A GUIDE TO
SPIRITUAL READING FOR YOUTH AGES 4-17
 
10/2002
by Rev. T. G. Morrow
The World, it seems, does a much better job teaching children its ways than we
Christians do teaching them the ways of Christ. How important that parents and
teachers make the effort to provide our children the opportunity to learn
about the heros of the Church, our saints.
Parents might choose to read about the saints to their younger children, and
as they get older, encourage them to read books on the saints themselves. What
fortunate children they will be if they get this training from their earliest
ages. And, how important that children learn a good deal about the saints
before they become teenagers!
It doesn’t require a great deal of time to introduce children to the saints.
Even one short story about a saint each day, or five minutes of a longer story
daily would be a great introduction to these holy men and women. When we do
this we will often see little change in children’s behavior for some time, but
then at the right moment, one or two incidents from a saint’s life will come
to mind, and a little conversion will take place. Holiness, after all, does
not come all at once. It must take hold one day at a time.
How many of the saints themselves got their inspiration from the lives of the
saints they heard as children. Parents, wouldn’t you like your children to
become saints? And, children, wouldn’t you like to become saints?
* * * * *
There
are three separate lists herein. The first is for ages 11-17; the second is
for ages 8-12; and the third is for ages 4-8. Granted, not all four-year-olds
can read, but their parents can, and the books recommended are suited for
parents to read to their four- and five-year-olds.
Ages 11-17
1.
St. Martin de Porres by
Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN Books. 122 pages. Story of this humble, Dominican
brother who was disowned by his white father and disliked by his black mother.
Miraculous cures occurred through his prayers. He spent his life in prayer
before the tabernacle (hours a day) and in helping huge numbers of the poor.
2. Curé of Ars (St. John Vianney) by Mary Fabyan Windeatt,
TAN Books. 211 pages. Priest who struggled with Latin and almost did not make
it. Denied permission to hear confessions his first year, but later heard
confessions 15-16 hours a day.
3.
The Little Flower (St
Thérèse of Lisieux) by Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN Books. 167 pages. French girl
who became Carmelite nun at 15 and lived childlike faith in humble obedience
until her death at age 24.
4.
St. Catherine of Siena by Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN Books. 65 pages.
Another “saint from childhood” who became so holy through prayer and
self-denial she was given a wedding ring from God.
5.
St. Margaret Mary (Alacoque) by Mary Fabyan Windeatt,
TAN Books. 224 pages. French girl who joined Visitation Order and had
revelations from the Lord, especially about devotion to His Sacred Heart.
6.
St. Thomas Aquinas by
Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN Books. 81 pages. Humble Dominican priest who was
called the “Dumb Ox” by his classmates because he was slow, but became the
greatest theologian in the Church.
7.
St. Louis de Montfort by Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN
Books. 211 pages. A great biography of this saint who explained so well how to
devote your life to Mary and thereby get very close to her Son, Jesus.
8.
Blessed Marie of New
France, The Children of Fatima, King David And His Songs, The Miraculous
Medal, Pauline Jaricot, St. Benedict, St. Dominic, St. Francis Solano, St.
Hyacinth of Poland, St. John Masias, St. Paul The Apostle, St. Rose of Lima,
Patron Saint of 1st Communicants (Bl. Imelda Lambertini) - All
by Mary Fabyan Windeatt, TAN Books.
9.
St. Monica - by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 103 pages.
Mother of a sinful son and wife of a cheating husband. She converted her
husband by her kindness, and her son by her constant prayers. Her son became a
priest, a bishop, and then a saint - St. Augustine.
10. Pope
St. Pius X - by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 125 pages. Delightful story of this
humble but great pope who introduced more frequent communion, and lowered the
age for first communion. Fought great errors in the Church. Written especially
for teens.
11. St.
Vincent de Paul - by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 105 pages. French saint who did
a huge amount to help the poor in his country. Founded Vincentian Order and
helped found Daughters of Charity. Aimed at teens, and adults.
12. St.
Teresa of Avila by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 108 pages. Spanish Carmelite who
reformed her order, by her strong determination to found new convents despite
lots of opposition. Wrote many books on prayer and spirituality; had great
sense of humor, always cheerful.
13. St.
Athanasius by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 98 pages. Bishop of Alexandria who was
exiled from his diocese 5 times but kept coming back to fight against errors.
14. St. Catherine of Siena,
by F. A. Forbes, TAN Books, 103 pp. Devout from a young age, Catherine became
a lay Dominican and lived life of prayer and penance. Dictated a book, The
Dialogue, in which God the Father spoke to her and explained many spiritual
things. Died at 33.
15. Treasure in Clay,
autobiography of Fulton J. Sheen, Ignatius Press. Fascinating account of this
famous, holy priest and bishop, the “TV priest.”
16. St. John Bosco & St.
Dominic Savio by Catherine Beebe, Ignatius Press, 157 pages. Fascinating story
of fun-loving priest, John Bosco and his pupil, Dominic who lived to be only
14 years old, but became a saint.
17. St. Isaac and The Indians
by Milton Lomask, Ignatius Press, 175 pages. Jesuit missionary who converted
many Indians in upstate New York. Martyred by the Indians.
18. St. Ignatius and The
Company of Jesus by August Derleth, Ignatius Press. Strong-willed Spaniard who
underwent great conversion, lived so humbly and in poverty, founded the
Jesuits.
19. St. Catherine Labouré by
Alma Power-Waters, Ignatius Press, 140 pages. Daughter of Charity to whom Mary
appeared and gave her the Miraculous Medal.
20. St. Francis of The Seven
Seas by Albert J. Nevins, M. M., Ignatius Press, 168 pp. Brilliant teacher who
joined Ignatius, became Jesuit and went to the far East to convert thousands
(Francis Xavier).
21. The Curé of Ars, St.
Therese and The Roses, St. Dominic and The Rosary, St. Elizabeth’s Three
Crowns, Fr. Marquette and the Great River, Edmund Campion, Bernadette: Our
Lady’s Little Servant, Francis and Clare: Saints of Assisi, St. Anthony and
The Christ Child, Mother Cabrini, Kateri Tekakwitha, St. Pius X, St. Philip of
The Joyous Heart, Mother Seton and The Sisters of Charity, St. Vincent de
Paul: Saint of Charity, St. Joan, St. Benedict: Hero of The Hills, all part of
the Ignatius Press Vision Book Series (along with the previous 5 books). All
highly recommended.
22. Give Me Souls, (Life of
St. John Bosco), by Peter Lappin, Don Bosco Publications. 363 pp. Detailed
life of this delightful saint, who loved to juggle and do magic tricks for his
friends as a boy. Helped thousands of troubled boys in Italy turn their lives
over to Christ. SRM Distributors (201) 986-0503.
23. St. Dominic Savio, by St.
John Bosco, Don Bosco Publications. 187 pp. (Also, see Peter Lappin’s life of
St. Dominic Savio, same publisher.) Dominic was a fun-loving but devout boy in
John Bosco’s school. He died before his 15th birthday. SRM
Distributors (201) 986-0503.
Ages 8-12
1.
See F. A. Forbes books above.
2.
St. Anthony of Padua, Fire and Light, by
M. C. Kerry, and M. E. Tebo, Pauline Books, 120 pp. One of the greatest
preachers the Church has ever had. Whole towns would come to hear him speak
about God.
3.
Bl. Jacinta and Francisco Marto, Shepherds
of Fatima, by A. E. Heffernan and P. E. Jablonski, Pauline Books, 108 pp. Two
of the 3 children Mary appeared to at Fatima in 1917. Both died young.
4.
Journeys with Mary; Apparitions of Our
Lady, by Z. DeSantis, Pauline Books, 132 pp. Our Lady’s appearances at Mt.
Carmel, Guadalupe, Rue de Bac (Miraculous Medal), Fatima and others.
5.
St. Bernadette Soubirous; Light in the
Grotto, by A. E. Heffernan and M. E. Tebo, Pauline Books, 120 pp. The French
girl to whom Our Lady appeared at Lourdes in 1858.
6.
St. Edith Stein; Blessed by The Cross, M.
L. Hill, Pauline Books, 132 pp. Jewish intellectual who became a Catholic,
then a Carmelite nun.
7.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, by Jeanne M.
Grunwell, Pauline Books, 132pp. Wife, mother, school teacher, and founder of
the Daughters of Charity. 1st American saint.
8.
St. Joan of Arc, by Susan H. Wallace,
Pauline Books, 132pp. Devout teenager who led France on the battlefield
against England and won. Captured, burned at the stake.
9.
St. Julie Billiart, by Mary K. Glavich,
Pauline Books, 120pp. Belgian girl who loved to teach the faith to others. While
paralyzed for 22 years, she founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.
Miraculously healed.
10. St. Maximilian Kolbe, by P. E. Jablonski,
Pauline Books, 120pp. Polish priest who spread great devotion to Mary worldwide.
Was held in Auschwitz during WWII and gave his life in place of another inmate.
11. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Ignatius of
Loyola, Call Me Little Theresa, Pauline Books, with previous 10 books.
12.
St. Bernadette, St. Clare of Assisi, St.
Elizabeth [of Hungary], St. Joan of Arc, St Martin [of Tours], St. Maximilian
Kolbe, St. Therese of Liseux, St. Vincent de Paul, 32pp. and [Fr.] James
Alberione [founder of Pauline Priests and Daughters of St. Paul],
80pp.(All Pauline Comic Books).
13. Saints for Young Readers for Every Day, two
volumes, revised and edited by Susan Helen Wallace, fsp, Pauline Books, 1999.
One or two page accounts of over 360 saints (180+ per volume) written for young
people.
Ages 4-8
(Parents can read these books to non-readers)
14. Saints for Young Readers for Every Day, two
volumes, (See above description).
15. Treasure Box Books - Edited by Maryknoll
Sisters, TAN. Twenty 32-page books which teach children how to be good
Catholics. They include stories of the saints, poems, games, activities, and
crafts. Also, info. on Guardian Angels.
16. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Paul The Apostle,
St. Peter The Apostle, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha, St.
Martin de Porres, St. Patrick, St. Anthony of Padua, Our Lady of Fatima, Our
Lady of Guadalupe. All part of St. Joseph Picture Books - 81 short books on the
saints and Catholic practices by Fr. L. Lovasik and Fr. J. Winkler, Catholic
Book Publishing Co.
17. First Book of Saints, St. Joseph Beginner’s
Book of Saints, My Friends The Saints, and Picture Book of Saints - all by Fr.
L. Lovasik, Catholic Book Publishing Co.
18. St. Angela Merici; Leading People to God,
Pauline Books, hardback, 74 pp., by Sr. Maryellen Keefe. Story of woman who
founded the Ursuline Sisters to teach, serve in hospitals, prisons, and help the
poor.
19.
St. Colette; in The Footsteps of St. Francis
and St. Clare, Pauline Books, hardback, 74 pp. Woman whom St. Francis appeared
to and asked to reform the Poor Clares.
20.
St. Anthony of Padua; Proclaimer of The Good
News, St. Catherine Labouré; Mary’s Messenger, St. Francis of Assisi; God’s
Gentle Knight, St. John Bosco; The Friend of Children and Young People, St.
Thérèse of Lisieux; And The “Little Way” of Love, St. Vincent de Paul; Servant
of Charity, all Pauline Books, hardbacks.
21.
Tomie dePaola's Book of Bible Stories,
Penguin/Putnam, 128 pp. Comprehensive collection of Bible stories with
illustrations by award-winning artist and story-teller Tomie dePaola. Also he
has books on Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi, and The Lady of Guadalupe. (Most
available from Christian bk stores &
www.christianbook.com.)
22. Great Women of The Bible and many other
Bible stories in the Arch Books series, Concordia.
WHERE TO GET BOOKS FOR CHILDREN
Mail
Order Houses (ask for their lists)
Pauline
Books & Media - (800) 836-9723. They also carry other publishers.
www.pauline.org.
TAN
Books, P O Box 424 - Rockford, IL 61105 -(800) 437-5876. Many fine spiritual
works. www.tanbooks.com.
Ignatius
Press, P.O. Box 1339, Ft. Collins, CO 80522. (800) 651-1531. www.ignatius.com.
Christian
Book Distributors, P.O. Box 7000, Peabody, MA 01961. (978) 977-5000.
Christian books & tapes, Bibles, etc. (some Catholic). www.christianbook.com.
***Most, if not all of these
books can be found on the web at www.amazon.com
or at www.buy.com. For used books, go to
www.half.com or
www.addall.com. Or try public library’s
inter-library loan.
For a list of recommended
spiritual reading for adults, please go to www. cfalive.org/ReadReading.htm.
Catholic Faith Alive!
1910 Cypress Drive
Bel Air, MD 21015
(877) 324-8492
www.cfalive.org
|