The world needs saints to show it the way to true humanity. The Church needs saints to show it how to live out its calling.The witness of the lives of the saints is a powerful testimony to the reality of God's plan and the possibility for truly following it in one's life. So often, we do not see this witness. We see hypocrisy and mediocrity among Christians. That is why we must look to the saints -- the ones who really followed the words of Christ and let them be carried out fully in their lives. The saints also give us a reason to hope. Saints were not born; they were made through a life of cooperation with God's grace despite many difficulties, weaknesses, and temptations.This book, written from a Catholic perspective, provides an overview to the lives of the saints celebrated the entirety of the Roman calendar. It covers the whole Church year, and makes for inspirational spiritual reading any time of the year, providing an introduction to the patron saints for many walks of life. Included are the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph, Apostles like St. Peter and St. Paul, early martyrs like St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, early evangelizers like St. Patrick, medieval giants such as St. Thomas Aquinas, American saints such as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann, and many others.

To write a book about Jesus is a challenging task; to live a life like Jesus' is more challenging still. Though not primarily a work of theology or of spirituality, this popular history intends to help the words and deeds of Jesus come alive for contemporary readers. In Jesus' day, he was a polarizing figure; one was either for him or against him. Today, even many who are familiar with the story of Jesus are unmoved. There are a number of reasons for this, but one of them is that we have forgotten the history of which Jesus came to be part; and we have also forgotten how we fit in. When God acted in Jesus, he acted in history, and that history came with particular cultures, presuppositions, and memories of its own. Without an understanding of these things, Jesus' polarizing words and deeds become blunted because their backdrop has been removed.

Understanding the life of Jorge Bergoglio is essential to understanding how Pope Francis shepherds his flock - and the key is mercy. What exactly do people find so attractive about Pope Francis? There is something about him that captivates and delights people, even people who hardly know anything about him. Aldo Cagnoli, a layman who developed a friendship with the Pope when he was serving as a cardinal, shares the following: "The greatness of the man, in my humble opinion lies not in building walls or seeking refuge behind his wisdom and office, but rather in dealing with everyone judiciously, respectfully, and with humility, being willing to learn at any moment of life; that is what Father Bergoglio means to me." This book uncovers the life of the 266th Bishop of Rome, Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

Comprender de la vida de Jorge Mario Bergoglio es esencial para comprender como el Papa Francisco pastoreo a su rebano - y la clave es la misericordia. Que es exactamente lo que la gente encuentra tan atractivo sobre el Papa Francisco? Hay algo en el que cautiva y encanta a la gente, incluso gente que no sabe nada sobre el. Aldo Cagnoli, un laico que desarrollo una amistad con el Papa cuando este estaba sirviendo como un cardenal, comparte lo siguiente: "La grandeza del hombre, en mi humilde opinion no se encuentra en construir paredes o buscar refugio detras de su sabiduria y su oficina, sino mas bien en tratar con todo el mundo juiciosamente, respetuosamente y con humildad, y a estar dispuesto a aprender en cualquier momento de la vida; Eso es lo que significa para mi el Padre Bergoglio." Este libro descubre la vida del 226avo. Papa de Roma, Jorge Mario Bergoglio."