A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati

by Luciana Frassati

A Man of the Beatitudes is the story of a saint told by his sister. Born into a wealthy, influential Italian family, to agnostic parents, Pier Giorgio Frassati lived for 24 years before succumbing to the polio virus. While resisting expectations of his ambitious family, Pier Giorgio held back nothing in responding to the Gospel, especially its call to love. His friends in the Catholic Action organization and the St. Vincent de Paul Society respected his love of the poor, where service was combined with prayerful devotion. His life story inspired Saint John Paul II, who called him “a man of the eight beatitudes” and began the process of Pier Giorgio’s canonization this year, 100 years after his death. 

Recommended for the only believers in their families, for young people, and anyone with an apostolate to those in need.

Rerouting… Finding Our Way Back to God and His Church 

by Father John Riccardo

Do you find yourself floundering to explain to co-workers or friends why you remain Catholic in an age of disbelief? If you have ever found yourself struggling to have a natural conversation about your faith you might find Father John Riccardo’s down-to-earth exposition of what Catholics actually believe, very helpful. Father Riccardo explains a good part of the difficulty in speaking about the faith comes from our culture’s dismissal of religion as something private and unintelligible. Using helpful metaphors and analogies, he reframes the Gospel in clear language, drawing out its core message and its meaning in our daily lives. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions and includes online resources to accompany the book, hosted by Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Plymouth, Michigan. Visit their website at olgcparish.net/rerouting.

Recommended for cradle Catholics seeking to learn and book study groups.

Monaghan, A Life 

by Joseph Pearce

Joseph Pearce’s biography of the Michigan born businessman Tom Monaghan stands out, because Pearce begins by admitting a reluctance to write it, due to his friendships with many of Monaghan’s critics. Despite this, he writes a candid account of Tom Monaghan’s life. Monaghan’s success could hardly have been predicted from the hardships of his early years, but his ability to overcome setbacks through persistence, work ethic, and business acumen reveals his character. Monaghan becoming one of the wealthiest Catholics of his generation is a textbook for aspiring entrepreneurs, but Pearce’s account of Monaghan’s journey of faith will intrigue most readers. Pearce describes how Monaghan applied the same energy that made him a billionaire to serving the Church, especially through developing faithful Catholic schools and colleges. As Pearce says, the desire “to help people get to heaven” underpinning all of Monaghan’s philanthropy, is truly “his greatest legacy.”

Recommended for Catholic entrepreneurs, and for young Catholics thinking about future careers.