Why Saints Inspire
Saints are ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives of faith, courage, and love. Their stories offer timeless lessons about virtue, sacrifice, service, and the pursuit of holiness in everyday life.
Saints I Admire
Early Church Saints
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St. Augustine of Hippo - Theologian, philosopher, Confessions -
St. Francis of Assisi - Patron of animals, nature, poverty -
St. Thomas Aquinas - Summa Theologica, philosophy -
St. Benedict - Monasticism, Rule of St. Benedict
Modern Saints
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St. Thérèse of Lisieux - Little Way, spiritual childhood -
St. Maximilian Kolbe - Martyrdom, self-sacrifice at Auschwitz -
St. Teresa of Calcutta - Service to the poor -
St. John Paul II - Pope, philosopher, Theology of the Body
Essential Reading
Books by Saints
- "Confessions" by St. Augustine
- "The Story of a Soul" by St. Thérèse of Lisieux
- "Introduction to the Devout Life" by St. Francis de Sales
- "Dark Night of the Soul" by St. John of the Cross
- "The Interior Castle" by St. Teresa of Ávila
Books About Saints
- "My Life with the Saints" by James Martin, SJ
- "The Reed of God" by Caryll Houselander
- "The Seven Storey Mountain" by Thomas Merton
- "Saints" by Robert Ellsberg
Lessons from the Saints
Virtues to Cultivate
- Humility: Recognizing our dependence on God and others
- Charity: Love in action, serving those in need
- Perseverance: Faithfulness through trials and suffering
- Joy: Deep gladness rooted in faith, not circumstances
- Simplicity: Freedom from materialism, focus on essentials
- Prayer: Daily conversation with God
Patron Saints
The tradition of patron saints connects faith to everyday life—patrons of professions, causes, and struggles:
- St. Joseph - Workers, fathers, home buyers
- St. Luke - Doctors, artists, surgeons
- St. Cecilia - Musicians
- St. Christopher - Travelers
- St. Thomas More - Lawyers, politicians
- St. Isidore of Seville - Internet users
- St. Jude - Hopeless causes
- St. Michael - Protection, first responders