Book Reviews and More: Saint Ignatius of Loyola For the Greater Glory of God - Donna Giaimo and Patricia Edward Jablonski

Friday, 20 April 2018

Saint Ignatius of Loyola For the Greater Glory of God - Donna Giaimo and Patricia Edward Jablonski - Encounter the Saints Series Book 8

Saint Ignatius of Loyola
For the Greater Glory of God
Encounter the Saints Series Book 8
Donna Giaimo
Patricia Edward Jablonski
Patrick Kelley (Illustrator)
Pauline Books and Media
ISBN 9780819870438

I discovered the Encounter the Saints Series by Pauline Books and Media, by accident. I was looking for another book on Saint Damien of Molokai to read and picked up the one in this series. Since then I have tracked down all 37 books 38 if you include The Saints Pray For Us and we have read 26 and reviewed 20 to date. And my son and I have read about a dozen of them together. And my girls have read about 10 each. The highest praise I can give these books is not only do my children love them, but they want to reread them. We each have our own copy of The Saints Pray For Us, and we have a mix of physical and eBooks for the rest of the series. This is one of 9 books in the series that are only available as a physical book. One of the things that speaks to the strength of these book, is my son has started saving up so he can buy his own physical copies of each book in the series. And he has already asked if we can reread them once we have finished them all.

It is hard on the 20th book in a series to write a review and not just repeat yourself, especially when you like the books so much. When my son asked to read this one next, I was eager to comply. Of the saints in the series I was more familiar with Ignatius of Loyola than many of the other saints before reading their books. I have written papers on the Jesuits when in university, and the Jesuits came up often in a religious studies degree focusing on Roman Catholic Thought, and yet there were a few parts that were presented in this story that were a complete surprise to me. It was wonderful to encounter Ignatius in a new and fresh way. My son was impressed with his humility in going back to school. He relished the communal aspect of the time in Paris and further schooling. We both loved the way the life of this saint was told in this book.

The book is co-written by Donna Giaimo and Patricia Edward Jablonski; this is the only book in the series written by Donna William Giaimo, FSP and Patricia Edward Jablonski FSP has authored or co-authored 6 of the volumes. Patrick Kelley illustrated this volume and also Saint Francis of Assisi Gentle Revolutionary. It is interesting to see the different styles and methods used by the various artists across the series. My son loved the crucifixes in the backgrounds of 2 of the 5 prints in this book. On top of the 5 illustrations that each book in the series has it has a prayer to that specific saint. The prayer to Ignatius of Loyola is:

"Saint Ignatius, you loved excitement, adventures, and challenges. And you found them all when you handed your life over to God.

Once you wrote a prayer surrendering everything you had to the Lord- your freedom, your memory, your understanding, and even your will. All you asked for in return was God's love and grace.

Help me to realize that when I have God and his love, I have everything. I want to listen to God in my heart as you did. I want to say yes to whatever he asks of me. Help me to live the Gospel and to follow Jesus as closely as you did. Pray for me, Saint Ignatius. Amen."

The prayer in this volume is the same one in The Saints Pray For Us, Some of the prayers in that book are different and some are similar and a few like this one is nearly identical.

My son and I are already reading another volume in this amazing series. But this book specifically he asked if we could read it again soon. It really spoke to his heart. This book will move the hearts of readers of all ages.

I have read the majority of this series, and many of those multiple times now. Each book challenges my faith, and teaches me from the example in that volume. Even though I was very familiar with Ignatius of Loyola and his story, this book helped me appreciate his faith and obedience even more. And it is a lesson I need in my life and that I hope to instil in my children.

This book is part of the Encounter the Saints Series; from Pauline Books and Media, and this book and the entire series are excellent resources for Catholics of all ages! And we hop the series will continue to grow.

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

Books about Saint Ignatius:

Saint Ignatius of Loyola For the Greater Glory of God - Donna Giaimo and Patricia Edward Jablonski - Encounter the Saints Book 8

Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius - Michael E. Gaitley

Saint Ignatius of Loyola - Pat Corkery SJ - A Convert's Story

Saint Ignatius of Loyola - J.A. Philips - CTS Great Saints

Take Five: On-The-Job Meditations with St. Ignatius - Mike Aquilina and Kris D. Stubna

Probing the Depths: Ignatian Lessons and Meditations Arranged According to the Liturgical Year - John Paul Thomas

…