Inspiration from the Saints: Stories from the Lives of Catholic Holy Men and Women

by Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh

“I have come to bring fire to the earth,” said Jesus Christ, and his words have come true in the lives of Catholic saints through the ages—men, women, and children on fire with love of Jesus, and with the desire to spread his word. The intention of this book of inspirational stories from the lives of saints is to fill the reader with this same fire. Whereas saints were once the popular heroes of our culture, populating our art and folklore, lending their names to our towns and streets and institutions, today they are all too often hidden away in scholarly books and articles. We are too often given a bland image of these holy men and women, whereas they were not vaguely “spiritual” do-gooders, but men and women on a mission: to attain to Heaven through the imitation of Christ, and to bring as many others along with them as possible!

The tales told in Inspiration from the Saints cover a variety of themes in the lives of these holy men and women: their childhoods, inspirations, and deaths; their boldness and their humility; their love of prayer, mortification, and the Eucharist; their urge to spread the Gospel; their family life; the impression they made upon others; and much more besides.

“The saints are not dead, but alive and present in the Church. In Inspiration from the Saints, Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh writes in a personal way not only of the saints as living in the Church but as living with us in our own lives. From childhood to death, from hardened sinners to mystics, we here encounter men, women, and children who impress upon us the achievable ‘reality of holiness’; we steep ourselves in the holy glamour of the saints and learn how they make virtue so attractive. At a time when we are tempted to cynicism in face of so many flawed public figures, the author draws our attention to those who have enhanced our Church and our world by their goodness.”—FR. JOHN S. HOGAN, co-host of EWTN’s Forgotten Heritage, author of A Book of Martyrs

“This excellent book is the fruit of the author’s study of the men and women who have made history because of how they lived and loved in saintly witness to their Catholic faith, serving as guides to help us through the twists and turns of daily life. Its masterly selection of anecdotes offers inspiration at a time when so many are disillusioned and filled with doubts about the relevance of the Church in the modern world. Through the example of such deeply spiritual individuals we come to see how we too can become saints if we but allow ourselves to be transformed by Jesus Christ. May this wonderful book inspire us to do just that!”—ANTHONY MURPHY, editor of Catholic Voice, director of the Lumen Fidei Institute

Maolsheachlann O Ceallaigh, in his refreshingly timely and personal reflections on the lives of Catholics revered as saints from Apostolic times to our own, offers myriad ‘saintly’ reasons why Catholics should be proud of their Faith, and strive better to live and appreciate it, in order to propagate and defend it.”—FR. PAUL STENHOUSE MSC, editor of Annals Australasia

“In a way, the very title ‘saint’ does a disservice to the holy people upon whom it is bestowed, because it tends to make them seem unapproachable—and if this is so, how can we emulate them, which is what the Church asks us to do? This book, however, makes the saints seem both approachable and extraordinary at the same time. Its message: saints are real people who become Christ-like in their lives, and, if they can do it, so can we!”—DAVID QUINN, founder of the Iona Institute, columnist with the Irish I

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2019

Reviews

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I must state this book was an excellent read. In fact, it was so good that I have now read it twice before attempting this review. Second, I do not really believe I can do the book justice, in a review. This book is unlike any other book I have read about saints. It is not a biography. It is not a highlight or keep features or a selection of saints. No, it is the examination of 17 topics through the eyes and lives of a wide range of saints. The short description of this book is:

“The tales told in Inspiration from the Saints cover a variety of themes in the lives of these holy men and women: their childhoods, inspirations, and deaths; their boldness and humility; their love of prayer, mortification, and the Eucharist; their urge to spread the Gospel; their family life; the impression they made upon others; and much more.”

This is a book I have already read twice and will likely re again and again. It is already in the pile beside my bed again. And I do not typically read physical books. The chapters in this book are:

Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Childhood
2. Sinners
3. Inspirations
4. Boldness
5. In Other People’s Eyes
6. Mortification
7. Marriage
8. Family
9. Chastity
10. Losers
11. Humility
12. Catechetics
13. Evangelization
14. The Eucharist
15. Prayer
16. Mirth
17. Death
18. Afterward
Appendix

And each chapter begins with a list of the saints that will be drawn upon in that section of the book. Here are a list if saints by chapter:

1. Childhood: The visionaries of Fatima * St. Aloysius Gonzaga * Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich *St. John Berchmans * St. Miguel Pro * St. Elizabeth of the Trinity
2. Sinners: St. Paul of Tarsus * St. Augustine of Hippo * St. Philip Howard * St. Bernard of Corleone * Blessed Bartolo Longo * Blessed Charles de Foucauld
3. Inspirations: St. Augstine of Hippo * St. Anthony of Egypt * St. Josemaria Escriva * St. John of God * St. Raphaela Mary of the Sacred Heart * St. Mary of the Incarnation
4. Boldness: St. Josemaria Escriva * St. John Paul II * St. Theresa of Lisieux * St. Maximilian Kolbe
5. In Other People’s Eyes: St. Charles of Mount Argus * St. Damian of Molokai * St. Bernadette of Lourdes * St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta * St. Gemma Galgani * Blessed John Sullivan S.J.
6. Mortification: St. Junipero Serra * St. Rose of Lima * St. Paul of Tarsus * St. Catherine Ricci * St. John Paul II * St. Josemaria Escriva * St. Mary of the Incarnation * St. John Berchmans * St. Jean Vianney * St. Francis Assisi
7. Marriage: St. Louis and St. Marie Azalie Martin * Blessed Luigi Beltarme and Blessed Maria Quattrocchi * St. Elizabeth of Hungary * St. Jane Frances de Chantal * St. Joaquina of Spain * St. Elizabeth Ann Seton * St. Louis of France * St. Margart D’Youville * Blessed Paola Gambera-Costa
8. Family: St. Pappin of Ballymum * St. Benedict and St. Scholastica * St. Francis of Assisi * St. Thomas Aquinas * St. Rose of Lima * St. Germaine de Pibrac * Blessed Laura Vicuna * St. Thomas More
9. Chastity: Blessed John Henry Newman * St. Aloysius Gonzaga * St. Elizabeth of the Trinity * St. Alphonsa of India * St. Maria de las Maravillas Pidal Chico de Guzman * St. Maria Goretti * Blessed Antonia Messina * St. Charles Lwanga * St. Bernard of Clairvaux * St. Frances Xzavier Cabrini * St. Padre Pio * Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati
10. Losers: St. Joseph of Cupertino * St. Jean Vianney * St. Bernadette Soubirous * St. Charles of Mount Argus * Blessed Mariano da Roccacasale * St. Benedict Joseph Labre * Blessed Margaret of Castello * Blessed Solanus Casey
11. Humility: St. Gemma Galgani * St. Clement Hofbauer * St. Maximilian Kolbe * St. Catherine Laboure * Blessed Miriam Teresa Demjanovich * St. John Berchmans * St. Raphaela Mary of the Sacred Heart * St. Nimatullah Hardini * St. Crispin of Viterbo * St. Peter of Alcantara * St. Francis of Borgia * St. Charles Borromeo
12. Catechetics: St. Marcellin Champagnat * Blessed Josefa Naval Girbes * St. John Bosco * St. John Neumann * St. Louise de Marillac * Blessed Edmund Rice * Blessed Cesar de Bus * St. John Paul II * St. George Preca
13. Evangelization: St. Louis Bertrand * St. Joseph Freinademetz * St. Jean Vianney * St. Rose of Lima * St. Paul of Tarsus * St. Philip Neri * Blessed John Henry Newman * Blessed Giacomo Alberione
14. The Eucharist: Blessed John Henry Newman * St. Peter Julian Eymard * St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier * St. Rose of Lima * St. Alphonsus Liguori * St. John Berchmans * St. Pius X * St. Jean Baptiste de La Salle * St. Bernadette Soubirous * St. Gemma Galgani * Blessed Alexandrina Maria da Cost * St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
15. Prayer: St. Therese of Lisieux * St. Josemaria Escriva * St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta * St. Peter of Alcantara * St. Jean Vianney * St. Elizabeth Ann Seton * St. Andre Besette * Blessed John Sullivan * St. Teresa of Avila * St. John Paul II * St. John XXIII * St. Padre Pio * St. Joseph Cottolengo * Blessed Ceferino Gimenez Malla
16. Mirth: St. Philip Neri * St. Miguel Pro * St. Bernadette Soubirous * St. Teresa of Avila * Blessed John Henry Newman * St. John XXIII * St. Maria Mazzerrello
17. Death: St. Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort * St. Louise de Marillac * St. Robert Southwell * St. Joseph Pignatelli * St. John Berchmans * St. Oliver Plunkett * St. Josemaria Escriva * St. Gemma Galgani * St. John Paul II * St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

Across the 17 chapters 147 saints are examined. Some I have a particular devotion to, some I was familiar with, and a few were completely new to me. Maolsheachlann made sure that he stuck with only recognized saints and blesseds. Even if you remove saints or blessed that appear more than once we have a list of 108. And some of the saints appear up to five times.

This book is written from a place of a great deal of research. But also, a deep devotion. It is an excellent read. There are only really two things that I think would make it even better. First, I would love to see an index in a future edition of the book. Based on the numbers above it would be great to be able quickly find sections about specific saints. Second inside the cover of the book there is an ISBN for an eBook edition, but at the writing of this review it is unpublished and no response from the publisher when I inquired about it. I know a few people I would give the eBook to as soon as it came available. But even with that being said this is an amazing read.

The afterword of this book states:

“Let us again contemplate the passage from the book of the Apocalypse with which I began this book, which is read from the altar on All Saints Day:

‘After this I had a vision of a great multitude,
which no one could count,
from every nation, race, people, and tongue.
They stood before the throne and before the Lamb,
wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.
They cried out in a loud voice;
“Salvation comes from our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and from the Lamb.’

The history of the Catholic Church is the greatest love story ever told. The saints were lovers, consumed by the love of Christ. They beckon us to emulate the love. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

“I have come to bring fire to the earth,” said Jesus. Such a fire burned in the hearts of saints, and in their lives, and in their words. My hope is that some of this fire emanates from the pages of this book, too.
Viva Cristo Rey! Long reign Jesus Christ the King!”

It should be noted that the appendix mentions a number of people whose cause has begun but do not yet have the title servant of God. And the majority of that appendix is dedicated to G.K. Chesterton. One of the best books about saints I have read. It is a book I will give away frequently as gifts and reread again and again. An excellent read well worth pursuing.

Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!

[Dianne Yunker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fascinating and uplifting book. As the author states in his introduction it is the “sort of book about saints that I have long been looking for myself”. Rather than give facts and figures about saints in individual entries, it tackles various aspects of the Catholic life and how one should live it, in order to achieve sainthood, based on our older brothers and sisters in Christ who have gone on to Heavenly glory. The aspects include childhood, marriage, family and death but also personality traits like boldness, humility, and mirth, in addition to how they approach certain particularly Christian activities like mortification, catechetics and evangelization. I appreciated how the book explains some basics of Catholicism in a very humble and non-condescending way to potentially non-Catholic or secular readers so they are not lost or confused by some of our more obscure practices. Reading about how these men and women of God handled life is certainly an inspiration and gives us great hope to do the same!

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saints are the true pope stars.


I was a child of the 1980s and 1990s and I was reared in a ‘normal’ Protestant family on nothing but pop culture. I was ‘pop cultured’. I thought I was an angelic child, but I turned out to be a vain, show-off and drug using teenager. The rest you don’t want to know about. However, I am now a very repentant 40 year old and in January of 2021 I read several books about Durham Cathedral (my local cathedral) and about Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. I was totally astonished at my own complete ignorance of the holy, sacred and miraculous origins of my own local cathedral and in fact the City of Durham itself. Durham Cathedral, castle and indeed the City of Durham was founded in 995 AD, on the final resting place of Saint Cuthbert’s relics by monks fleeing the Viking raids on Lindisfarne. Therefore, Durham wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Saint Cuthbert. I came to truly believe in Saint Cuthbert. I came to believe that Saints are magic. To me, the secret of miracles is that I don’t care. I don’t care if they are less than accurate, they are economic. Many miracles are attributed to Saint Cuthbert and his relics. Miracles attract pilgrims and devotional offerings. Therefore, what does it matter if people are or were gullible and innocent? Miracles build cities and even countries. The history of Durham Cathedral and Saint Cuthbert made me question my Protestant faith. I then bought this book called Inspiration from the Saints by Maolsheachlann Ó Ceallaigh, which I absolutely love, especially the chapters on the mortification, humility, mirth and G K. Chesterton. You will not believe how pious, devoted, austere, strict and holy the Saints are. This book has made me fall in love with Catholic faith. This book has made me a Catholic convert, certainly a Catholic believer and a practitioner. I am going to thoroughly search for more answers. The book is so inspirational, Saints are the true faith, they make us more modest and humble. Jesus Christ is like the Sun, and perhaps we should not look directly at Him. If we venerate the Saints, then how glorious is Jesus Christ? I highly recommend Maolsheachlann Ó Ceallaigh’s book to anyone, he writes with such passion, wit and intelligence. Therefore, the Saints are now my pop idols. Never mind Jesus Christ, it is the Saints who compete with pop stars and pop idols for your adoration. They are infinitely better examples for us and especially our children than drug addict rock and pop stars. My advice to today’s youth would be to venerate, adore, worship and love the Saints not pop IDOLS!

[padraig caughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent aid to prayer.

For anyone who lives the saints and encountering new ones. Catechisis in form of story telling us charming. A clear , very literate wrong style: well researched.