The Heart of a Saint: Ten Ways to Grow Closer to God

Bert Ghezzi's insightful books on the saints have made him something of a "Doctor" (teacher) of the Saints for many of us. In this latest offering, he examines the lives and teachings of a number of saints (either canonized or at some stage in the process of canonization) to show how they portrayed ten qualities of holiness that we can learn to imitate. The author's enthusiasm and good humor are contagious. The wisdom he gleans from these holy men and women can lead us all farther down the way of holiness so that we too can become saints of God.

The best thing about this book is its human touch. It brings the saints to life in a way that is informative and touching at the same time. There is also Ghezzi's usual combination of the well known saints, plus the ones you've never heard of. This is a book that can speak to a seasoned theologian as well as someone who is looking for a first book to get to know the lives of the saints...I would reccomend it equally to both.

As Dr. Ghezzi does so well, he brings to life 10 dynamic personalities of the Church and gives us the benefit of looking back on their lives to understand better how to live ours. Spiced with humor and incredibly candid, personal glimpses of these saints, you can't miss the deeper purpose of this book: self-examination and a personal growth in loving God in our everyday lives, no matter where we are. The questions for reflection are as deep and thought-provoking as the stories are enjoyable--yes, even fun--to read. The Heart of a Saint is a treasure of spiritual insights that is both pleasurable reading and a tool for our own spiritual growth. Thanks again, Dr. Ghezzi!

Warm, relevant, and highly readable, this book contains the real-life stories of ten holy men and women including social reformer Dorothy Day and the beloved "papa" John Paul II. Dr. Bert Ghezzi juxtaposes these intriguing biographies with the timeless wisdom of saints like Thomas a Kempis and St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, to teach us how to climb still higher along the highway of holiness. Invaluable spiritual reading that belongs on every bedside table. Make room for it right next to Ghezzi's definitive work, Voices of the Saints: A Year of Readings (Doubleday)!

The Heart of a Saint is for everyone, young or old, whose heart resonates with the call of Pope John Paul II to the world's youth: "Fall in love with Jesus Christ!" We are reminded that this central love relationship is the key to what holiness is all about and that such love is available to everyone. Bert Ghezzi deftly pairs ten virtues and facets of the Christian life with ten persons, representing a cross-section of humanity, who became exemplars of living love in action to a heroic degree. The diversity within this composite spans from such popular saints as St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Francis of Assisi to the less well-known as St. Aelred and St. Roque Gonzalez to founders of religious orders to contemporary figures such as Dorothy Day and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati--all of whom achieved sanctity. What's more, Ghezzi presents many practical, definitely do-able ways--through thinking, praying and acting--that we can do the same. Though we may not all be called to canonization, we all are called to be saints. Sounds too good to be true? Read this book!