Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood

by Michael R. Heinlein, Editor 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. “It is my profound honor to add my voice in support of Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood. This book gives an insightful look at the Black Americans that are on the path to canonized sainthood in the Catholic Church. The book introduces readers to six Black Americans who dealt in their lifetimes with the human denigration and suffering that is manifested by America’s Original Sin of racism. Yet they not only persevered, but truly lived as Christian people, which so many Americans claim to be, but whose actions do not support that claim. These Black Americans sought to show love, compassion, and forgiveness to all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or station in life. All of the men and women you will meet in Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood — through their faith in God and by giving of themselves to God’s people, their sisters and brothers — did what Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman ‘we must return love, no matter what.’ These men and women show us the way forward.” Most Reverend Roy E. Campbell, Jr., Auxiliary Bishop of Washington, President of the National Black Catholic Congress “Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood is an inspiring look at six holy Black men and women who mirrored Christ in service to others. All of them persevered, despite the many rejections they encountered, giving Black Catholics today the inspiration to meet the obstacles of racial inequity with equal grace and love, and providing insight to all Catholics, regardless of race, into the effects of systemic racism and the many gifts and talents people of color bring to the Church. The accompanying reflections, written by Catholic laity and religious, provide deeper insight into the lives of the six candidates for Canonization, and how best we can learn from them and emulate their examples in our own lives.” The National Black Catholic Congress “Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood is a great expose on the lives and faith of some of our Black ancestors who responded with both prayer and action to overcome racism. Discovering through this book their life stories, their suffering, and their faith-filled response, one is inspired to seek the conversion of hearts with regard to racism through prayer and action so that we too can aspire to be saints by the manner in which we love one another.” Most Reverend Shelton J. Fabre, Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, Chairman of the USCCB Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism “Black Catholics on the Road to Sainthood provides a glimpse into the power of God’s grace at work in the lives of men and women who were often treated with disdain.

Genres: Catholic, Biography

107 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2020

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