Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on their Way to Holiness By Meg Hunter-Kilmer

Meg Hunter-Kilmer includes in this volume all those holy people on the path to being designated as canonized saints. This book features the messy, startling journeys of ordinary men and women pursuing holiness. We see them facing the challenges of personal weakness of character or health, being misunderstood or bullied, overlooked or thrust into responsibilities beyond their capabilities and then, through the power of God, rising above all of this to live lives of true holiness and faith. This is a book you will turn to often for inspiration and for new intercessors.

Recommended for anyone finding it difficult to relate to the stories of the saints, young people beginning a year of preparation for confirmation, and for those wondering how to respond to their own unique challenges in a saintly way.

My Heart Will Triumph by Mirjana Soldo

This memoir is a fascinating account of the experiences of Mirjana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjugorje. Mirjana’s story encourages the reader to reflect on the role of the Blessed Mother today, especially in her role as Queen of Peace. Mirjana relates how the visionaries were deemed “enemies of the state” and interrogated by the communist authorities, showing what it was like to live under a hostile and totalitarian regime. The Church views the Medjugorje devotion as spiritually fruitful, and this allows the Church to give official approval for pilgrimages to the site, whilst not ruling on the supernatural origins of the message.

Recommended for all those impacted by Medjugorje, for those curious about the history of the apparitions, and for anyone seeking to deepen a Marian devotion.

Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, OCD

This Carmelite classic, which gives us two meditations and a colloquy for each day of the Liturgical year, is an outstanding aid to daily prayer and reflection. The book is densely packed with the wisdom of the saints in an accessible, sometimes anecdotal form. A helpful preface describes St. Teresa of Avila’s method of meditation, which inspired the author’s approach to prayer. The reflections follow the liturgical year as laid out prior to Vatican II, so it does not always align with our current calendar. Whilst not inexpensive, countless readers say it repays its purchase many times over the years.

Recommended as a gift for those making a Carmelite commitment, devotees of the Carmelite saints, and anyone seeking to take their prayer life to a deeper level