No name

Saint Catherine of Siena

Book cover: 'Saint Catherine of Siena'
Author(s): 
F.A. Forbes
Number of pages: 
103 pages
Copyright: 
1919
Publisher: 
TAN Books and Publishers Inc.
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
High Middle Ages
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 6-8
High School
Adults
Review: 
Catherine was born in the year 1347 of a wealthy family in Siena, Italy. These were troubled times in her native country. The pope was living in Avignon, France, and rival Italian cities and families were constantly at war with one another. The author gives presents a rather interesting story of a rather remarkable little girl who had heavenly visions and was a light of comfort and cheer to all those who came in contact with her. As Catherine grew older she live a very pious and austere life, offering great penances to Our Lord and working to help the poor and convert sinners. One of the most remarkable stories of this time in her life is how she brought a man back to the faith just before he was to be executed - even remaining with him at the time of his execution. But God had even bigger plans for Catherine. To her came the difficult task of convincing the pope to return to Rome and help and encourage him through the hardships involved after he did finally return. Catherine's devout prayer life, her obedience to the will of God and her great humility allowed her to overcome seemingly impossible tasks by the grace of God. Today she is honored as one of the greatest of saints and a Doctor of the Church. The book is suitable for upper grade school and high school, but will be beneficial to adults as well!
Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
3-17-2000

Saint Costumes

Subject(s): 
Religion
Resource Type: 
Children's Costumes
Review: 

From Our Coats of Many Colors

Our Coats of Many Colors, a cottage industry run by a mom in Kansas with a team of six seamstresses, has been making beautiful and imaginative dress-up costumes for six years. They have recently added a line of religious costumes for children - priest outfits from three different orders: Jesuit, Benedictine and Franciscan. The costumes are sturdy (my children have been using these for YEARS and they've held up beautifully and wash quite easily), nicely detailed, and feature velcro to make dressing up easy for little ones. Great for All Saints' Day dress-up.

The Jesuit costume (pictured at right), comes in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL).

It includes a full-length black cassock and cincture (like a belt) and features a roman collar. A row of buttons hides the easy-open velcro front of the cassock. The cincture also has a velcro-closure. Some great Jesuits include:

  • St. Ignatius Loyola, founder
  • St. Francis Xavier
  • St. Isaac Jogues
  • St. Jean de Brebeuf
  • St. Edmund Campion
  • Pierre de Smet
  • Jaques Marquette
  • St. Robert Bellarmine
  • St. Peter Claver
  • St. Aloysius Gonzaga
  • Fr. Eusebio Kino
  • St. Paul Miki
  • St. Stanislaus Kostka
  • St. Claude de la Colombierre
  • St. Robert Southwell
  • Gerard Manley Hopkins
The Benedictine costume (pictured at right), and comes in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL).

It includes a full-length black cassock, hooded scapular and cincture (belt). All pieces have a velcro-closure. Some great Benedictines include:

  • St. Benedict, founder
  • St. Gregory the Great
  • St. Augustine of Canterbury
  • St. Boniface
  • St. Thomas Becket
  • St. Bede
  • St. Hermannus Contractus
The Franciscan costume (pictured at right), comes in five sizes (XS, S, M, L, XL).

It includes a full-length brown hooded cassock and rope belt. Some great Franciscans include:

  • St. Francis, founder
  • St. Anthony of Padua
  • St. Bonaventure
  • St. Francis Solanus
  • St. Joseph of Cupertino
  • Blessed Junipero Serra
  • St. Padre Pio
  • St. Maximilian Kolbe
Their line has significantly grown over the years and includes many female saints as well.
Additional notes: 

This review was updated in 2008 to reflect additional costume offerings.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
10-19-05

Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism

Book cover: Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism
Author(s): 
Bennet Kelley
Number of pages: 
64 pages
Copyright: 
1963
ISBN: 
9780899422404
Publisher: 
Catholic Book Publishing Company
Binding: 
Stapled Softcover
Subject(s): 
First Communion
Catechisms
Review: 

This beautifully illustrated (in full-color) gem is designed to prepare a child for First Communion and would be appropriate for Kindergarten through second grade. The text follows the Baltimore Catechism, but also includes basic prayers, parts of the Mass and Holy Days of Obligation. In a few places, the explanations given to expand upon the Baltimore Catechism are not as well-written as I'd like them to be, but for the most part they are quite good. For some reason, the text has taken some of the Catechism questions out of order, so that the child learns about sin and its consequences before studying about Our Lord coming to earth to save us. I prefer the original order (which can be done by following the questions in numerical order) so that young children learn about God's love for us before going too deep into the evils of sin and the devil. Many homeschoolers use this as a supplement to other texts (such as the Faith and Life series - partly because the wording of the questions in this text is more succint than the wording in the Faith and Life series) for the purpose of memorizing the Catechism questions and enjoying the pictures.

Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
5-13-2000

Saint Paul the Apostle

Book cover: 'Saint Paul the Apostle'
Author(s): 
Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Number of pages: 
231 pages
Copyright: 
1949
Publisher: 
TAN Books and Publishers
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Martyrs
Setting: 
Early Church
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Review: 
Saul was a devout Jew so zealous about the Law that he persecuted the followers of the Nazarene with a vengeance. Through God's miraculous intervention Saul discovers that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and longs to proclaim and exhort that which he has formerly persecuted and abhored. There are many obstacles to overcome. The Christians have a difficult time trusting him and are focused on differences with the Jews, whereas Paul is eager to proclaim the Gospel to everyone. As he travels all over the Mediterranean, he is impeded by shipwreck and many who hate him. He fled communities in secret and on at least once occasion barely escaped with his life.

The short chapters are nice for beginning readers and for busy moms trying to read the story aloud a little at a time.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Alicia Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
5-13-2000

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Author(s): 
Raissa Maritain
Number of pages: 
128 pages
Publisher: 
Sophia Institute Press
Binding: 
Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
13th century
Grade / Age level: 
Elementary
Review: 
Despite its humble appearance, this biography of Saint Thomas Aquinas is a real gem. The story is told as a real story should be told, full of miracles and detail without becoming preachy, yet it is simple enough for the children it was written to instruct. The rich vocabulary hints at an original copyright in the early 1900s and may be challenging to a young independent reader. You may wish to read this book aloud to the under-8s or beside an 8-9-year-old to be sure of comprehension. The short chapters allow for frequent pauses and discussion of the spiritual truths encountered, and the black-and-white line drawings are tempting to our young colorists. Many of the elegantly written passages are perfectly suited for copywork.

The book begins with an introduction to Saint Thomas Aquinas that tells of his unique titles in the Church and his gifts of wisdom and learning. We learn of his childhood and his studies, his captivity and his nickname, the Dumb Ox, and of his beautiful hymns for the feast of Corpus Christi and Benediction. We read about the many miracles and holy favors enjoyed by the Saint and learn from examples of his spiritual gifts of charity, humility, and intelligence. Finally, we hear about his holy death, canonization, and the institution of his feast day. Our young students will be encouraged to pray to this great Doctor of the Church and be inspired to work hard at their studies in imitation of him.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Reviewed by: 
Susan Kalis
First reviewed: 
9-3-04

Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggar - additional

Author(s): 
Brendan Larnen, O.P.
Milton Lomask
Number of pages: 
190 pages
Copyright: 
1957
Publisher: 
Ignatius Press
Binding: 
Sewn Softcover
Subject(s): 
Biographies
Saints
Setting: 
13th century
Grade / Age level: 
Grades 3-5
Grades 6-8
Review: 
(Additional Review) "Essentials and Accidentals"

Once Saint Thomas Aquinas was in a class that Saint Albert the Great taught. One day St. Albert asked why this was silly: "I am a human being and I have a high pitched voice; therefore all human beings have high-pitched voices."

St. Thomas said that Father Albert should be pointing to an "essential" and not an "accidental". An essential is what all of what you are talking about have. An "accidental" is what only some of what you are talking about have. For example, how big a room is, what shape it is, what color it is and what it is used for are all accidentals. The essential thing about a room is that it is a space between four walls and has a ceiling and a floor.

I thought that this was very brilliant.

Perspective: 
Catholic
Additional notes: 

Reviewer age 9

Reviewed by: 
Ria Van Hecke
First reviewed: 
1998-99

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