Daily Lessons from the Saints:
52 Weeks of Inspiration and Encouragement
Rockridge Press
ISBN 9781647397470
eISBN 9781647394493
ASIN B08KGZ878W
This is an intriguing volume. It is designed to give you a 5ish minute meditation each day. Each day starts with a short passage about a saint. Then some questions to reflect upon, or actions to consider based on the days reading and the weeks saint. Each week focuses on a different saint. And the volume is designed so if you start around New Year’s Day you will read about specific saints within a week of their feast day on either side of it. The volume has both the Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur.
The description of this volume states:
“Lessons from the lives of the saints—a year of daily wisdom and inspiration
The saints inspire us, instruct us, and intercede with God for us. Incorporate their wisdom into your life with Daily Lessons from the Saints. Every week, you’ll get to know a different saint—and every day, you’ll explore new ways to emulate their faithfulness. The short readings take just 5 minutes or less, so you can easily find time to reflect.
Discover what it means to live a life of heroic faith, and focus your intentions through brief practices and prayers. Follow the book alongside the liturgical calendar, or read at your own pace; whatever your approach, the saints will accompany you step by step on your journey closer to God.
Daily Lessons from the Saints
52 Weeks, 365 days—Connect more deeply by focusing on a single saint (or a pair of saints) every week, with seven daily readings about their lives and legacy. Thoughtful lessons—Discover lessons, exercises, and practices guided by the week’s saint, showing you how to apply their timeless wisdom to your modern life.55+ Canonized saints—Delve into the stories of St. Patrick, St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, St. Teresa of Ávila, St. Peter & St. Paul, St. Josephine Bakhita, and many more.
Bring the wisdom of the saints into your day with Daily Lessons from the Saints.”
About the author we are informed:
“Father Brice Higginbotham is a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux, in Louisana, where he currently serves as pastor of Holy Cross Parish and as chaplain for Central Catholic School. He also serves as a censor librorum, frequent consultant to the Office of Parish Support, media evangelist, and master of ceremonies. In the past, he has served as a parochial vicar, assistant vocations director, state police chaplain, and member of the Diocesan Presbyteral Council. Father Brice received his master’s degree in theological studies from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana. He has published two articles in Homiletic & Pastoral Review and more than 60 catechetical videos in cooperation with the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux’s Offices of Parish Support and Communications, all of which are available on YouTube and Facebook.”
The chapters in this volume are:
Introduction
How to Use This Book
Week 1: Mary, Queen of All Saints
Week 2: St. Basil & St. Gregory
Week 3: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Week 4: St. Anthony of the Desert
Week 5: St. Francis de Sales
Week 6: St. Simeon & St. Anna
Week 7: St. Josephine Bakhita
Week 8: St. José Luis Sánchez del Río
Week 9: St. Katharine Drexel
Week 10: St. Perpetua & St. Felicity
Week 11: St. Frances of Rome
Week 12: St. Patrick
Week 13: St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Week 14: St. Joseph
Week 15: St. Isidore
Week 16: St. George
Week 17: St. Mark
Week 18: St. Catherine of Siena
Week 19: St. Athanasius
Week 20: St. Matthias
Week 21: St. Rita of Cascia
Week 22: St. Bede the Venerable
Week 23: St. Charles Lwanga & Companions
Week 24: St. Anthony of Padua
Week 25: St. Aloysius Gonzaga
Week 26: St. Peter & St. Paul
Week 27: St. Thomas
Week 28: St. Maria Goretti
Week 29: St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Week 30: St. Mary Magdalene
Week 31: St. Martha
Week 32: St. Ignatius of Loyola
Week 33: St. Jean Vianney
Week 34: St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross
Week 35: St. Lawrence
Week 36: St. Rose of Lima
Week 37: St. Monica
Week 38: St. Gregory the Great
Week 39: St. Teresa of Calcutta
Week 40: St. Helena
Week 41: St. Hildegard of Bingen
Week 42: St. Matthew
Week 43: St. Michael, St. Gabriel & St. Raphael
Week 44: St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Week 45: St. Francis of Assisi
Week 46: St. Teresa of Ávila
Week 47: St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Week 48: St. Martin of Tours
Week 49: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Week 50: St. Catherine of Alexandria
Week 51: St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin
Week 52: St. Thomas Becket
Prayers
Resources
References
A Sample week is:
“WEEK 16 St. George Martyr
Patron saint of soldiers, scouts, and those engaging in military-style activities such as archery and equestrianism
FEAST DAY: April 23
DAY 1
St. George is one of the most popular saints in the history of Christianity. Among Greek Christians, he is called the Great Martyr, and even today, his statue stands a short distance away from the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, although he lived almost three centuries later. It’s said that Emperor Constantine the Great, a contemporary of George, built the first church dedicated to his patronage.
†
George may have been known during his lifetime—he was, after all, a Roman official—but his popularity didn’t explode until after his martyrdom. If we simply do the duties of our lives while praying, fasting, and giving to the poor, we too will become saints. Let us follow the example of George, searching for holiness over popularity.
DAY 2
George, like our friends Basil and Gregory, was raised by Christian parents in the region of modern-day Turkey called Cappadocia. However, he seems to have been born in the city of Lydda (now known as Lod) in what is now Israel. His father died early, perhaps while serving in the Roman army, and his mother moved the family back near Lydda, where she had grown up and still owned property.
†
George is one of the precious few saints after the time of Jesus to hail from the Holy Land, a region ravaged by strife, war, and persecution. Pray today for the people in the Holy Land and surrounding areas.
DAY 3
George became a soldier in the Roman army and quickly rose to the rank of tribune, which is roughly equivalent to the modern rank of colonel. He seems to have become so well respected that he spoke with Emperor Diocletian himself. Diocletian, however, eventually chose to begin persecuting Christians, blaming them for problems in the empire.
†
The profession of a soldier is a noble one. But many of our soldiers, having given themselves to serve us by protecting us, find themselves suffering from addictions, homelessness, and post-traumatic stress. Pray a decade of the rosary today for our soldiers and our veterans, asking George to pray with you. If you feel so inclined, look up practical ways to help them with your time or money.
DAY 4
George, a fervent Christian, courageously stood up to Emperor Diocletian, calling him out for the murder of Christians. In those days, edicts—public commands from the emperor—were written on paper and nailed to walls in the city for the public to see. Some say that George tore down these unjust edicts himself. As a reward for his courage, George was blessed with the crown of martyrdom. Diocletian had him thrown into prison and tortured, all the while tempting him to renounce Christianity. George, with the courage of a soldier, withstood these persecutions. Keeping the faith, he was beheaded and entered into heaven on April 23, 303.
†
Although most of us are not in danger of being martyrs, we’re each faced with choices either to stand up courageously for Jesus in our world or to remain silent while Jesus is disrespected and unloved. What is one way in your daily life that you can be courageous like George? Ask him to help you.
DAY 5
George is probably most famous for the tale of his battle with the dragon plaguing the city of Cyrene in Libya. While this story, found in Jacob of Voragine’s 13th-century Golden Legend, is probably fictitious, it helps us see George’s virtues and the eventual virtues of the people of Cyrene—virtues we should imitate if we want to become saints.
†
What kind of fiction do you consume? Books, movies, TV shows? Does the fiction you consume move you toward goodness, virtue, and saintliness? Or does it drag you down? Evaluate your fiction consumption today and begin reading and watching only things that build you up.
DAY 6
In the tale of St. George and the dragon, George was passing through Cyrene, whose inhabitants were forced to offer first sheep, then humans in sacrifice to the beast. George asked the princess of the region, Sabra, what was happening. Sabra, who was next to be sacrificed, told George about the dragon and begged him to leave before it devoured him, too. Just then, the dragon arrived. George immediately made the sign of the cross upon himself and his horse. By the power of the cross, George tamed and then slew the dragon, to the amazement of the people of Cyrene, who were then baptized into Christ.
†
The common image of St. George slaying the dragon is meant to show you and me—called to be saints like George—how to use faith and courage to conquer the devil (called the “great dragon” in Revelation 12:9). Whenever you’re tempted to sin, make the sign of the cross with devotion and say—out loud if you can—the name of Jesus.
DAY 7
George is the patron saint of those in the military because of both his profession as a soldier and his miraculous heavenly intercession for other soldiers after his death. During the first crusade, the French knights, tired and hungry, were given hope and strength when George appeared to them before the Battle of Antioch in 1098. They won. The following year, George is said to have appeared to King Richard the Lionhearted just prior to the siege of Jerusalem. Richard told his troops of this apparition, and, emboldened by their assurance of heavenly help, their siege was successful.
†
Although apparitions are exceptional, the example of the saints is always here to encourage us. Which saint have you most identified with so far in this book? Do a little more research on that saint. Write down some points of his or her story that are particularly encouraging to you.”
I struggled with sticking to one reflection a day. Sometimes I worked through 1 or 2 but often I worked through a week on a whole saint. My bad! But even not following the intended schedule I greatly enjoyed this volume. As a debut work it is pretty impressive. And I plan on giving Father Brice’s newer work, Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John, a read. This book would be great for teens and young adults. It could also be used in the classroom at school and just truncating what is covered.
There were many weeks I greatly enjoyed. And a few were encounters with Saints I was less familiar with. I would love to see Father Brice write a second volume and this time focus on lesser known saints for the whole year. That being said, this was a great book and one I can easily recommend!
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by Father Brice Higginbotham:
Remaining with Jesus: Discipleship in the Gospel of John
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