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Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress
How do you grow closer to sainthood in your daily life?
Fr. Mark-Mary answers this question. He takes 800 years of wisdom from the Franciscans and provides small and manageable steps that can lead anyone to great holiness. This book tackles topics that affect Catholics’ everyday life!
Fr. Mark-Mary answers this question. He takes 800 years of wisdom from the Franciscans and provides small and manageable steps that can lead anyone to great holiness. This book tackles topics that affect Catholics’ everyday life!
152 pages, Paperback
Published March 16, 2021
277 people are currently reading
517 people want to read
About the author
Mark-Mary Ames
4 books22 followersFr. Mark-Mary Ames is the Director of Communications and the Director of Priestly Studies of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR). The primary mission of the CFR community is a wholehearted embracing of Jesus Christ and their Holy Father, St. Francis of Assisi. Through their commitment to prayer and contemplation, the study of Sacred Scripture, fidelity to the Church and the sacraments, their fraternal life, and their generous service to others especially the poor, the CFRs receive the nourishment necessary to live out their lives as sons of St. Francis in the Capuchin tradition.
Fr. Mark-Mary is the host of the Ascension Presents video series The CFRs and the host of the 2025 podcast The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR). He was also the executive producer of the Poco a Poco music album featuring Br. Isaiah, CFR, and is the author of both Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress and The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God.
His favorite work, however, is not nearly as public. Near and dear to Fr. Mark-Mary’s heart is his work walking one-on-one with the suffering, hearing confessions, and offering service as a regular chaplain to the Sisters of Life formation convents.
Fr. Mark-Mary is the host of the Ascension Presents video series The CFRs and the host of the 2025 podcast The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR). He was also the executive producer of the Poco a Poco music album featuring Br. Isaiah, CFR, and is the author of both Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progress and The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God.
His favorite work, however, is not nearly as public. Near and dear to Fr. Mark-Mary’s heart is his work walking one-on-one with the suffering, hearing confessions, and offering service as a regular chaplain to the Sisters of Life formation convents.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 4, 2023
Beautifully written and filled with so much wisdom. It needs to be read, pondered and ingested slowly. A treasure of a book.
February 8, 2022
I read this book with my faith group. I was not sure I would like it, I figured it would be too preachy. Actually, it was just right. Learning from a priest living a holy life in a dangerous area of the Bronx brought some reality to me that Jesus works through so many people in so many different ways. I reflected on each chapter as it gave me insight on how important our faithful outreach is in the midst of communities suffering from evil. It's a shorter book, easier to read, but still with depth.
April 13, 2023
This was my Lenten reading for 2023. Fr. breaks down habits for holiness in an easy to understand manner. I think Franciscan spirituality is like that - easy to understand, not lofty. Exactly what I needed. Father tells personal stories to illustrate his points, love it! Implementing his Life novenas immediately. What a great (and do-able) way to pray. This small book deserves a reread, with highlighting.
March 31, 2023
This was a great lenten read with ideas for how to grow in the habits that lead to holiness. While there were several great points that weren't necessarily new to me, it provided wonderful reminders and encouraging practical ideas on how to make the changes that allow one to establish habits for holiness.
I really liked his focus on the importance of being healthy as a total person in order to be best able to live a holy life and his "3 by 5 Examen" that he recommends be done midday (5 minutes to examine your day and identify 5 reasons to give God thanks, 5 moments that need God's mercy, and 5 areas to ask for God's help).
I really liked his focus on the importance of being healthy as a total person in order to be best able to live a holy life and his "3 by 5 Examen" that he recommends be done midday (5 minutes to examine your day and identify 5 reasons to give God thanks, 5 moments that need God's mercy, and 5 areas to ask for God's help).
November 28, 2023
Easy to read and filled with practical advice.
October 9, 2021
Why is the simplest advice the hardest to follow and remember? In short, concise chapters Father Mark-Mary Ames leads us into steps to create habits of holiness. There are three chapters on our baptism into becoming priests, prophets and kings that spoke to me the most. Fr Mark-Mary shows us how to create holy habits living as priests, prophets and kings.
It's a good read. Be sure to take notes, answer the questions, and keep the book so you can read it again.
It's a good read. Be sure to take notes, answer the questions, and keep the book so you can read it again.
November 9, 2021
This easy to read, spiritually engaging book provides beautiful guidance and practical suggestions for developing a life of prayer or enhancing one that already exists. I highly recommend it, particularly for those who want to deepen their personal relationship with God.
February 26, 2024
I discovered Father Mark-Mary and the rest of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal on YouTube — it came up as a suggested video after I finished watching a homily by Bishop Barron. So when I saw he had written a book, I knew I had to read it.
The book is an easy read, it feels like Father is right there, chatting with you over coffee. He offers sincere and honest stories from his life, his service to the Bronx, and his own faith. The book felt like a warm, calming hug, from a caring holy friend who genuinely wants you to be the best person you can be for God. I appreciated all the advice and I know I will refer back to this book in the future.
Four stars instead of five because the book was a little lightweight. I hope his next book gives some more depth - I sense he could go there, but just didn’t this time. I imagine he has some really remarkable things to share.
The book is an easy read, it feels like Father is right there, chatting with you over coffee. He offers sincere and honest stories from his life, his service to the Bronx, and his own faith. The book felt like a warm, calming hug, from a caring holy friend who genuinely wants you to be the best person you can be for God. I appreciated all the advice and I know I will refer back to this book in the future.
Four stars instead of five because the book was a little lightweight. I hope his next book gives some more depth - I sense he could go there, but just didn’t this time. I imagine he has some really remarkable things to share.
January 7, 2024
There were several ideas in this book that I found helpful. Many of the suggestions seemed to apply more to families with children. I would love to see more young people read this book and begin these practices. Praying together as a family every day, especially the rosary, is so powerful. Teaching children how to live a virtuous life should be one of the primary goals of parents.
September 11, 2024
I loved this book but is not for everyone. Is very practical with its advise and homeworks. I started reading it on kindle so many times but had the need to go back and dig deeper. I decided to buy a paperback copy. I have it full of highlights, notes, etc. I really enjoyed it... specially as a mom and a woman.
March 6, 2022
One of those great books with so much insights! This is one that you don't read just once, you read it every si often to be reminded of all we are called to do and so we can continue to cultivate those habits towards to help on our path to saintity.
December 19, 2023
Fr Ames has written an accessible guide for growing closer to God and opening ourselves up to being His feet and hands here on earth. This book was full of spiritual insights and also provided action steps for integrating them into your life. Great read!
January 9, 2022
A wonderful examen, set in motion with the backdrop of 2022 America
Read
August 7, 2022(for peer ministry summer homework)
March 30, 2023
Actionable suggestions combined with simple examples and relatable stories. Definitely keeping to re-read in the future.
July 2, 2023
The book was a really great and deep dive into the spirituality of the CFRs. For anyone looking to incarnate their internal desires towards a well ordered life of holiness, this is the book for you.
August 30, 2023
Good enough
June 1, 2024
Excellent read! Real and tangible ways to improve your spiritual and physical well-being
March 30, 2025
Love the short chapters, built-in discussion questions and actionable (though difficult!) advice. Perfect reading for a small faith-sharing group.
May 21, 2025
Otro que se quiero seguir teniendo cerca para consultarlo de vez en cuando
June 20, 2025
An excellent book to help Catholics find ways to grow in holiness - accessible, engaging, realistic. Fr. Mark-Mary Ames is a very good spiritual guide.
October 29, 2025
Super practical. Very aware of today's cultural challenges.
July 31, 2024
There are books that find you at just the right time. For me, this was one of those books. This book truly captures the steps one can take to be more fully alive and to focus on what is truly important in life. It highlights “simple” steps with encouragement and with true understanding of the obstacles to living these simple steps. If I had to recommend one book for living the Christian life, it would be this one. It meets you where you are at. It encourages you.
August 25, 2021
3.5 stars. There is nothing earth shattering here. It is a book full of sound, good, sturdy advice on how to make little changes to grow in holiness. I enjoyed his personal stories and approaches. Especially convicting was the section on the poor, and how to see and help Jesus in the poor.
January 14, 2024
I'm just gonna throw all of my favorite quotes here:
" 'Brothers, the creativity of love. When you love someone, you create a way to be with them.' " - A religious sister talking to the friars about prayer, page 21
"Prayer is actually efficient because holiness is efficient. Sin, on the other hand, is radically inefficient." page 23
"His lived experience is that when he prays, he actually has more time." page 24
"Is my view of prayer motivated more by love or by obligation?" page 26
"Three-by-Five Examen : 5 reasons to give thanks, 5 moments to need mercy, 5 areas to ask for God's help." page 30
"We want to be known and loved. It's part of the God-given desire for heaven. We were made for communion with one another and communion with God." page 36
"Frank Sheed, a popular Catholic author and publisher of the twentieth century, once wrote that Catholics today don't have a Catholic mind os much as 'worldly minds with Catholic patches.' " page 50
"If people believe that there is a creating God who loves them to the point that he sent his only-begotten Son to die for them so that they could be with him forever, does it make sense for their lives and homes and families to look exactly like everyone else's? Wouldn't their lives look different from the lives of people who believe that there is no meaning in life, that life is simply the result of accidents, that there is not anything beyond this point in life?" page 53
"We are not meant to detach for detachment's sake. Rather, we detach from material things by attaching ourselves to higher goods--ultimately, to the one alone who is good, our Lord Jesus Christ." page 73
"...we always hold stuff with a light grip because we know it's not the answer to our deepest desires. Only Christ is." page 74
"There's a saying that we must live simply so that others may simply live." page 78
"In a very real way, God freely has made us necessary participants in his mission. Without a doubt, he does the heavy lifting, but he does wait for our yes. He also allows us to say no." page 85
"There's nothing that gives is a more profound insight into the very heart of God when we love as Jesus did." page 88
"Are our lives rooted in reality? Are they consistent with following a loving God, a God who calls himself Father? Are they consistent with the suffering of our brothers and sisters throughout the world?" page 89
"Time wasted on the Lord is never time wasted." page 94
"If somebody is in distress, we come to their help. That's what the Church does because that's what Jesus does." page 95
"Without discipline, there will be no discipleship." page 137
"In Romans, St. Paul reminds us, 'Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind' so that you may judge 'what is good and acceptable and perfect.' (Romans 12:2)" page 150
"Where there is a new truth, there is going to be a new way of life." page 151
"Is comfort going to control me, or is the invitation of Christ to greatness going to control me?" page 156
"As we grow in the habit of choosing the narrow road, the road less traveled, the road of sanctity, the easier it will be." page 156
"There is a famous line from St. Irenaeus that the glory of God is man fully alive." page 159
" 'Brothers, the creativity of love. When you love someone, you create a way to be with them.' " - A religious sister talking to the friars about prayer, page 21
"Prayer is actually efficient because holiness is efficient. Sin, on the other hand, is radically inefficient." page 23
"His lived experience is that when he prays, he actually has more time." page 24
"Is my view of prayer motivated more by love or by obligation?" page 26
"Three-by-Five Examen : 5 reasons to give thanks, 5 moments to need mercy, 5 areas to ask for God's help." page 30
"We want to be known and loved. It's part of the God-given desire for heaven. We were made for communion with one another and communion with God." page 36
"Frank Sheed, a popular Catholic author and publisher of the twentieth century, once wrote that Catholics today don't have a Catholic mind os much as 'worldly minds with Catholic patches.' " page 50
"If people believe that there is a creating God who loves them to the point that he sent his only-begotten Son to die for them so that they could be with him forever, does it make sense for their lives and homes and families to look exactly like everyone else's? Wouldn't their lives look different from the lives of people who believe that there is no meaning in life, that life is simply the result of accidents, that there is not anything beyond this point in life?" page 53
"We are not meant to detach for detachment's sake. Rather, we detach from material things by attaching ourselves to higher goods--ultimately, to the one alone who is good, our Lord Jesus Christ." page 73
"...we always hold stuff with a light grip because we know it's not the answer to our deepest desires. Only Christ is." page 74
"There's a saying that we must live simply so that others may simply live." page 78
"In a very real way, God freely has made us necessary participants in his mission. Without a doubt, he does the heavy lifting, but he does wait for our yes. He also allows us to say no." page 85
"There's nothing that gives is a more profound insight into the very heart of God when we love as Jesus did." page 88
"Are our lives rooted in reality? Are they consistent with following a loving God, a God who calls himself Father? Are they consistent with the suffering of our brothers and sisters throughout the world?" page 89
"Time wasted on the Lord is never time wasted." page 94
"If somebody is in distress, we come to their help. That's what the Church does because that's what Jesus does." page 95
"Without discipline, there will be no discipleship." page 137
"In Romans, St. Paul reminds us, 'Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind' so that you may judge 'what is good and acceptable and perfect.' (Romans 12:2)" page 150
"Where there is a new truth, there is going to be a new way of life." page 151
"Is comfort going to control me, or is the invitation of Christ to greatness going to control me?" page 156
"As we grow in the habit of choosing the narrow road, the road less traveled, the road of sanctity, the easier it will be." page 156
"There is a famous line from St. Irenaeus that the glory of God is man fully alive." page 159
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
I read this with my Well ladies. We all agreed - we didn’t hate it, but we didn’t love it. It was just ok. I personally felt like I wasn’t the target audience for this book and that’s why it wasn’t masterful for me, but I could see it being a great read for someone who is in the target audience. There were definitely still tidbits of insight and tips he shared that have me still thinking.
July 1, 2023
I understand how radical this statement is but this book has completely changed my life. In this past month, it has lead me down a path of spiritual self discovery about who I am in the context of God, and made me seriously evaluate my own life choices. This is one of the best books I’ve ever read for pragmatic spiritual growth as contains a wide variety of improvements for everyone. No matter what state of life you are in, this book makes it easy to identify weaknesses in yourself and make small changes that fuel holy habits. This book did exactly what they advertised, and I personally think any person looking to grow in holiness should read this masterpiece.
As I was finishing this book, I came upon this quote that serves as the book’s overall purpose. I can say with confidence these words are exactly what happened to me as I read this book. I really hope my review inspires some good people to read this because it truly changed my life.
“Just know that this book is meant to be a source of conversion, of authentic, deep, and permanent renewal in your life through the grace of the Holy Spirit. My brothers and sisters, as you seek to apply these new commitments and new truths and new ideas, do it sincerely and do it strategically. Focus on the area where you feel the Lord calling you to grow..” -Habits for Holiness
As I was finishing this book, I came upon this quote that serves as the book’s overall purpose. I can say with confidence these words are exactly what happened to me as I read this book. I really hope my review inspires some good people to read this because it truly changed my life.
“Just know that this book is meant to be a source of conversion, of authentic, deep, and permanent renewal in your life through the grace of the Holy Spirit. My brothers and sisters, as you seek to apply these new commitments and new truths and new ideas, do it sincerely and do it strategically. Focus on the area where you feel the Lord calling you to grow..” -Habits for Holiness
February 22, 2023
I’ve listened to some of Father Mark Mary Ames’ videos so when I heard he had written this book, I ordered it. I took my time reading it during Adoration. He offers solid advice followed by brief questions for reflection to move away from bad habits affecting our spiritual life. Reflection in our actions is important so this book helps if you want to improve your spiritual life. I’m sure I will read it again soon.
December 18, 2021
Wow, I’d say one if the best writing oh growing
I would have to say this book is right up there with the the book “Growing Devout Life.” Fr. Mark-Mary’s YouTube videos are inspiring and great but his writing is a masterpiece. This book popped up right after I prayed to
God for direction on how to love Him. It’s so good. You need to give this book a try.
I would have to say this book is right up there with the the book “Growing Devout Life.” Fr. Mark-Mary’s YouTube videos are inspiring and great but his writing is a masterpiece. This book popped up right after I prayed to
God for direction on how to love Him. It’s so good. You need to give this book a try.
May 1, 2023
Real World Advice
Instead of abstract concepts, which are vital but might not get us moving and acting, Brother Mark-Mary gives us simple, concrete steps — starting with a daily Holy Hour. I put down the book and went to Adoration Chapel … and that’s where the changes began. I’ve now bought a copy for our little parish library for other seekers of wisdom and truth.
Instead of abstract concepts, which are vital but might not get us moving and acting, Brother Mark-Mary gives us simple, concrete steps — starting with a daily Holy Hour. I put down the book and went to Adoration Chapel … and that’s where the changes began. I’ve now bought a copy for our little parish library for other seekers of wisdom and truth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews