Book Reviews and More: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque And the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Emily Beata Marsh and Dani Lachuk

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque And the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Emily Beata Marsh and Dani Lachuk - Encounter the Saints Series Book 37

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:
And the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Encounter the Saints Series Book 37
Emily Beata Marsh FSP
Dani Lachuk (Illustrator)
Pauline Books and Media
ISBN 9780819890924
eISBN 9780819890955
ASIN B07993X44X

This is the most recent book released in the Encounter the Saints Series by Pauline Books and Media, it is book 37 in the list of numbered titles and 38 if you include The Saints Pray For Us. And my children and I have read well over half the books in the series now, and we have loved them all. This is an excellent read in an incredible series.

Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was born on the 22nd July 1647 and died on the 17th of October 1690. My children were fascinated with this saint, from the early miracle that healed her to her devotion at a young age. They were fascinated by how different this saint's life was from their own, and other saints we have read about to date. I remember for my own confirmation receiving paintings from my grandmother of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary; and being fascinated with the paintings that now hung on my wall. I wish I had had a book like this one to read about the story behind the image.

The chapters in this book are:

Early Difficulties
A Miraculous Cure
Changes at Home
A New Name
A Special Visitor
Mystery Solved
A New Home
Great Challenges
A Big Decision
Jesus' Sacred Heart
Doubts
A Sign from God
My "Perfect Friend"
The First Promises
Father Claude
A Change of Heart
The Final Promise
"Have Mercy on Me"
Prayer
Glossary

One statement by Margaret in the book really stuck out to my children and I:

"Eventually, Margaret no longerwanted to attend dances. Dances are fun, butfun passes, she reasoned. It's more important togrow closer to God. And I think he wants me tobe a religious sister. But I wonder what Mamanwill say?"

And also

"God's love is so big, Margaret thought. Iknow I can never understand it completely, but Iwant to understand it as much as I can. . . ."

The example this saint sets helps us to echo her own words and thoughts. We do not want to frit away our time. We desire to grow closer to God. Following her journey through discerning her vocation and then living it. Even her early life and her devotion to God has served to remind us of the importance of seeking God first and following where he leads.

This book, like all the others in the series, contains 5 illustrations. In this book they are by Dani Lachuk, who illustrated one other book in the series. The sketches are very detailed and are full page prints. They appear to be either pencil or charcoal sketches. The details and shading is wonderfully done. Of all the books in the series the illustrations from this are our favorites.

As mentioned this book is part of the Encounter the Saints Series; from Pauline Books and Media, and this book is an incredible read as is the entire series! Our family gives them five stars. I love reading these books with my children, but often read ahead and read them on my own. My oldest who is 11 can read them to the younger children, and my 10 year old can read them with help on names and a few harder words. My 7 year old loves listening to these book no matter who is reading them to her. I am so thankful for this book and the series that opens up the live of so many saints for my children and myself. Another excellent book in an amazing series, and we hope it is not the last.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2018 Catholic Reading Plan!