"A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms" – Review and Interview

By / 5 Comments

NOTE: This Friday, October 28, the Weekly Giveaway will feature a brand new copy of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Check back on Friday for your chance to win!

If you’re a Catholic mom, you’ve likely heard of Lisa Hendey. Besides writing the go-to book on Catholic motherhood, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, Lisa also founded the massively popular CatholicMom.com. CatholicMom.com began in 1999 and has quickly become a digital front-porch for thousands of women who seek community, support, and spiritual nourishment. Through articles, blog posts, podcasts, and all sorts of new media, the website boasts one of the richest Catholic communities on the Internet.

So with that background, it’s no surprise that I agree with Fr. James Martin who says, “Every time a Catholic mother asks me what author she should read, I have a ready answer: Lisa Hendey.” In fact I admire Lisa’s work so much that I gave a copy of her Handbook to my wife this year as part of my Valentine’s day gift.

Lisa has just released a new book titled A Books of Saints for Catholic Moms (Ave Maria Press, paperback, 352 pages) that is just as compelling as her first. The book presents 52 saints who each offer special advice to mothers.

Lisa begins each entry by describing a saint and noting how he or she touches one of four essential aspects of feminine life–heart, mind, body, and spirit. Yet the book isn’t just a collection of biographies. Each entry also includes daily Scripture reflections, a quote from the saint’s own teachings, and Lisa’s own reflections on how the saint has personally influenced her life. For example, here is Lisa on St. Therese of Lisieux:

“Therese’s Little Way sprung from her intense desire for our Lord and her almost childlike passion for pleasing him with daily acts of sacrifice and love. Whether I am employed outside the home or at home all day with children, my life as a mom is peppered with daily tasks that can be tedious and mundane. Laundry continues to pile up, dishes must be washed, and the running of even the smallest home can be filled with an endless “to do” list.

For modern moms, our Little Way might encourage us as we’re washing the sixth load of laundry, filling paperwork at the office, nursing a newborn in the middle of the night, or caring for a cranky toddler. Let’s look at those occasions as opportunities to grow in holiness. Simple? Yes! Saintly? If done with a heart for service and offered as an act of love–most definitely!”

Two of my favorite components in the book are the Traditions and Activities. For each saint Lisa notes a particular Tradition that has developed around him or her. She explains, for instance, how St. Ignatius of Loyola inspired millions of students to write AMDG at the top of their school papers–a Latin abbreviation meaning “to the greater glory of God”–and how St. Clare has grown to be the patron saint of television. These traditions add flesh and color to the biographies along with doses of history of culture.

I also loved the Activities. Lisa suggests many actions–some for parents, others with children–to help families celebrate that particular saint. Under St. Francis, for example, Lisa proposes having a family discussion on God’s presence in the world and then together reading Francis’ famous “Canticle of the Sun”. Under St. Benedict she encourages families to create a family “Rule of Life”, a systemized schedule of work and prayer that incorporates chores, school, career, and family prayer time.

From Mary, Mother of Jesus–“the first and best Catholic mom”–to Chiara Badano, a young saint from the ’90s, Lisa unrolls a rich tapestry of holy saints who can help all women today. I highly recommend this book to all mothers, Catholic or not, and I even think most dads would love it, too–I definitely did.

Lisa is currently doing a Blog Tour to promote A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms, and today’s stop is here at The Thin Veil. She graciously took some time to answer a few of my questions:

Brandon: Lisa, you’ve founded the popular CatholicMom.com website and have written a lot about motherhood. But in this book you look at mothering from a unique perspective. Why the saints? What special assistance do they offer mothers?

Lisa: Thanks for the wonderful question, Brandon! Honestly, my interest in the saints really predates my vocation to motherhood, but since I became a mother and in recent years of parenting, my devotion to the saints has truly blossomed.

These holy men and women are true spiritual warriors for us in our parenting. As “real people” who faced many of the same challenges you and I encounter in our daily lives, they are role models of living with great virtue in unique and difficult circumstances. In addition, they are intercessors — prayer companions who can and do carry our intentions to God on our behalf.

I love the fact that the communion of saints includes many mothers and fathers who have known and lived through the everyday trails of family life. Reading about their lives and studying how they responded to problems and rejoiced in moments of grace inspires me to try to be the best wife and parent I can be.

Brandon: One of my favorite elements of your book is the family activities. You list many things that parents can do with their children to celebrate each particular saint. What’s the most beloved saintly tradition in your own family?

Lisa: Our family has a tremendous devotion to Saint Patrick. In fact, many of the children in my family are named for him, including the girls (like my sister Erin “Patrice”), so the celebration of his March 17th feast day is always sacred in our homes. It begins in the wee hours of the morning and always includes mass and major parties.

Another family favorite is Saint Therese of Lisieux. We’ve loved using her “good deed” beads to count simple sacrifices and offer up acts of love.

Brandon: As a man, my first thought when I saw your book was, “Wow, I need to get this for my wife!” But my second though was, “Hey, what about us dads?!” Who are some good saints that fathers can turn to for inspiration and help?

Lisa: Honestly Brandon, the book contains many fathers — both real life “dads” and spiritual fathers–our priests and bishops!

One of my favorites though is Blessed Louis Martin, who cared for his wife and daughters with tender compassion. A businessman and the head of a bustling household, he was left widowed at an early age. A true testament to this amazing man was the words of his daughter Therese who said of Louis and his wife Zelie, “God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven than of earth; they asked the Lord to give them many children and to let them all be consecrated to Him.” High praise for any father!

Saint Thomas More is another of my favorites. He was not only a biological father but also a foster father who loved and always prioritized the spiritual development of his family. An accomplished lawyer and statesman, St. Thomas More stood up for his faith and was ultimately martyred when he refused to compromise his spiritual values and his belief in the primacy of the Church. Today’s family men often face societal and career challenges that might tempt them to make decisions that would be counter to their faith. For them, St. Thomas More can be a wonderful intercessor and spiritual friend.

I could go on and on about wonderful saints for fathers. Some more of my favorites include St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. John Bosco, and Blessed Frederic Ozanam, all of who are included in A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. I know you’ll enjoy discovering more about their lives and making their traditions and celebrations a part of your family’s domestic church.

Check out some of Lisa’s other stops during her whirlwind Blog Tour:

Upcoming Stops:

Previous Stops:

NOTE: This Friday, October 28, the Weekly Giveaway will feature a brand new copy of A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Check back on Friday for your chance to win!