Author Topic: Your favorite biographies of saints (Read 4967 times)

Matto · « **on:** September 04, 2016, 09:14:03 PM »

I am looking to increase the amount of spiritual reading I do by reading more biographies of saints. Which ones do you recommend?

Motorede · « **Reply #1 on:** September 05, 2016, 06:07:30 AM »

(1) Msg. Trochu's The Life of the Curé 'd Ars. Read it twice. Too good for just one reading.

(2) The Life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton by Fr. Leonard Feeney. Also read it twice.

(3) The Story of a Soul autobiography. (the John Beever's translation) and The Storm of Glory also by Beevers. This second book is his biography of St. Thérese. Both are favorites of mine. Many years ago our dad required all his children to read these two. We were obedient and thankful he ordered us to do so when we finished.

(4) The Biographical Mémoires of Saint John Bosco--a set of thirty volumes! Got mine years ago from the Salesian motherhouse in New Rochelle,NY. Have read most of them. A Salesian priest actually rolled his eyes when I asked to buy them saying "I can't believe you want to read those." They may still have whole sets to sell. Expensive, for sure, but after all you are getting thirty books and it is an autobiography of this great man. Because of this collection of books we know more about St. John Bosco than about any other saint.

(5) The life of Saint Anthony Mary Claret. TAN books published the version I have. Excellent.

(6) Not a canonized saint but the life of Father DeSmet, apostle to the Indians, was the last book I read. Wow!

Miseremini · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2016, 11:16:09 AM »

I agree, Trochu's Life of the Cure d'Ars is top notch.
Then read the Sermons of the Cure d'Ars, but not the Tan edition as they have been reduced from 3 or 4 pages to a paragraph.

Matto · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2016, 11:40:12 AM »

Quote from: Miseremini

I agree, Trochu's Life of the Cure d'Ars is top notch.
Then read the Sermons of the Cure d'Ars, but not the Tan edition as they have been reduced from 3 or 4 pages to a paragraph.

This biography of the Cure of Ars is the next biography of a saint I am going to read so I am glad to hear it recommended. I am getting it as a birthday present very soon (or at least I asked for it for my birthday and expect to receive it). I already have his sermons. The Cure of Ars is my second favorite saint, not counting the Blessed Mother.

nctradcath · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2016, 07:22:26 PM »

St. Philomenia: The Wonder Worker is a good book. She was the Cure of Ars favorite Saint after Our Lady.

reconquest · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2016, 08:12:40 PM »

I'm currently reading Fr. Berthe's biography of St. Alphonsus, and am very pleased with it so far. Others that have been recommended to me are Jørgensen's life of St. Catherine of Siena, Berthe's life of Garcia Morena and Dal-Gal's life of St. Pius X.

Degrelle · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2016, 08:16:13 AM »

The Life of Saint Louis by John of Joinville is an eye-witness account of the life of St. Louis IX, written by one of leading lords of that reign. Joinville was seneschal of Champagne and crusaded with St. Louis.

It is published in this book:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0880290358/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0880290358&linkCode=as2&tag=httpwwwchanco-20

It also includes Geoffrey of Villehardouin's account of the sack of Constantinople. Definitely not the life of a saint but worth reading as well as it gives a totally different perspective on what happened there versus what we are usually taught.

Matto · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2016, 11:10:47 AM »

Quote from: reconquest

Berthe's life of Garcia Morena

I read this book a few years ago but I do not remember much about it. In fact one of the only parts I remember is a story about how he refused to eat chicken on a Friday when he was very hungry and there was nothing else to eat because he did not want to offend God. I should read it again. Maybe I will after I read the biography of the Cure of Ars.

Ascetik · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2016, 11:57:27 AM »

The Life of Ven. Anne of Jesus - The Companion of St. Teresa of Avila.

Mediatrix Press. It is VERY good so far.

Matto · « **Reply #9 on:** September 12, 2016, 01:43:37 PM »

I have started reading the biography of the Cure of Ars. I learned that I was guilty of spreading an error. I said that the Cure of Ars ate nothing but potatoes and the blessed sacrament, but this is not true. The book mentions this legend and says it is not true. The Cure, especially when he was younger, did not eat much food and often went long periods of time without eating. He did often eat potatoes, but he sometimes ate bread and other foods, not only potatoes.

Gabriella · « **Reply #10 on:** September 14, 2016, 12:16:14 AM »

There are so many good biographies of the saints. Here are some I would recommend:

Happy Was My Youth - about St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

He Is My Heaven - about Blesed Elizabeth of The Trinity

Blessed Miguel Pro

Pope Pius X

pinklane · « **Reply #11 on:** November 25, 2016, 12:37:25 AM »

The life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton by Fr Leonard Feeney is one of my favorites.But the book I treasure the most is an old bible which used to belong to my great-great grandmother.Almost 200 years old it was given as a gift by her Godmother.It staid in our family all this time and we used to read verses out of that bible during the Holy Week.It has been a family tradition and we have been following it for generations.But unfortunately the pages of the bible started deteriorating a bit especially around the edges so we kept it in a storage unit https://www.jiffystorage.com/self-storage/storage-solutions/premium-storage/ for awhile till we figure out how to preserve it well at home.

Nadir · « **Reply #12 on:** November 25, 2016, 01:08:20 AM »

The Life of Blessed Margaret of Castello: 1287-1320
by William R. Bonniwell

Hunchback, midget, blind, lame and ugly. Walled in next to a chapel for 14 years; abandoned by her parents at a shrine, she grew in virtue and fame. Her body remains incorrupt. One of the most inspiring stories we have ever read! 128 pgs, PB

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4469983-the-life-of-blessed-margaret-of-castello

Marie Teresa · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2017, 08:44:06 AM »

Quote from: Motorede

(1) Msg. Trochu's The Life of the Curé 'd Ars. Read it twice. Too good for just one reading.

Quote from: Matto

Quote from: Miseremini
I agree, Trochu's Life of the Cure d'Ars is top notch...

This biography of the Cure of Ars is the next biography of a saint I am going to read so I am glad to hear it recommended. ...

I agree with the recommendations of this book. If I could only have 1 biography of a Saint on a deserted island, that's the one I'd want. Matto, how do you like it?

Matto · « **Reply #14 on:** January 17, 2017, 11:11:28 AM »

I agree with the recommendations of this book. If I could only have 1 biography of a Saint on a deserted island, that's the one I'd want. Matto, how do you like it? [/quote]
I read it in September. I thought it was wonderful. And his life inspired me to try and sin less. It showed me how sinful and lukewarm I am compared to that saint so I have tried to do more to please God.