Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God

by Allison Gingras, Kelly M. Wahlquist (Foreword)

After a friend gave Allison Gingras a Miraculous Medal, she began to incorporate it and other sacramentals into her personal prayer time and family devotions. She soon discovered that these tangible signs—which Catholics believe prepare us to receive the grace of the sacraments—helped both her and her profoundly deaf daughter connect with God and the spiritual motherhood of Mary, who is intimately connected to so many of these practices. Blessings, prayers, devotions, and objects such as rosaries and scapulars are forms of sacramentals. In Encountering Signs of Faith, Gingras—founder of Reconciled to You ministries—shares the story of how these helped her discern the adoption of her daughter from China, strengthened her faith as she waited to meet her, helped her bond with the toddler, and taught her daughter about her faith. Gingras offers examples of saints who inspired and embraced sacramentals, including Juan Diego, Faustina, Bernadette, and Venerable Patrick Peyton. You will also learn about the spiritual benefits of incorporating sacramentals such as sacred images, novenas, prayer cards, lectio divina (sacred reading), and holy water into daily life. Reflection questions and grace-building activities are included with each chapter. Gingras will guide you and your family to experience these sacred signs in a new way and to connect you more meaningfully to Jesus, Mary, and the saints.

160 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2022

About the author

Allison Gingras is the founder of ReconciledToYou.com — where she shares the love of Jesus and her Catholic Faith with relational stories, lots of laughter, and authentic honesty through the everyday, ordinary occurrences of life! Her newest book, "Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God" releases on September 30, 2022 (Ave Maria Press) and tells the amazing story of teaching the Catholic faith to her adopted daughter who is deaf, while rediscovering for herself the beautiful, mystical, teachings and traditions.

Allison is a Catholic new media consultant working with Catholic Mom, Family Rosary, and the Fall River Diocese. She hosts A Seeking Heart with Allison Gingras podcast and is blessed to be a co-host of the Catholic Mom Momcast. Allison shares her faith with humor and honesty on ReconciledToYou.com. Gingras developed the Stay Connected Journals for Women series including her two volumes - The Gift of Invitation and Seeking Peace: A Spiritual Journey from Worry to Trust. She has also contributed to a number of books, including The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, Called by Name Daily Devotional for Catholic Women, and The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion.

Allison's writing appears online and in print with Our Sunday Visitor, LPi, Catholicmom.com, Diocesan.com, Catholic Sistas, CatholicVineyard.com, Amazing Catechist, Bible Press, WINE: Women in the New Evangelization, Amazing Catechists, as well as Shalom Tidings and Catechist magazines. Allison is a member of the Catholic Writers Guild.

Allison has been in Catholic ministry for over 15 years. She is co-host of the Catholic Mom Momcast podcast along with Danielle Bean and Lisa Hendey. Additional blessings include a BLINK series on Catholic TV; hosting a daily live radio show, A Seeking Heart with Allison Gingras (now a podcast distributed thru BreadboxMedia.com), and developing a daily devotional App called Words with Jesus. She is the creator and contributing author of the Stay Connected Journals for Catholic Women (Our Sunday Visitor). She offers presentations and retreats on Forgiveness, Seeking Peace, and Living in the JOY of the Lord!

Reviews

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interspersed with stories of Allison's own spiritual journey as she and her husband adopted a profoundly deaf young child from China is "sneaky evangelism" about grace and the ways it's shown to us—and the ways we hold our faith in our hearts. Allison had to make the faith visible and tangible to her daughter, but the Church made that easy for her through its traditions of sacred art and sacramentals. This book contains not only a fascinating testimony but also an invitation to make your faith personal, by incorporating meaningful devotions, developing relationships with saints, and learning to see God's grace and providence in every aspect of your life. I want to read it again—this time with my journal near at hand. 5 stars. (Netgalley; available September 30 but you can preorder it now.)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book that shares a journey to adoption and deepening faith. Gingras shares her heart and, in doing so, reveals treasures of the Catholic faith in a vulnerable and open way. Her candid tone and humble approach make for a closer encounter with Christ.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encountering Signs of Faith is a beautiful synthesis of life in the domestic church. Allison Gingras uses her experiences, both in childhood and adulthood, and particularly in relation to the adoption of her daughter Faithy, to share the rich resources the Church nurtures families with. Scripture, the lives of the saints, prayer, and various sacramentals tied to those saints and devotions are all used seamlessly by God to draw us to a deeper union with Him.

If that sounds a little heady, it's not. Encountering Signs of Faith is imminently practical. The author is candid and relatable in her challenges, fears, and doubts. Yet, she unswervingly shares the joys and consolations she's received in the practice of her Catholic faith.

There are devotions and sacramentals to discover, verses to revisit, and maybe even a few saints to add to your own "saint posse." This book has much to offer both those new or returning to the practice of the faith and those already familiar.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of, Encountering Signs of Faith, by Allison Gingas. I really loved this book. Allison was just a Catholic until her friend gave her a miraculous medal. I am encouraged by her writing to grow closer with my Catholic faith.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encountering Signs of Faith by Allison Gingras is a look at not only the Catholic Faith and how to grow in it, but also a story of adoption and sharing the faith with a child who is deaf.

The Gingras family felt the call to adopt and their journey led them to adopting a young girl from China. From the beginning Allison's faith is tested in many ways as she waits for the okay to travel. Once in China and united with her daughter, she then begins the process of not only bonding with her daughter but also finding ways to share the Catholic faith with her so that she can experience it and understand it. What happens is a beautiful story with not only many reminders of my faith, but also a story of how children can often teach adults so many things.

I absolutely loved this book. As a convert to Catholicism I love learning about my faith and devotions others hold dear. Faithy's journey to her new family and learning about being Catholic opened my own eyes to things I know I take for granted as someone who can hear.

Reading this book was like sitting down with a friend and hearing a beautiful story. I highly recommend this book to Catholics, families who have or will be adopting, or people looking for new things to appreciate about the beauty that is Catholicism.

I voluntarily received a copy of this book from Ave Maria Press. All views are simply my honest opinion.

[Amanda Lauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, not only the parts that talked about saints and sacramentals, but the sections where Allison Gingras talked of their experience adopting a deaf toddler from China, whose name, appropriately enough, is Grace. Gingras and her husband used sacramentals recommended through the years by saints to help teach the Catholic faith to their daughter. This was an easy read, the ideal start for my Lenten reading project this year!

[Rhonda Ortiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through the telling of her daughter’s adoption story, Allison Gingras beautifully illustrates how Catholic sacramentals can enrich our prayer life and be avenues of grace for everyone. As a parent of both typically-abled children and children with special needs, I especially appreciated her tips for practical application. Encountering Signs of Faith would be a valuable resource not only for parents, but teachers and catechists as well.

I received an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy the publisher. Opinions my own.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Allison’s technique of interweaving Faithy’s adoption story with explaining both the sacramentals & saints in an easy to follow format. Her sense of humor makes this book enjoyable & since I know (& admire) Allison, her husband, & Faith, I could vividly picture them as she told their story. I was the recipient of one of the miraculous medals Allison gifted (as she explains in the book) about 8 years ago. She seemed to know that a small gesture would make a huge difference in easing my worries while going through serious medical issues at the time.

[Leslea Wahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my Lenten reads this year. What a wonderful book, full of great insights into Saints and sacramentals. I’ve known Allison for a few years but didn’t know all of her story. Understanding her faith and determination to answer God's call was incredibly inspiring. I also enjoyed the practical tips and faith-deepening ideas she provides.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book about sacramentals and saints. I enjoyed the how and why of each sacramental along with a little history of them. How sacramentals and saints can bring us closer to God and how we can see His abundant grace that flows to us when we look for them.

[Cab · Rating 1 out of 5]

Although this book has some good information it suffers from what many Catholic books are written like. A bunch of essays becoming chapters and no cohesiveness.