
—St. Thomas More

In Lay Saints: Martyrs, Joan Carroll Cruz guides you through the lives of seventy-three lay men and women who achieved the heights of sanctity. These inspiring biographies present martyrs who displayed extraordinary for
​titude in holding fast to their faith in the midst of great persecution.
Find a role model from among these saints as Joan Carroll Cruz explores:

• their acts of fortitude that you can imitate
• the burning love for God displayed by the martyrs
• stories of heroism, self-denial, and trust in God
• how martyrdom and suffering, heroically endured, en- courages the faith of others

In this volume are people from all walks of life and time periods who lovingly embraced the opportunity to die for their refusal to renounce the True Faith.

While many people may never get the chance to forfeit their lives for Christ in so dramatic a fashion, these saints should serve as a guiding light in the endurance of the small sacrifices and persecutions of everyday life.

Genres: Religion

331 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2016

About the author

Mrs. Cruz is a native of New Orleans, LA, and was educated by the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She was a member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order for 50 years and received the Mother Teresa Award in 2005.

Mrs. Cruz was the author of 15 Catholic books, all of which received the imprimatur. She was perhaps best known for her writings on miraculous occurrences of faith which she compiled through meticulous research of foreign shrines, churches, convents and monasteries.

Reviews

[Drew Dennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and inspirational. This book simultaneously shows us the potential for humanity as well as the depths of its depravity.

...if I can muster a fraction of the faith that these blessed martyrs showed in their lives/deaths I would count myself improved.

[Joe Besserfan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Carroll Cruz does a great job with her book "Lay Saints: Martyrs". Cruz tells the stories of a bunch of men and women who laid it all on the line for their faith. The stories of these brave, faithful people are truly inspirational. They are all great role models for the rest of us.

[Paul LaGreca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being stabbed to death with pens by your students because it is discovered you are a Christian, or being fed to a hungry lion, or being sent to a whore-house? The stories of these martyrs have changed my life and my perception on what it means to be a Christian.