This book was a delightful read and it was quite providential that I finished reading it on All Saints Day. The fact that there are just over 100 Franciscan Saints who are mentioned in this book set me to thinking about the significance of one hundred.
The hundred-day benchmark is something that is said to have started with Napoleon Bonaparte. He returned from exile, reinstated himself as ruler of France, and declared war against the English and Prussian armies - all in 100 days. A century later our American Presidents, beginning with Franklin Delano Roosevelt, were being assessed by what they accomplished in their first 100 days in office.
Every year now in January or February our elementary school students are celebrating their 100th day of school because it is said to be a classic teachable moment. So what if we perhaps embrace the teachable moments of studying 100 saints in 100 days?
I love that this book is laid out simply and can be used either as a resource tool, or as a daily source of study and thought-provoking saintly quotes for meditation. If you start reading this book today, November 1st, and read about one saint per day it will get you very close to the beginning of Lent. Or if you read one saint per day - only on school days - it will get you very close to Holy Week.
This book, Franciscan Saints, by Robert Ellsberg, is the perfect way to begin a new and wonderful Catholic tradition. The publication has 107 entries of Franciscan saints, famous and obscure, beginning with St. Francis and St. Clare, and ending with Fr. Mychal Judge and Sr. Dorothy Hennessey. There are founders, missionaries, and martyrs; doctors of the Church, poets, prophets, mystics, and theologians; third orders and Poor Clares; princesses, queens, and abbesses; chaplains, friars, bishops, and even a Pope.
In the spirit of St. Francis, since we now have a Pope named Francis, I think this book is the perfect beginning to what I can see as a whole series of books: another book with 100 Vincentian saints, and another with 100 Dominican saints, and another with 100 Carmelite saints... and perhaps all-encompassing book that embraces all the orders and explains more about their core values and charisms.
Another excellent read by Robert Ellsberg and Franciscan Media.
In this book, I have received another good gift of Faith, by the grace of God.
"Attribute to God every good that you have received. If you take credit for something that does not belong to you, you will be guilty of theft."
~ St. Anthony of Padua ~
I received this book for free in return for providing my honest and unbiased review. I received no other compensation. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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