My Life With the Saints by James Martin Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of My Life With the Saints
Book Review: Saints as fellow travelers
Summary: 5 Stars
A friend recommended this book, and when I first started the book it wasn't quite what I had anticipated. However within the first few chapters I was hooked!
It is not your typical "Lives of the Saints" recounting the details of various saint's life story, although that is included in each chapter. Fr. Martin sj shares his life's journey as he is introduced by friends to and reflects on his memories of the various saints to whom he devotes each chapter. We learn how the story of the saint being detailed touched him as he recounts his journey of life.
The saints covered range from the traditional St. Francis of Assisi, to the less known "Martyrs of Uganda" and also includes several not (yet) canonized candidates including Dorothy Day and Pope John XXIII and Thomas Merton. All these people touched Fr. James Martin sj and guided him on his journey. He also invites us to allow these people to touch us on our journey.
For those familiar with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, especially if you have been fortunate enough to experience the full exercises, this book will re-kindle your enthusiasm, and re-ignite the flame of that exprience.
One of the best presentations of the Saints I've read.
Book Review: New Friends
Summary: 5 Stars
Feeling lonely? This book offer new friends for young people and not so young anymore.
Easy to read, enjoyable, light but really address new options for struggling people on earth.
Book Review: I was expecting better than this
Summary: 2 Stars
My Life With the Saints is Fr. Martin's memoir of his relationship with some of his favorite saints. In each chapter he tells about an event in his life and gives a short biography on the saint whom connected with him at the time.
About half of the people mentioned such as Thomas Merton, whom the author seems to most admire, Fr. Arupe, Dorothy Day and Mother Theresa have not been cannonized and except for Mother Theresa it's not likely that they will be.
The book pretty much falls down when the author talks about the cannonized saints. He completely fails to capture St. Therese but does better with the Jesuit saints. The chapters on St. Bernadette and the Ugandan martyrs were very good but two chapters don't justify buying the whole book.
I was actually surprised with how theologically slight this book is. Coming from a Jesuit I was expecting something with more depth and it really feels like it was written for kids or older teens. I was not satisfied at all.
Book Review: A Book to Treasure!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not a typical "lives of the saints" book. It shows that the saints are real people with human weaknesses and it made me feel very good about myself and my chances for salvation. It's beautifully written, engaging, accessible, and I highly recommend it for all readers.
Thank you, Fr. Martin.
Mary Catherine Stevenson
Book Review: Highly recommended especially for readers interested lives of Christian spirituality and dedication
Summary: 5 Stars
My Life With The Saints by Jesuit priest and associate editor of the national Catholic weekly magazine "America" James Martin is an engaging autobiographical documentation of his personal life experiences from an indifferent Catholic childhood, to the education he received at the Wharton School of Business, and a Jesuit priest's seemingly standard business career in Manhattan. Tactfully introducing the readers to what truly made his life remarkable, My Life With The Saints tells the stories of Martin's associates, friends, mentors, and partners -- otherwise known as the saints of the Catholic Church. With this candid telling of a fulfilled and contented man's life, My Life With The Saints is very highly recommended especially for readers interested lives of Christian spirituality and dedication.