My Life with the Saints

My Life with the Saints

Book is in very good condition! There is only light wear. The pages are clean with no marks.

The 10th Anniversary Edition of "My Life with the Saints" is now available. James Martin recounts his experience of a thoroughly modern life, starting from a lukewarm Catholic upbringing, to his education at the Wharton School of Business, his fast-paced executive career at General Electric, and his subsequent journey as a Jesuit priest and media personality in Manhattan. Throughout this journey, Martin has found unexpected companions in the saints of the Catholic Church. While many view these holy figures as merely historical, for Martin, they are personal and intimate friends who offer prayers, comfort, examples of discipleship, and guidance along his path.

In his memoir, Martin eloquently describes the specific ways in which these saints have aided him. When struggling with pride, he seeks solace from Thomas Merton, the monk and writer who himself battled with egotism. In times of sickness, he turns to Thérèse of Lisieux, who understood the boredom and self-pity often accompanying a state of illness. Joan of Arc bolsters his wavering courage, while Aloysius Gonzaga deepens his sense of compassion. Pope John XXIII teaches him the importance of laughter and not taking life too seriously.

Spanning the entirety of Christian history, Martin's memoir encompasses a wide range of saintly figures, including St. Peter, Dorothy Day, Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola, and Mother Teresa, among others. Together, they accompany the author on a lifelong pilgrimage, with stops in various locations such as a sunlit square in a French town, a peaceful retreat house on a New England beach, the challenging housing projects of inner-city Chicago, the sprawling slums of Nairobi, and a magnificent Baroque church in Rome.

This captivating and illuminating narrative demonstrates how the saints can guide and support all individuals in navigating their way through the complexities of life. As Robert Ellsberg, author of "All Saints," aptly puts it, "In a cross between Holden Caulfield and Thomas Merton, James Martin has written one of the best spiritual memoirs in years." Doris Donnelly of America magazine further states, "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."

This delightful account, as praised by First Things, reveals incidents, both precarious and amusing, that have prompted Martin to seek solace in the saints. In doing so, he presents a new and refreshing approach to expressing devotion, one that is both ancient and universal within the Church. Avery Cardinal Dulles of Fordham University describes it as "an outstanding and often hilarious memoir," while Publishers Weekly calls it "a must-read."',/p>

In his final reflection, Martin proposes a belief that is both Jungian and Catholic: God does not desire for individuals to emulate Mother Teresa or Dorothy Day; rather, God desires each individual to fully embrace and express their own unique selves. This astute insight, as observed by The Washington Post Book World, offers a profound and thought-provoking conclusion to the book.

FEATURES