My Life With The Saints Summary

I. General Information
The book "My Life with the Saints" is a spiritual memoir written by James Martin, SJ. It features the lives of some of Martin's favorite Catholic saints and holy men/women. The book was published March 1st 2006 by Loyola Press.
II. About the Author
The author of “My Life with the Saints,” James Martin, was born in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania on December 29, 1960. Martin graduated from University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business as part of the graduating class of 1982. While there, he earned a Bachelor's of Science in Economics. Martin earned a job with General Electric (G.E. for short), straight out of college, and proceeded to work for them for around six years. In 1988, Martin left his job with G.E.

and joined the Jesuits, a male religious congregation of the Catholic Church.
Soon after joining, Martin involved himself in many charitable organizations, which led him to many unique jobs and experiences. These jobs include: working at a hospital for the seriously ill in Cambridge, Massachusetts and working in a hospice for the sick and dying with the Missionaries of Charity in Kingston Jamaica. In 1990 he pronounced his first set of vows which included poverty, chastity, and obedience. After pronouncing his vows, he studied philosophy at Loyola University Chicago for two years. During these two years, He also worked in an outreach program for street-gang members. For the following two years, he worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Nairobi, Kenya, as to fulfill one of his Jesuit requirements. In 1995, he began his graduate Theology studies, during which he earned a Master's Degree in Divinity and a Master's Degree in Theology. On November 1, 2009 he pronounced his final vows and became a fully bona fide Jesuit. Since the pronunciation of his final vows, he devoted majority of his time to writing books. Some of which include: "Jesus: A Pilgrimage," "Between Heaven and Mirth," and "Together on Retreat."
III. Thomas Aquinas
Thomas was believed to have been born around 1225, in the castle of Roccasecca, near the town of Aquino, and was the youngest of four sons.

When Thomas was five, his mother and father send him to the famous Abbe of Monte Cassino. At the abbey he became interested in the writings of Aristotle and the great Islamic philosopher Averroes of Cordoba. In time, Thomas decided that he wanted to join the Dominicans, but his parents wanted him to join the Benedictines. When Thomas joined the Dominicans, his outraged parents sent his brothers to capture him and bring him home. Once they had taken Thomas, they locked him in the castle of Monte San Giovanni. After being imprisoned for two years, his family set him free and he promptly returned to the

Dominicans.
Once released Thomas began his work as a great teacher. Thomas became widely known for his straightforward teaching style and ability to make complicated concepts of the church easy to understand. Thomas also wrote many books, the most popular of was the Summa Theologica. Thomas also developed a theory that he understanding of the world around him could lead him to a better understanding of the transcendent mystery of God. This theory is simply stated as: "Since God has given us the gift of reason, we should use reason in service to God, by trying to understand his world better." Over time, Aquinas grew increasingly worn out from his many tasks. One day, whilst riding a donkey, he was hit in the head by a low hanging branch. He was then taken to a religious community, where he confessed his sins, and ultimately died. It is said, that near the time of his death, Thomas received a mystical vision that put all of his theological initiatives into perspective. He stated: "All I have written, seems to me like straw compared to with what I have seen and what has been revealed to me. Today, Thomas is still remembered as a quiet, humble, and brilliant scholar. His teachings still impact the modern interpretation and understanding of God.
IV. Joan of Arc
Joan was born in France during the Hundred Years' War, during a time of conflict between the houses of Orleans and Burgundy.

One day, she heard the voices of three saints: Michael Margaret, and Catherine, who told her how to save France. Joan immediately went out and informed the people of France of her mission. However, many people ignored her and her claims. Though, after Joan correctly predicted the outcome of many battles, she was recruited for her “tactical ability,” because they didn’t know that her predictions came from the saints. In April 1429, Joan convinced the dauphin to give her military assistance to attempt to free Orleans from the English. She led the army into the battle wearing a suit of white armor while holding a banner that showed the Trinity and the stated "Jesus, Maria." She won the day and freed Orleans as well as capture surrounding English

outposts.
In one of the following military campaigns, Joan was captured by Burgundian forces, who promptly sold her to the English. When the English learned of her claims regarding the saints, she was forced to appear before an ecclesiastical court. After many days of questioning, Joan was denounced a heretic. After staying strong in her claims, Joan wavered and retracted her statement when threatened with death. However, she regained her confidence soon after, and reversed it. Joan was sentenced to death, and was burned at the stake. It is said that her final words were "Jesus, Jesus." Even though the church betrayed her, Joan stayed faithful to it, even though it meant her death. Joan is remembered today for being quite holy, because she had such a strong trust in God and the saints.
V. Therese of Lisiuex
Therese was born on January 2, 1873 in Alencon France, into a strong Catholic family. When Therese was only four years old, her mother died. Therese was raised by her father and four older sisters, who provided a very loving and kind environment. Therese grew up a very cheerful and strongly religious girl. At age nine, she decided that she wanted to become a nun. She was so eager to join a convent that she petitioned Pope Leo XIII for a special dispensation to enter the Carmelite Order before she turned sixteen (the required age). Unfortunately, the Pope answered her plea dismissively, but this didn't stop Therese. After she continued to fight to get in, a local bishop allowed her to join the Carmelites at age fifteen.
She went on to live a simple, peaceful life. Until on Good Friday morning in 1896, when she awoke to find her mouth full of blood. Therese saw this as a sign that she would be with God soon. Seeing how happy Therese was for her illness, her sisters concluded that she was faking her disease to get special treatment. Though, the following year would be a very painful and miserable one for Therese. Through her suffering, Therese stayed loyal and faithful to God. Therese even began embracing small, daily hardships, which she believed was both a test and a gift from God. She also wrote her spiritual testimony which was titled "Springtime Story of a Little White Flower Written by Herself and Dedicated to Reverend Mother Mary Agnes of Jesus." On September 30, 1897 she died at the age of 24, from tuberculosis.

VI. Bernadette Soubrious
Bernadette was fourteen years old, living in poverty in a small town in south France. Her father’s milling business had just failed, and the family could only afford to live in a room that had once served as local jail. The room was about ten square feet, and it was very cramped, since Bernadette also had three siblings. On February 11, 1858, she, her sister, and her sister’s friend, were going to look for firewood. Bernadette was significantly smaller and weaker than the other two, and quickly fell behind them. It was then that she saw an apparition, a young girl, dressed in white, smiling at her. Bernadette, fearful of it, took out a rosary and prayed. After she had completed the rosary, the apparition signaled for her to approach, but a frightened Bernadette fled. Once her parents heard her claim, they forbade her from returning to the grotto, where this had occurred.
Later, friends of Bernadette’s parents convinced them to let her return to the grotto. So, Bernadette did just that, and saw the apparition again. This time she threw holy water at it, in return it tilted its head and smiled. After this, news of Bernadette’s encounters spread throughout the town. Soon locals began following her on her trips to the grotto. The local police commissioner believed that Bernadette was lying and tried many times to trick Bernadette into admitting it. Bernadette began growing popular, and many people in town wanted to give Bernadette gifts, but she refused to use the visions to make any profit. In one of her final visions, a crowd accompanied her to the grotto. This time, she clawed at the ground, drank some muddy water she had uncovered, and stuffed her mouth with weeds. Afterwards, she explained, “She told me to drink of the spring and wash yourself in it. Not seeing any water, I went to the Gave. But she indicated with her finger that I should go under the rock.” Bernadette also said the eating of the weeds was an act of penance, for sinning. Later, in her final vision, the apparition revealed to Bernadette that it was the Virgin Mary. Soon after, Bernadette became too popular and joined a convent to escape her newfound fame. She went on to live a nice quiet life in the convent, reluctant to discuss her experiences, until she died at the age of 35. Bernadette always stayed true to her story and was a powerful model of fidelity.