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Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness
How is it possible that a chain-smoking socialist, a teenage video gamer, an opium addict, a satanic high priest, a disabled beggar, and a self-absorbed mean girl became saints? Popular itinerant missionary Meg Hunter-Kilmer will stretch your preconceived notions of holiness by exploring the lesser-known lives of seventy-five extraordinary people whose human struggles and limitations reveal the power of God’s grace. Pray for Us isn’t your ordinary saint Hunter-Kilmer highlights the sorrows, struggles, and idiosyncrasies of broken people who turned their lives around and dedicated themselves to God and his work. Through these edgy profiles, full of fresh and fascinating stories, she explores the universal call to holiness and how God can transform anyone—from grouchy theologians to bratty teenagers—into saints. You’ll discover that anyone—even you—can become a saint if you trust in the Lord. Among those you will meet are Hunter-Kilmer presents the unvarnished lives of the saints and holy people in a way that reveals the power of God’s grace in their lives. Their stories—and especially their brokenness—are relatable to us all. An extensive index that includes names, feast days, and patronages will help you find the inspiration you are looking for in the lives of these holy people.
288 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 26, 2023
"Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness" is a wonderfully unique collection of Saint stories. Many of these Saints and their stories are not as well known as some of the more famous Saints, but their stories are still fascinating and convicting. Meg Hunter Kilmer has managed to find a wide diversity of Saints to feature from all over the world, a variety of ages and socio-economic stages, throughout the timespan of history, and representing a range of vocations and states in life.
The stories are split across 12 different thematic sections including "Saints who defied expectations", "Saints who never gave up", "Saints who lived ordinary lives", and "Saints who had difficult families". Within these sections, there is a brief introduction to the theme and then each individual Saint's story is between 2-4 pages. The heading of each story includes their name, years of life, country, feast day, and a catchy one-liner that encapsulates their life. At the end of the book, there are a number of indexes that are very useful if you want to look up a particular Saint alphabetically, in chronological order of the century they lived in, their feast day, country/region of origin, or topically based on key elements of their stories or challenges that they overcame.
I think this book would be perfect for teens around Confirmation age or adults looking for short, inspirational stories to add to their daily devotional time. I ended up buying a physical copy of this book after receiving the eARC copy because it is one that I wanted as a permanent fixture on my Saint book shelf!
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Ave Maria Press through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
The stories are split across 12 different thematic sections including "Saints who defied expectations", "Saints who never gave up", "Saints who lived ordinary lives", and "Saints who had difficult families". Within these sections, there is a brief introduction to the theme and then each individual Saint's story is between 2-4 pages. The heading of each story includes their name, years of life, country, feast day, and a catchy one-liner that encapsulates their life. At the end of the book, there are a number of indexes that are very useful if you want to look up a particular Saint alphabetically, in chronological order of the century they lived in, their feast day, country/region of origin, or topically based on key elements of their stories or challenges that they overcame.
I think this book would be perfect for teens around Confirmation age or adults looking for short, inspirational stories to add to their daily devotional time. I ended up buying a physical copy of this book after receiving the eARC copy because it is one that I wanted as a permanent fixture on my Saint book shelf!
*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Ave Maria Press through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*
October 23, 2021
Whenever I pick up a book about the lives of the saints, I’m usually bracing myself for all the usual tropes. All those generic white girls with no personality and colonizing men presented completely uncritically. Glossed-over rape and glorified eating disorders. The list goes on.
What a relief it was to open this book and know from page one that I wouldn’t have to worry about any of that, In Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s capable hands, each saint really does leap out as a unique image of Christ, utterly irrepeatable, formed in this real world. You get the sense that Hunter-Kilmer has learned to see the Creator’s delight in each of us, and wants to teach us that above all. This book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, but handles them all with instructive grace.
If the goal of this book was to make me want to be a saint… To be a part of this star-studded cast… To meet people in heaven like jungle surgeon Bl. Maria Troncatti, bold foundress Ven. Mary Elizabeth Lange, and misfit sister Bl. Sara Salkahazi… Then it was successful. Sign me up!
(Note: An ARC was provided to me for free through NetGalley)
What a relief it was to open this book and know from page one that I wouldn’t have to worry about any of that, In Meg Hunter-Kilmer’s capable hands, each saint really does leap out as a unique image of Christ, utterly irrepeatable, formed in this real world. You get the sense that Hunter-Kilmer has learned to see the Creator’s delight in each of us, and wants to teach us that above all. This book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, but handles them all with instructive grace.
If the goal of this book was to make me want to be a saint… To be a part of this star-studded cast… To meet people in heaven like jungle surgeon Bl. Maria Troncatti, bold foundress Ven. Mary Elizabeth Lange, and misfit sister Bl. Sara Salkahazi… Then it was successful. Sign me up!
(Note: An ARC was provided to me for free through NetGalley)
January 9, 2022
I so appreciate the diversity represented here, not only in regards to race, gender, and ethnicity, but especially in the diversity of struggles and acts of love told through these stories. There is truly a saint for every occasion, every sorrow, and every joy you may experience, and if that’s not hopeful, then I don’t know what is.
August 6, 2023
‘You aren’t your abortion, your addiction, your bank account, or you’re résumé. You are loved beyond imagining by a God who died to save you. It’s not too late.’
February 3, 2022
Lovely and inspiring stories told with sensitivity and deep love for the saints and their God. I intended to read this in just a few sittings but these short and savory biographies demanded a reading in smaller segments.
March 16, 2022
It is easy to get discouraged at times when thinking of attaining Sainthood--how could I, a sinner, be a St. Agnes, a St. Elizabeth of Hungary, or any of the other Saints most of us grew up hearing about? Enter "Pray for Us" by Meg Hunter-Kilmer. This book is filled with saints from contemporary times all the way back to the third century. And what was amazing was that many of these saints I had never heard of before, or they are lesser-known saints who were formative for well-known saints. Some of these saints lived very ordinary lives, and others were such horrible sinners that they have forever displaced St. Augustine as "the greatest sinner" in my my mind. These saints come from around the world and are of all races.
I was fascinated to learn about Servant of God Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, who was actually the daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne--I've always heard of and read works by the famous father while knowing nothing of his saintly daughter.
Everyone has heard of St. John Vianney, but not St. John Francis Regis, who was instrumental for St. John Vianney.
Servant of God Leonie Martin was the sister of The Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux, and suffered from extreme emotions and struggled to become a nun.
Blessed Bartolo Longo was a Satanic High Priest who eventually reverted back to Catholicism and promoted the Rosary.
Servant of God Bartolome de las Casas helped capture Indigenous slaves and defended slavery, but eventually was converted and repented of his sin, although it took him years to repent of thinking slavery of Black people was okay, and eventually he was put to death by Spain for fighting his country's racism.
There's Ven. Rutilio Grande, who inspired St. Oscar Romero's conversion of heart; Ven. Grande fought for social justice even though he was falsely accused of communism for doing so (so relevant in today's age where Christians will falsely accuse each other of the same thing!).
I could go on and on about all the great saints in this book and how inspiring they were for me, a sinner, as well as how many spoke to the problems I and those I know face, whether they be sins, judgmental people, broken dreams, infertility, underemployment, a difficult marriage, apostasy, or even simple mediocrity.
Last year, I got to meet the author when she shared her children's book (this is a teen / adult book more or less) and I recall her saying something along the lines of she finds saints who sinned or struggled to show whatever sin or past you struggle with that is making you feel like a persona non grata in the church isn't going to keep you from God's love or keep you from being a saint. I think this book really showed that, as well as showed that there is hope for me and there is hope for everyone else of attaining heaven with God's grace, perseverance, and a desire to know, love, and serve God.
I was fascinated to learn about Servant of God Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, who was actually the daughter of Nathaniel Hawthorne--I've always heard of and read works by the famous father while knowing nothing of his saintly daughter.
Everyone has heard of St. John Vianney, but not St. John Francis Regis, who was instrumental for St. John Vianney.
Servant of God Leonie Martin was the sister of The Little Flower, St. Therese of Lisieux, and suffered from extreme emotions and struggled to become a nun.
Blessed Bartolo Longo was a Satanic High Priest who eventually reverted back to Catholicism and promoted the Rosary.
Servant of God Bartolome de las Casas helped capture Indigenous slaves and defended slavery, but eventually was converted and repented of his sin, although it took him years to repent of thinking slavery of Black people was okay, and eventually he was put to death by Spain for fighting his country's racism.
There's Ven. Rutilio Grande, who inspired St. Oscar Romero's conversion of heart; Ven. Grande fought for social justice even though he was falsely accused of communism for doing so (so relevant in today's age where Christians will falsely accuse each other of the same thing!).
I could go on and on about all the great saints in this book and how inspiring they were for me, a sinner, as well as how many spoke to the problems I and those I know face, whether they be sins, judgmental people, broken dreams, infertility, underemployment, a difficult marriage, apostasy, or even simple mediocrity.
Last year, I got to meet the author when she shared her children's book (this is a teen / adult book more or less) and I recall her saying something along the lines of she finds saints who sinned or struggled to show whatever sin or past you struggle with that is making you feel like a persona non grata in the church isn't going to keep you from God's love or keep you from being a saint. I think this book really showed that, as well as showed that there is hope for me and there is hope for everyone else of attaining heaven with God's grace, perseverance, and a desire to know, love, and serve God.
December 7, 2021
There's a famous quote by St. Teresa of Avila begging God, "From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us!" While I have always loved this line, I've found there to be an equal danger in a modern over-emphasis on saccharine saints. Oh, St. Nicholas was so holy he fasted as a toddler, refusing his mother's breast? ...Okay, but where does that leave the rest of us?
This is a book for -- and about -- the rest of us. Meg Hunter-Kilmer has gathered an exceptional compilation of saints whose paths to holiness were decidedly rockier than those we're used to hearing. Without dwelling in or glorifying sin and hardship, she takes an unflinching look at the darkest parts of the lives of these holy men and women who still, despite adversity, managed to love God with their whole hearts. (Eventually.)
{Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.}
This is a book for -- and about -- the rest of us. Meg Hunter-Kilmer has gathered an exceptional compilation of saints whose paths to holiness were decidedly rockier than those we're used to hearing. Without dwelling in or glorifying sin and hardship, she takes an unflinching look at the darkest parts of the lives of these holy men and women who still, despite adversity, managed to love God with their whole hearts. (Eventually.)
{Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.}
August 6, 2024
So, so, so good. Meg Hunter-Kilmer is my favorite author/researcher regarding saints. This book introduces you to 75 saints who you might never have heard of, and who had a variety of strengths, weaknesses, and struggles. Reading about saints can sometimes be off-putting and seem impossibly unrealistic or even annoying: this is the opposite of that. While all of these saints lived truly remarkable lives, they are presented with all their faults and flaws and in a balanced and healthy way. In addition, Hunter-Kilmer has frequent notes about addiction, mental health, sexual assault, and manipulative relationships. An example that stands out is she praises a saint who prays for her abusive spouse (as surely Christ would do) WHILE ALSO stating that the saint’s decision to stay was not one to admire or be imitated. Truly a healthy, beautiful book that reignited my interest in the many saints that make up the Church.
Editing to add that the diversity represented in this book is also FANTASTIC.
Editing to add that the diversity represented in this book is also FANTASTIC.
June 15, 2022
I highly recommend this book! While there were a number of saints or people on their way to become saints, what stood out to me was Servant of God John Baptist Yi Byeok. Byeok's story is also the story how Catholicism and by extension Christianity came to Korea. In this section, I learned Korea evangelize themselves! No missionaries came into the country. It was homegrown with the help of some books. I have seen people say that Korea does not do anything halfway, which is shown here. These efforts help to have 11% of the population of South Korea to be Catholic in the modern era.
Verdict: This was a superb book that also help to differentiate the titles that someone takes on their way to sainthood. I feel like the section entitled Saints Who Were Failures was a bit of a misnomer. I feel like not all of them were failures, but it also depends on what you qualify as a failure.
Verdict: This was a superb book that also help to differentiate the titles that someone takes on their way to sainthood. I feel like the section entitled Saints Who Were Failures was a bit of a misnomer. I feel like not all of them were failures, but it also depends on what you qualify as a failure.
May 9, 2022
Best Lives of the Saints book I’ve ever read. A total page-turner with amazing stories of both famous saints and blesseds, as well as many little-known regional saints from all over the world. The main theme is saints who had a hard time—either with struggles they never fully overcame, or painful backgrounds, or difficult families, mental illnesses, broken marriages, or experiences of worldly failure. There’s the Japanese Samurai who walked to Rome to become a priest because no one would ordain him in Europe and then went back to preach the truth to Christians who had apostasized under torture. There’s the opium addict barred from the sacraments who led his family in martyrdom in China, and the married couple who struggled with infidelity who led their family in martyrdom in Rwanda. Also includes the first millennial Saint (Bl. Carlo Acutis) and the possible first Generation Z saint (Servant of God Darwin Ramos, whose story is one of the most dramatic contrasts of worldly failure alongside spiritual success in the whole book).
March 31, 2023
Slightly SJW vibes, but I liked it. A great collection of generally unknown holy peeps
November 27, 2023
Such an amazing book that I saved the last few to finish my birthday weekend. I’ll be rereading this for years to come. The only problem with it is that I want to read so much more about so many of them!
January 25, 2022
Why I picked it up: I know Meg and consider her a dear friend who has more saint knowledge than I could ever hope to have.
How I read it: My own paperback, three saints a night for the month of January. Slowly and quickly!
What it’s about: 75 amazing saints, we’ll even more than 75 because some of the stories are couples. They’re saints for all seasons and reasons and backgrounds to inspire and provide spiritual companionship.
What I liked: The variety of categories of saints, the structure of the book, and the readability of the stories. Meg is the new “Butler” from the traditional book “Butler’s Lives of the Saints.” The stories aren’t boring or short unrelatable.
What I disliked: That it’s not longer, doesn’t have a second volume, and I didn’t listen to the audiobook to have Meg tell me the stories herself.
Genre: Saints and Spirituality.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and RUN, don’t walk to get this book!! Also buy it for anyone in your life who thinks sainthood might not be for them!
How I read it: My own paperback, three saints a night for the month of January. Slowly and quickly!
What it’s about: 75 amazing saints, we’ll even more than 75 because some of the stories are couples. They’re saints for all seasons and reasons and backgrounds to inspire and provide spiritual companionship.
What I liked: The variety of categories of saints, the structure of the book, and the readability of the stories. Meg is the new “Butler” from the traditional book “Butler’s Lives of the Saints.” The stories aren’t boring or short unrelatable.
What I disliked: That it’s not longer, doesn’t have a second volume, and I didn’t listen to the audiobook to have Meg tell me the stories herself.
Genre: Saints and Spirituality.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and RUN, don’t walk to get this book!! Also buy it for anyone in your life who thinks sainthood might not be for them!
October 14, 2021
If you read a lot of books about the saints, like I do, it devolves into the same handful of stories over and over again. This book is a marvelous look at saints whose stories are more contemporary, wild, or simply took place outside of Europe. It is an asset to any Catholic book collection and Meg Hunter-Kilmer writes with reverence but also a playfulness that I appreciated.
February 1, 2022
So very good. If you've ever thought "I don't relate to the saints!" Or "I could never be a saint." This book will introduce you to new friends and share the Hope that exists for us all.
August 30, 2023
Absolutely lovely book. As soon as I finished, I picked up my pen and highlighter, and went back to mark the lines that spoke to my soul. I love how Meg highlights the humanity of the Saints, and our own call to sainthood.
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July 19, 2023The different parts of the book include: Saints Who Defied Expectations; Saints Who Never Gave Up; Saints Who Had Great Adventures; Saints Who Lived Ordinary Lives; Saints With Difficult Families; Saints Who Found Holiness Through Suffering; Saints Whose Ruined Plans Opened the Way to More Beautiful Things; Saints Who Were Failures; Saints Who Lived with Great Humility; Saints Whose Generosity Changed the World; Saints with Sinful Pasts; Saints Who Were Merciful; Notes; and Indexes.
This book contains stories about Saints, Servants of God, Venerables and Blesseds. The author explains the different titles in ‘The Introduction’. The author further describes how she never loved the Saints because she never knew them. Only a few of the most well known Saints. That is, until she found a book that documented the sorrow, struggles and idiosyncrasies of Saints. She realised that the Saints were real and broken people that suffered as we do. They weren’t all pious, virtuous, and unrelatable. They lived with mental illness, chronic illness, abusive families, rage, shame, fear, aspirations, brilliance, success, racism, torture, drudgery, disillusionment, and lack of fulfilment. They were made whole by grace and offered nothing but hope. They endured because of their love for God. They lead us back to God and this is why the author tells their stories.
The saints are very different from one another and bring hope for all of us. I hadn’t heard of many of the saints mentioned in this book. They all deserve reading thoroughly. Some of them suffered horrific torture, persecution and death and I didn’t read everything because of the graphic details of the torture. I’m not good with this and I did struggle in places - especially with St.s Timothy and Maura. I was very moved by a number of stories, especially St. Vitalis of Gaza.
Overall, I loved learning about these Saints. They are human. Not perfect. This makes them more relatable. Definitely recommended.
This book contains stories about Saints, Servants of God, Venerables and Blesseds. The author explains the different titles in ‘The Introduction’. The author further describes how she never loved the Saints because she never knew them. Only a few of the most well known Saints. That is, until she found a book that documented the sorrow, struggles and idiosyncrasies of Saints. She realised that the Saints were real and broken people that suffered as we do. They weren’t all pious, virtuous, and unrelatable. They lived with mental illness, chronic illness, abusive families, rage, shame, fear, aspirations, brilliance, success, racism, torture, drudgery, disillusionment, and lack of fulfilment. They were made whole by grace and offered nothing but hope. They endured because of their love for God. They lead us back to God and this is why the author tells their stories.
The saints are very different from one another and bring hope for all of us. I hadn’t heard of many of the saints mentioned in this book. They all deserve reading thoroughly. Some of them suffered horrific torture, persecution and death and I didn’t read everything because of the graphic details of the torture. I’m not good with this and I did struggle in places - especially with St.s Timothy and Maura. I was very moved by a number of stories, especially St. Vitalis of Gaza.
Overall, I loved learning about these Saints. They are human. Not perfect. This makes them more relatable. Definitely recommended.
July 6, 2022
This book was amazing! Saints (Blesseds, Servants of God, and Venerables are included) from all over the world, and all walks of life—what a rich tapestry of people the Lord loves and transforms for His glory! I often found myself in tears or laughing, often begging intercession or the strength to imitate. It is so well-written and sensitive to hard topics and contradictions within our lives as Christians. I loved the different sections—at times I jumped around according to my “season” and other times I read straight through. I think I’m going to just restart it so I can let these saints really settle into my knowledge and heart.
This would make an excellent gift, as few will know most of these saints. There are sensitive topics, but nothing graphic. I’d still likely say high school or older, or touch base with mature middle schoolers reading it.
This would make an excellent gift, as few will know most of these saints. There are sensitive topics, but nothing graphic. I’d still likely say high school or older, or touch base with mature middle schoolers reading it.
June 11, 2023
A fantastic read. I don’t think there was a single story that didn’t have me in awe. Meg Hunter-Kilmer managed to take the lives of these incredible saints - many of them quite complicated - and broke them down into perfect snapshots. Each story was only about 3-4 pages long, making it easy to step away when needed (quite helpful for a busy mom). Within these snippets she somehow found the delicate balance of helping you see enough of the picture so you don’t feel like you missed anything while simultaneously wanting to learn more about each person. I also appreciated how the book was divided into unique categories and how each person had a catchy tagline before their story.
March 30, 2022
Another wonderful book by Meg Hunter-Kilmer! I love the variety of saints she chose to write about, and how eclectic their stories of faith and life were! There were many saints I did more research on after reading their short story, and have learned so much. This would be a great book for adolescents, especially as a follow up to Meg's children's book, Saints Around the World. This is a book I will come back to for years to come.
April 5, 2022
A beautifully written book covering the stories of a wide variety of diverse Saints coming from unique experiences. I loved learning stories of Saints who are not as commonly talked about but who have made a profound impact on our world.
Each Saint story is written as if you were sitting for a cup of coffee/glass of wine/whatever with Meg and she was directly telling the stories to you. A must read!
Each Saint story is written as if you were sitting for a cup of coffee/glass of wine/whatever with Meg and she was directly telling the stories to you. A must read!
August 1, 2022
Wow, everyone needs to read this. Not even just Christians and Catholics. I’ve yet to read a book on saints like this before. I really enjoyed how the author focused on the Servants of Gods, the Blessed and those on their way to sainthood. It was so reassuring to read countless stories of saints who also struggled with the sins we all face. I annotated and marked so many pages of this book! Will definitely be referring to it throughout my life.
August 30, 2022
Its so easy to think of Saint as people who lived hundreds or thousands of years ago, who just seemed to automatically have the wisdom and understanding to live a saintly life. But this is so often not the case, quite the opposite! I enjoyed reading this book and drawing on the relatable struggles & winding journeys in which all the lost sheep were ultimately brought back to God.
March 7, 2023
I’m in awe in how God is working through Meg Hunter-Kilmer who is shining a huge light on all the saints that I was not familiar with! She travels all over the country and the world doing endless research on unknown to-be saints and bringing them to our attention so that WE can pray for them and ask them to pray for US.
May 25, 2025
This book shares brief stories about 75 incredible, messy, human, broken, faithful people. I loved learning about these lesser known individuals recognized by the Catholic Church for their heroic virtue, despite their very real, very relatable shortcomings. There is always hope for each and every one of us!
March 21, 2022
Excellent short biographies on Saints, Venerables, Blesseds and Servants of God.
Great variety of backgrounds, SES, and ethnicities. If you find one you like, there's information to find more about him/her.
Great variety of backgrounds, SES, and ethnicities. If you find one you like, there's information to find more about him/her.
June 27, 2022
Wonderful collection of the lives of the Saints—most/many of whom you haven’t heard of yet. Meg Hunter-Kilmer does a wonderful job of giving plenty of detail without being too heavy-handed. Definitely encouraging to us plain folks.
March 14, 2023
While I appreciated getting to learn about some lesser known Saints, I found the stories too brief, and the writing too elementary to really know them. Still glad I read it, but it left me wanting more.
April 4, 2024
Loved reading about so many saints - and future saints - from all over the world. Each sacrificed in their own way, big or small, for the love of God. Wonderful book to keep by your bedside and read one or two chapters a night.
April 25, 2024
Wonderful book! Stories of lesser known saints. This book makes you truly see the human side of people who lived holy lives - even if it wasn’t always that way - and that is what makes one see that anyone can attain sanctity if they so desire.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews