Special Saints for Special People: Stories of Saints with Disabilities

by Megan C. Gannon

Special Saints for Special People contains nine short biographies of saints who lived with disabilities much or all of their lives and how they were able to obtain holiness and make contributions to the Catholic Church. The target audience is intended to be confirmation age young adults who have disabilities, but the book is appropriate for older readers as well. This book does not focus on illness, suffering or saints who received miraculous cures, which seem to be the main topics discussed when disabilities are mentioned. Instead it highlights the gifts and abilities that these saints had and used for the good of others. Hopefully these stories will inspire individuals with disabilities, give them saints to turn to, and show that they, too, are an important part of the Church.

Genres: Religion, Biography

96 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2014

Reviews

[Christina Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever wanted to read a book about Saints but felt intimidated to do so, give this little book a go! The people profiled in Gannon’s book suffered greatly, but learned that their truest joy and fulfillment was not so much in suffering well as in living well through the whole of their lives.

I've been physically disabled since infancy with a severe, progressive disease. How I wish I had had this book when I was a child! But don't make the mistake of thinking that this book is only helpful for people with illness or impairment. You will recognize something of yourself in at least one of these holy men and women. Ever felt tired? Rejected? Ridiculed? Ever felt like a disappointment? Ever felt misunderstood? You are not alone.

I hope that Catholic schools will adopt this book as part of their curriculum — not for the sake of students with special needs, but for all of their students. Every human being faces challenges and has to live with turmoil or suffering of some kind. Will we merely suffer? Or will we, like the holy people in this book, dig deep to discover our God-given talents and know true joy?

A book worth reading again and again!

[Courtney Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very inspirational book. It's one that I would like to read again and again--probably more as a prayer book--focusing on one saint's story at a time, rather than reading it straight through in one sitting as I did this time.

Most of the saints, I had never heard of before. And for the saints who I had heard of previously, I never knew that they had disabilities. I highly recommend this book for everyone of all ages!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book that reflects on the the lives of saints (and blessed) who lived with disabilities. It was a good, quick read that gives you a lot to think and pray about. This is a book that I will read again.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work with Special Needs kids in our church. I met Megan Gannon at a conference last year This is a great book. I bought all my Special Needs kids a copy of this book for Christmas because it answers the question of "Why aren't there books about people like me?" Now there is.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a person with limitations, I have often pondered the seeming lack of disabled divinities and the implications thereof that it means those with limitations (be they mental, physical, or emotional; or all of the above) meant a far distance from holiness. Typically, the disabled were the ones that received the mercy and service of saints- certainly not the other way around. I am happy to say that this book is a great start to discovering that there are indeed saints whose images sold as statues and saints' cards are not as they appeared in life. These stories are told for all ages, in very brief form. The author includes a small prayer to the saint featured at the end of their chapter.

This has given me a hope, and deeper connection to the reality that one's restrictions do not ever have to hamper expression, devotion, or representation. The new attitude of showing the world, and its people, as they are shines brightly, yet briefly in this book. With 10, 000 recognized saints of the Catholic Church that spans the world, and 2000 years of history, there is bound to be a number of them that the average person can more closely relate when there are greater hinderances in mind, body, or neurology to our lives than the average person. The general statistic discussed is 15% of the world has some form of disability. Quick, and simple math means that there are potentially 1500 saints to discover, albeit, with so few stories about all of them, one could never know them all.
Now is the time to emphasize that "perfect" and "holy" is truly possible for any, and all. Here is to hoping that more physical representations of these saints offer a more accurate image (as we are able to know).

[Melanie Rigney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely little book with spritely, Spirit-filled writing. It's obvious Miss Gannon, born with cerebral palsy, has found comfort and inspiration from the stories of these special saints. I'm glad she persevered in her struggles and shared their stories with us.