Synopses & Reviews
One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year
—
Winner of a Christopher Award
—
Winner of a Catholic Press Association Book Award
“In a cross between Holden Caulfield and Thomas Merton, James Martin has written one of the best spiritual memoirs in years.”
—Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints
“It isn’t often that a new and noteworthy book comes along in this genre, but we have reason to celebrate My Life with the Saints. It is earmarked for longevity. It will endure as an important and uncommon contribution to religious writing.”
—Doris Donnelly, America
“An account . . . that is as delightful as it is instructive.”
—First Things
“In delightful prose Martin recounts incidents, both perilous and funny, that have prompted him to turn to the saints, and in doing so shows us a new way of living out a devotion that is as old and universal as the Church.”
—Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, Fordham University
“An outstanding and often hilarious memoir.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Martin’s final word for us is as Jungian as it is Catholic: God does not want us to be like Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day. God wants us to be most fully ourselves.”
—The Washington Post Book World
One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of the Year
—
Winner of a Christopher Award
—
Winner of a Catholic Press Association Book Award
“In a cross between Holden Caulfield and Thomas Merton, James Martin has written one of the best spiritual memoirs in years.”
—Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints
“It isn’t often that a new and noteworthy book comes along in this genre, but we have reason to celebrate My Life with the Saints. It is earmarked for longevity. It will endure as an important and uncommon contribution to religious writing.”
—Doris Donnelly, America
“An account . . . that is as delightful as it is instructive.”
—First Things
“In delightful prose Martin recounts incidents, both perilous and funny, that have prompted him to turn to the saints, and in doing so shows us a new way of living out a devotion that is as old and universal as the Church.”
—Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, Fordham University
“An outstanding and often hilarious memoir.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Martin’s final word for us is as Jungian as it is Catholic: God does not want us to be like Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day. God wants us to be most fully ourselves.”
—The Washington Post Book World
Synopsis
One of Publishers Weekly s Best Books of the Year
Winner of a Christopher Award
Winner of a Catholic Press Association Book Award
Meet some surprising friends of God in this warm and wonderful memoir
James Martin has led an entirely modern life: from a lukewarm Catholic childhood, to an educationat the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to ministry as a Jesuit priest, to a busy media career in Manhattan. But at every step he has been accompanied by some surprising friends the saints of the Catholic Church. For many, these holy men and women remain just historical figures. For Martin, they are intimate companions. They pray for me, offer me comfort, give me examples of discipleship, and help me along the way, he writes.
The author is both engaging and specific about the help and companionship he has received. When his pride proves troublesome, he seeks help from Thomas Merton, the monk and writer who struggled with egotism. In sickness he turns to Therese of Lisieux, who knew about the boredom and self-pity that come with illness. Joan of Arc shores up his flagging courage. Aloysius Gonzaga deepens his compassion. Pope John XXIII helps him to laugh and not take life too seriously.
Martin s inspiring, witty, and always fascinating memoir encompasses saints from the whole of Christian history from St. Peter to Dorothy Day. His saintly friends include Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, Mother Teresa, and other beloved figures. They accompany the author on a lifelong pilgrimage that includes stops in a sunlit square of a French town, a quiet retreat house on a New England beach, the gritty housing projects of inner-city Chicago, the sprawling slums of Nairobi, and a gorgeous Baroque church in Rome. This rich, vibrant, stirring narrative shows how the saints can help all of us find our way in the world.
In a cross between Holden Caulfield and Thomas Merton, James Martin has written one of the best spiritual memoirs in years.
Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints
It isn t often that a new and noteworthy book comes along in this genre, but we have reason to celebrate My Life with the Saints. It is earmarked for longevity. It will endure as an important and uncommon contribution to religious writing.
Doris Donnelly, America
An account . . . that is as delightful as it is instructive.
First Things
In delightful prose Martin recounts incidents, both perilous and funny, that have prompted him to turn to the saints, and in doing so shows us a new way of living out a devotion that is as old and universal as the Church.
Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, Fordham University
An outstanding and often hilarious memoir.
Publishers Weekly
Martin s final word for us is as Jungian as it is Catholic: God does not want us to be like Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day. God wants us to be most fully ourselves.
The Washington Post Book World
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Synopsis
My Life with the Saints 10th Anniversary Edition is available now?
James Martin has led an entirely modern life: from a lukewarm Catholic childhood, to an education at the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to ministry as a Jesuit priest, to a busy media career in Manhattan. But at every step he has been accompanied by some surprising friends--the saints of the Catholic Church. For many, these holy men and women remain just historical figures. For Martin, they are intimate companions. "They pray for me, offer me comfort, give me examples of discipleship, and help me along the way," he writes.
The author is both engaging and specific about the help and companionship he has received. When his pride proves trouble-some, he seeks help from Thomas Merton, the monk and writer who struggled with egotism. In sickness he turns to Therese of Lisieux, who knew about the boredom and self-pity that come with illness. Joan of Arc shores up his flagging courage. Aloysius Gonzaga deepens his compassion. Pope John XXIII helps him to laugh and not take life too seriously.
Martin's inspiring, witty, and always fascinating memoir encompasses saints from the whole of Christian history-- from St. Peter to Dorothy Day. His saintly friends include Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, Mother Teresa, and other beloved figures. They accompany the author on a lifelong pilgrimage that includes stops in a sunlit square of a French town, a quiet retreat house on a New England beach, the gritty housing projects of inner-city Chicago, the sprawling slums of Nairobi, and a gorgeous Baroque church in Rome. This rich, vibrant, stirring narrative shows how the saints can help all of us find our way in the world.
"In a cross between Holden Caulfield and Thomas Merton, James Martin has written one of the best spiritual memoirs in years."
--Robert Ellsberg, author of All Saints
"It isn't often that a new and noteworthy book comes along in this genre, but we have reason to celebrate My Life with the Saints. It is earmarked for longevity. It will endure as an important and uncommon contribution to religious writing."
--Doris Donnelly, America
"An account . . . that is as delightful as it is instructive."
--First Things
"In delightful prose Martin recounts incidents, both perilous and funny, that have prompted him to turn to the saints, and in doing so shows us a new way of living out a devotion that is as old and universal as the Church."
--Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, Fordham University
"An outstanding and often hilarious memoir."
--Publishers Weekly
"Martin's final word for us is as Jungian as it is Catholic: God does not want us to be like Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day. God wants us to be most fully ourselves."
--The Washington Post Book World
Synopsis
Be inspired by the Catholic saints like never before in
My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ. This best-selling memoir of spiritual self-discovery is an homage to the Catholic saints who have accompanied Fr. Martin throughout his life. From a lukewarm childhood Catholicism, to the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to the Jesuits, to a media career in Manhattan, Martin has relied on the Catholic saints to intervene in and guide his life. As Martin shares with us his many surprising encounters and journeys with the saints, he convincingly shows how we, too, can be close friends with the saints of the Catholic Church.
Winner of the Prestigious Christopher Award!
Synopsis
James Martin has led a thoroughly modern life: from a lukewarm childhood Catholicism, to the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to the Jesuits, to a media career in Manhatten. But at every step along the way he has been accompanied by special friends--the saints of the Catholic Church. These holy men and women are not just historical figures to him. Martin's attachment to them is real and personal. The saints have guided him. He convincingly shows how the saints can be our friends too.
Martin's saintly friends come from the whole of Christian history--from St. Paul to John XXIII--and they include Therese of Lisieux, Joan of Arc, Ignatius Loyola and other beloved figures. They accompany the author on a pilgrimage that includes stops in a sunlit square of a French town, a quiet retreat house on a New England beach, the housing projects in inner-city Chicago, the sparwling slums of Nairobi, and a gorgeous Baroque church in Rome. As James Martin's inspiring, witty, and surprising account unfolds, we see how saints can help us to find our way in the world.
Synopsis
Meet some surprising
friends of God in this warm and wonderful memoir
James Martin has led an entirely modern life: from a lukewarm Catholic childhood, to an education at the Wharton School of Business, to the executive fast track at General Electric, to ministry as a Jesuit priest, to a busy media career in Manhattan. But at every step he has been accompanied by some surprising friends—the saints of the Catholic Church. For many, these holy men and women remain just historical figures. For Martin, they are intimate companions. “They pray for me, offer me comfort, give me examples of discipleship, and help me along the way,” he writes.
The author is both engaging and specific about the help and companionship he has received. When his pride proves troublesome, he seeks help from Thomas Merton, the monk and writer who struggled with egotism. In sickness he turns to Thérèse of Lisieux, who knew about the boredom and self-pity that come with illness. Joan of Arc shores up his flagging courage. Aloysius Gonzaga deepens his compassion. Pope John XXIII helps him to laugh and not take life too seriously.
Martin’s inspiring, witty, and always fascinating memoir encompasses saints from the whole of Christian history— from St. Peter to Dorothy Day. His saintly friends include Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, Mother Teresa, and other beloved figures. They accompany the author on a lifelong pilgrimage that includes stops in a sunlit square of a French town, a quiet retreat house on a New England beach, the gritty housing projects of inner-city Chicago, the sprawling slums of Nairobi, and a gorgeous Baroque church in Rome. This rich, vibrant, stirring narrative shows how the saints can help all of us find our way in the world.
About the Author
James Martin, SJ, is associate editor of America magazine. A prolific author, writer, and editor, his books include My Life with the Saints, A Jesuit Off-Broadway, Searching for God at Ground Zero and In Good Company. He is the editor of Awake My Soul and Celebrating Good Liturgy. His articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Tablet, and Commonweal. Fr. Martin resides in New York City.
Table of Contents
Contents•
1. The Saint of the Sock Drawer 1
An Introduction
2. Child of God 11
Joan of Arc
3. Inward Drama 27
Thérèse of Lisieux
4. The True Self 43
Thomas Merton
5. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 73
Ignatius of Loyola
6. More Than Ever 103
Pedro Arrupe
7. In the Grotto of Massabieille 127
Bernadette Soubirous
8. Share This Joy with All You Meet 153
Mother Teresa
9. Vicar of Christ 179
Pope John XXIII
10. Living in Her World 209
Dorothy Day
11. For I Am a Sinful Man 229
Peter
12. Fides Quaerens Intellectum 253
Thomas Aquinas
13. Fools for Christ 271
Francis of Assisi
14. Hidden Lives 297
Joseph
15. Who Trusts in God 313
The Ugandan Martyrs
16. The Most Precious Thing I Possess 331
Aloysius Gonzaga
17. Full of Grace 345
Mary
18. Holy in a Different Way 373
A Conclusion For Further Reading 393
Acknowledgments 407
About the Author 411
A Guide for Reading Groups 412