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

According to popular speaker and author Ghezzi, a saint is a woman or man who has “a heart set on loving God above all.” This attribute does not make these people superhuman, but it does make them good spiritual mentors for those who want to grow in holiness. Ghezzi does not draw solely from the wisdom of the usual suspects. Aelred of Rievaulx, Angela Merici and Jane de Chantal are more obscure, but no less holy, people who embraced a vocation to live for others in a variety of ways. Others mentioned include those not yet officially canonized as Catholic saints, such as Dorothy Day, and popes Paul VI and John Paul II. Ghezzi claims that each of these men and women can teach important virtues, including mercy, kindness, service and respect for the poor. Each chapter ends with a section called “Think, Pray, and Act,” in which the author provides excellent points for reflection and action. By practicing these three disciplines, Ghezzi says, we can emulate the saints in understanding and responding to God's call. An excellent primer to the lives of these saints, this text would also be useful as a guide and discussion-starter for small church community groups. (Sept.)