Saint The Books

The following text made me rethink my plans to give this book to my third-grade nephew: "A few years after Nicholas was ordained bishop, a man who kept an inn on the outskirts of the city murdered three youths and then hid them in a tub of brine...". Not exactly bedtime story material. So, I'll set it aside to give to him when he is a bit older. In the mean time, I did give him Paul Prokop's book The True Story of Santa Claus which I think is more appropriate for a younger audience.

A wonderful family keepsake. Well written and well presented in a beautifully artistic work. Something to read to children. An answer to a life long question. Is Santa Claus real? Or Saint Nicholas? Wonderful!

Opening with the traditional version of the beloved poem "A Visit From St. Nicholas" renowned children's book author Marianna Mayer seques into the life of St. Nicholas, the saint whose legendary generosity was the genesis for Santa Claus.

St. Nicholas, who lived during the fourth century in the area that is now known as Turkey, was the child of practicing Christians who died when Nicholas was but a boy. Fortunately, they were people of wealth so the child was left with a handsome inheritance which it is said he used to help others.

According to stories that have grown up around the saint when he was still a boy he overheard villagers in the marketplace discussing a family that was destitute, so impoverished that three daughters were to be sold into slavery.

That night young Nicholas stealthily approached the family's home and threw a bag of gold in through an open window. So astounded was the man to find this amazing gift that he sat by the window each night hoping to see his benefactor.

When he did catch Nicholas leaving another bag of gold the man wanted to know how he could repay him. The boy only asked that the man never tell who had helped him.

Later, as an adult, Nicholas was elected Bishop of Myra and continued his selfless generosity which won him legions of followers.

Illustrating her story with reproductions of paintings by some of the world's greatest artists, including Tintoretto and Fra Angelico, Ms. Mayer has created a keepsake Christmas book that families will enjoy season after season.

- Gail Cooke

How I wish I'd had this book when I was a child. That certainly would have cleared the Santa question up for me in good order.

What is so wonderful about this book is that it is a biography of St. Nicholas, the bishop who was later canonized as the Patron Saint of Children. Santa Claus is a variation of the name Saint Nicholas. In Dutch, St. Nicholas is translated as Sinterklaas.

It is a beautifully illustrated work that shows how the tradition of Santa Claus caught on and is a book families are sure to enjoy.

The lives of Rembrandt and the author take vivid shape before the mind's eye of the reader as Henri Nouwen tells the history of Rembrandt's painting. Rembrandt's famous canvas is inextricably intertwined with the story of the painter's own life and, as the author movingly shares, Rembrandt's experience was so powerfully human that it transcends generations and centuries and resonates clearly with contemporary women and men. The Return of the Prodigal Son may be said to be much more than the story of a painting; it is a beautiful story of love conveyed by Rembrandt through his painting.

In as much as love may be considered both human and spiritual, the reader is invited in to the intimacy of two men's deeply human and profoundly spiritual journeys though life. Despite life's suffering and bitterness, the author and the painter share their reasons for maintaining a firm grip on hope and inner peace. This is wonderful jewel of a book that has yet to be discovered and appreciated for it full worth - at least judging by its sales rank.

Having "The Genesee Diary" many years ago, and upon learning of Nouwen's untimely death, I was surprised to learn that he had written over 30 books. I was, and continue to be, overwhelmed by hearing his talk on "The Prodidgal Son." This represents a magnificent synthesis of his lifetime of searching. The fact that his cascade of insights is triggered by the painting of a fellow Dutchman, Rembrandt, and a searching soul as well, is remarkable. Because Nouwen is both priest and psychologist, I found his insights to be even more pointed and thought-provoking. When listening to this tape while driving, I have often pulled off the road because I was stunned by his cutting right to the core of so many issues. This could only come from a lifetime of struggling.

Native Americans believe in the healing power of stories. Jesus was, among other things, a story teller. Nouwen tells his own story of going out and returning, using the prodigal son parable as a framework, in these talks. This is truly a warm, wonderful, and deeply human volume. I highly recommend it.

I found this book very moving. It changed how I think about the story of the Prodigal Son, and how I think about my own spiritual journey. Highly recommended. If you read the Genessee Diary and related to Nouwen's personal reflections there, you will get even more out of The Return of the Prodigal Son.

The spiritual genious, Henri Nouwen, carves on paper an enlighting personal experience of Love. By contemplating Rembrandt's masterpiece; "The return of the prodigal son", the author reveals an aparently hidden road to happiness, and impells us to follow his steps towards a deep conversion. It is our own story, one of a long journey away from the Father, pursuing things that keep us far from his motherly womb. He offers always his gentle and healing embrace. Let us walk along with Henri Nouwen towards our home, our Peace, and our true Joy, to the arms of this everforgiving Father.

This book opened my eyes to the situation of same gender DV.
I had 'heard' about it, but it's only while I was turning the pages that it really hit me that women are not exempt from violent mood swings and neither are we, lesbians. If you're in it just for the sexy bits, there's plenty of that 2.
Tamara and Emilie are the women in love.
The DV moments are about laurel and melissa. There's also Jill and whats-his-name, the husband. Nothing sexy there. just life as it is for many of us.

About time someone, who better than a dyke, should expose the issue of DV in our community. This book is great because it exposes a topic that too many of us perfer to keep hush hush. It's great because it has an intelligent plot and its great because its a sexy read. Great mix.
AR

Hard-hitting because of the issue highlighted = hetero and same sex DV.
Sexy because the
- great sexual tension,
- frustration,
- surrender,
- layered love scene between Tam and Emilie (the best I've ever come across)
Relevant because of all of the above.
Great read.
amanda

Risking-me is really about 2 of the 3 things I most worry about: one is my fear is of ever repeating abusive patterns as I've known them for most of my life.
The other is of putting my emotional self at risk. So, I can say that I found that novel very relevant.
Besides, there's a sex scene in there that set up from the beginning, but ... if you're patient, it'll come to you as a delicious reward. Very sexy.
Myra

Complements the "Saint Bernard Classic" as a reference

Saint Bernards from the Stoan Perspective explains in language anyone can understand what those of us that aren't breeders and long time Saint Bernard owners need to know. It has helped me see what I need to look at when I buy my next saint. Breed standards aren't the easiest to interpret until you understand the terms. It's all spelled out in here.

Stan Zielinski has produced an excellent book that,in most ways, is the modern version of the Saint Bernard Classic. This book is a must read for all exhibitors, Saint Bernard breeders and all AKC judges either qualified or applying to judge Saint Bernards.

This is an excellent book, not just for breeders and judges, but for anyone interested in Saint Bernards. It provides wonderful insight for people looking for their first pet Saint as well as those interested in showing Saints. A great reference book!

Since receiving this book as a gift, I have bought many more to pass on as gifts. The words are poetic and the pictures are beautiful as the author tells the wonderful story of St. Francis (and a bit about St. Clare, too)!

Prolific author and illustrator, Brian Wildsmith, presents a beautiful book for children of all ages. The lavish art work is beautiful and extremely detailed for a young persons book, so therefore, people of all ages can appreciate this rich story of St. Francis. The author tells how St. Francis gave up his worldly possessions and dedicated his life to helping the poor, his love of God and all it's creatures. His repair of the church at San Damiano(at God's suggestion), his various soujourns preaching the word of God, his meeting with the Pope and his time in prison are all included in this abbreviated biography of the great St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Order later took his message of love to all parts of the Earth. Naturally his special relationship with animals is a highlight of the book and children will undoubtedly find this particularly interesting. The art work is just marvelous and may be shared with the young reader to discover all the intricate details on each page. For those children just establishing a vocabulary it is especially useful for playing the "what do you see" game with the art work. Recommended for personal, community, grade school and church libraries.

A beautiful book that tells about a man who has so much love to give. Just what the world needs now, an antidote to hatrid and war and the evildoers that push them.

I could tell that the author and illustrator, Brian Wildsmith has a special affection for this saint. Indeed, Brian's appreciation for St. Francis comes through every picture he has painted for this book. The paintings take up the whole of the pages. The cover of the book is a good example of the detail and joy which is throughout the paintings of this book. I am not one for enjoying art, but I could not help but look at the art of each page before I read the words on it. Brian then has added about 4 lines of story to each of his 9" by 12 inch pages. It is as though the words on the page - the story - serves as a label for the painting of the page, rather than the painting simply illustrating the words. Unique to this book is the fact that the words are written in the first person "I" rather than the third person and it tells a story that children, as well as adults, are sure to love as much as they love the pictures. It is a wonderfully beautiful book.

A TRULY GREAT, INSPIRING BOOK SUCH AS THIS HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE 1939! THIS WAS THE YEAR THE AUTHOR, MICHAEL KRECIOCH WAS BORN. THE NOVEL WAS "BLACK NARCISSUS" BY RUMER GODDEN'S. THE REASON FOR THE COMPARISON, NOT SINCE "BLACK NARCISSUS" HAS THE TRUTH BEEN TOLD ABOUT CATHOLIC NUNS. WHAT MR. KRECIOCH HAS DONE IS CAPTURE IN A HUMANIZING WAY THE TRUE ESSENSE OF "BLACK NARCISSUS" EVEN THOUGH IT IS OBVIOUS THE AUTHOR PROBABLY HAS NEVER READ THIS BOOK NOR HAS SEEN THE 1947 BRITISH CLASSIC. AFTER READING ST. HEDWIG AND ME IT WAS APPARENT THAT THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN MEMORY THAT NUNS WERE PORTRAYED FOR WHAT THEY WERE. HUMAN. WITH ALL OF THE FRAILITIES THAT GO WITH IT. ALTHOUGH MR. KRECIOCH WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AT THE TIME, IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT THEIR IS DIVINE INTERVENTION AT PLAY AND ULTIMATELY MR. KRECIOCH HAS GOTTEN OUT THE STORY OF SISTER MARY (MARCIA) MARCY BALDYS. MR. KRECIOCH WRITES "I HAVE KNOWN AND ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OTHER NUNS DURING MY LONGER THAN EIGHT YEAR STAY AT THE ORPHANAGE. MY INVOLVEMENT WITH SISTER MARCY WAS BRIEF. NEVERTHELESS, THE LONE YEAR THAT WE INTERACTED WITH EACH OTHER MADE ME THE MAN I AM TODAY." "SHE TAUGHT ME WHAT REALLY HARD WORK WAS, BUT SHE HELPED ME REALIZE THE RESULTS OF MY HARD WORK AND HOW REWARDING IT COULD BE. FAIRNESS WAS ANOTHER OF THE SPECIAL QUALITIES THAT SHE INSTILLED IN ME. IT REALLY HELPED ME IN MY LENGTHY CAREER ON THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. MARCY WAS NOT A WOMAN'S LIBBER, BUT SHE TAUGHT ME TO RESPECT WOMEN, ALL WOMEN. SHE SAID I COULD NEVER GO WRONG IF I TREATED A WOMAN AS MY EQUAL." "AT A GATHERING OF THE ST. HEDWIG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN OCTOBER 1996 I FINALLY GOT TO PUBLICLY THANK SISTER MARCY FOR GUIDING ME THROUGH SOME PRETTY HORRENDOUS TIMES. SHE WAS WISE BEYOND HER YEARS. SHE TURNED TWO OF THE BIGGEST TROUBLE MAKERS INTO TWO VERY PRODUCTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL CITIZENS OF OUR SOCIETY. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME WHILE I TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ONE OF THE FINEST TEACHERS I HAVE EVER KNOWN. MARY BALDYS WAS BORN TO GENEVIEVE AND PHILIP BALDYS IN WEST HAMMOND, ILLINOIS, ON MARCH 23, 1915. SHE WAS BABTIZED INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BY THE REVEREND B. NAWAKOWSKI AT ST. ANDREW THE APOSTLE CHURCH IN CALUMET CITY, ILLINOIS, ON APRIL 4, 1915. ON AUGUST 23, 1935, SISTER MARY MARCY MADE HER FIRST PROFESSION OF ANNUAL VOWS UNTIL SHE PRONOUNCED HER FINAL VOWS ON AUGUST 23, 1941. ONE OF HER FIRST TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS CAME IN 1933 AT ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SHE TAUGHT THE FIFTH GRADE FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. IN 1935, SHE TRANSFERRED TO ST. JOSEPH PARISH IN CHICAGO AS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER. SHE REMAINED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT FOR FIVE YERS. IN 1940 SISTER MARCY WAS SENT TO BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, TEACHING AFRICAN AMERICANS AT THE HOLY FAMILY MISSION SCHOOL IN ENSLEY. SHE REMAINED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT FOR APPROX. SIX YEARS. HER FIRST STINT AT ST. HEDWIG ORPHANAGE, ALSO KNOWN AS ST. HEDWIG INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CAME IN 1946 AS A SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER. AFTER APPROX. THREE YEARS, SHE LEFT FOR AN ASSIGNMENT AT ST. BRUNO'S PARISH, IN CHICAGO, TEACHING THE EIGHTH GRADE. THE FOLLOWING YEAR SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO ST. HYACINTH PARISH IN LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, TEACHING THE EIGHTH GRADE. SHE REMAINED AT ST. HYACINTH FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. FROM THERE SHE WENT TO HOLY ROSARY PARISH IN NORTH CHICAGO, FOR A TWO YEAR TOUR OF DUTY. SISTER MARCY'S DEVOTION TO HER FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE, SELFLESSLY SERVING OTHERS. SHE CROSSED OVER FROM THIS WORLD TO THE NEXT ON NOVEMBER 22, 1999, SHE HAD ALLOWED US TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HER FOR 84 YEARS OF LIFE. I KNOW THAT SHE IS IN A BETTER PLACE AND IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE. I HOPE AND PRAY THT SISTER MARCY WILL PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR ME IF SHE THINKS THAT I DESERVE IT. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. SHE CERTAINLY DESERVES HER PLACE IN HEAVEN. I GIVE HER ALL THE CREDIT FOR KEEPING ME OUT OF JOLIET STATE PENITENTIARY. YOU TAUGHT ME WELL, SISTER." I HEAR TODAY THAT THE CATHOLIC NUNS ARE BECOMING LESS AND LESS, AFTER READING THE BOOK I STRONGLY BELIEVE MR. KRECIOCH'S LIFE WAS CHANGED BY SOME OF THESE VERY NUNS. ALTHOUGH SOME NUNS WERE NOT AS GOOD AS OTHERS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THEY TRIED TO MAKE A SAFE AND SECURE HOME FOR THE ORPHANS IN THEIR CARE. FROM THE BITTERNESS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK, TO A CHANGED MAN AT THE END, MR. KRECIOCH IN HIS FIRST ATTEMPT AT WRITING A BOOK, HAS BECOME A CRUSADER WITHOUT KNOWING IT FOR THE STORY OF SISTER MARCY AND THE MANY MORE NUNS LIKE HER WHO SELFLESSY GIVE THEIR LIVES TO GOD AND HELPING THEIR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS. SISTER MARCY SHOULD HAVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR SAINTHOOD FROM WHAT I READ IN THE BOOK. MR. KRECIOCH SHOULD BE COMMENDED FOR NEVER GIVING UP ON HIS DREAM TO WRITE THE STORY OF HIS "INCARCERATION" IN A CATHOLIC ORPHANAGE. PLEASE BUY AND SUPPORT THIS BOOK SO THAT MR. KRECIOCH CAN SOMEDAY TELL THE FULL STORY OF SISTER MARCY. TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

I AM THE AUTHOR'S SON AND RIGHT NOW YOU MAY THINK MY OPINION IS BIASED. BUT IT'S NOT BIASED IN THE WAY YOU WOULD THINK. READ ON AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW EVEN I HAVE GONE FROM BITTERNESS TO FORGIVENESS. A TRULY GREAT, INSPIRING BOOK SUCH AS THIS HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED SINCE 1939! THIS WAS THE YEAR THE AUTHOR, MICHAEL KRECIOCH WAS BORN. THE NOVEL WAS "BLACK NARCISSUS" BY RUMER GODDEN. THE REASON FOR THE COMPARISON, NOT SINCE "BLACK NARCISSUS" HAS THE TRUTH BEEN TOLD ABOUT CATHOLIC NUNS. WHAT MY DAD HAS DONE IS CAPTURE IN A HUMANIZING WAY THE TRUE ESSENSE OF "BLACK NARCISSUS" EVEN THOUGH MY DAD CAN HARDLY REMEMBER THE NOVEL, LET ALONE THE CLASSIC BRITISH MOVIE FROM 1947. AFTER READING "ST. HEDWIG AND ME" IT WAS APPARENT THAT THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN MEMORY THAT NUNS WERE PORTRAYED FOR WHAT THEY ARE. HUMAN! WITH ALL OF THE FRAILITIES THAT GO WITH IT. ALTHOUGH MY DAD WAS NOT AWARE OF IT AT THE TIME, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEIR IS DIVINE INTERVENTION AT PLAY AND ULTIMATELY MY DAD HAS GOTTEN OUT THE STORY OF SISTER MARY (MARCIA) MARCY BALDYS. MY DAD WRITES "I HAVE KNOWN AND ASSOCIATED WITH MANY OTHER NUNS DURING MY LONGER THAT EIGHT YEAR STAY AT THE ORPHANAGE. MY INVOLVEMENT WITH SISTER MARCY WAS BRIEF. NEVERTHELESS, THE LONE YEAR THAT WE INTERACTED WITH EACH OTHER MADE ME THE MAN I AM TODAY. SHE TAUGHT ME WHAT REALLY HARD WORK WAS, BUT SHE HELPED ME REALIZE THE RESULTS OF MY HARD WORK AND HOW REWARDING IT COULD BE. FAIRNESS WAS ANOTHER OF THE SPECIAL QUALITIES THAT SHE INSTILLED IN ME. IT REALLY HELPED ME IN MY LENGTHY CAREER IN THE LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT. MARCY WAS NOT A WOMAN'S LIBBER, BUT SHE TAUGHT ME TO RESPECT WOMEN, ALL WOMEN. SHE SAID I COULD NEVER GO WRONG IF I TREATED A WOMAN AS MY EQUAL. AT A GATHERING OF THE ST. HEDWIG ALUMNI ASSOCIATION IN OCTOBER 1996 I FINALLY GOT TO PUBLICLY THANK SISTER MARCY FOR GUIDING ME THROUGH SOME PRETTY HORRENDOUS TIMES. SHE WAS WISE BEYOND HER YEARS. SHE TURNED TWO OF THE BIGGEST TROUBLE MAKERS INTO TWO VERY PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS OF OUR SOCIETY. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME WHILE I TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ONE OF THE FINEST TEACHERS I HAVE EVER KNOWN. MARY BALDYS WAS BORN TO GENEVIEVE AND PHILIP BALDYS IN WEST HAMMOND, ILLINOIS, ON MARCH 23, 1915. SHE WAS BAPTIZED INTO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BY THE REVEREND B. NAWAKOWSKI AT ST. ANDREW THE APSOTLE CHURCH IN CALUMET CITY, ILLINOIS, ON APRIL 4, 1915. ON AUGUST 23, 1935, SISTER MARY MARCY MADE HER FIRST PROFESSION OF ANNUAL VOWS UNTIL SHE PRONOUNCED HER FINAL VOWS ON AUGUST 23, 1941. ONE OF HER FIRST TEACHING ASSIGNMENTS CAME IN 1933 AT ST. JOHN OF GOD PARISH IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. SHE TAUGHT THE FIFTH GRADE FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. IN 1935, SHE TRANSFERRED TO ST. JOSEPH PARISH IN CHICAGO AS A FIFTH GRADE TEACHER. SHE REMAINED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT FOR FIVE YEARS. IN 1940 SISTER MARCY WAS SENT TO BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, TEACHING AFRICAN AMERICANS AT THE HOLY FAMILY MISSION SCHOOL IN ENSLEY. SHE REMAINED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT FOR APPROX. SIX YEARS. HER FIRST STINT AT ST. HEDWIG ORPHANAGE, ALSO KNOWN AS ST. HEDWIG INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL, IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, CAME IN 1946 AS A SEVENTH GRADE TEACHER. AFTER APPROX THREE YEARS, SHE LEFT FOR AN ASSIGNMENT AT ST. BRUNO'S PARISH, IN CHICAGO, TEACHING THE EIGHTH GRADE. THE FOLLOWING YEAR SHE WAS ASSIGNED TO ST. HYACINTH PARISH IN LA SALLE, ILLINOIS, TEACHING THE EIGHTH GRADE. SHE REMAINED AT ST. HYACINTH FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. FROM THERE SHE WENT TO HOLY ROSARY PARISH IN NORTH CHICAGO, FOR A TWO YEAR TOUR OF DUTY." SISTER MARCY'S DEVOTION TO HER FELLOW HUMAN BINGS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT HER ENTIRE LIFE, SELFLESSLY SERVING OTHERS. SHE CROSSED OVER FROM THIS WORLD TO THE NEXT ON NOVEMBER 22, 1999. "SHE HAD ALLOWED US TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH HER FOR 84 YEARS OF LIFE. I KNOW THAT SHE IS IN A BETER PLACE AND IN A POSITION OF INFLUENCE. I HOPE AND PRAY THAT SISTER MARCY WILL PUT IN A GOOD WORD FOR ME IF SHE THINKS THAT I DESERVE IT. MAY SHE REST IN PEACE. SHE CERTAINLY DESERVES HER PLACE IN HEAVEN. I GIVE HER ALL THE CREDIT FOR KEEPING ME OUT OF JOLIET STATE PENITENTIARY. YOU TAUGHT ME WELL, SISTER." I hear today that Catholic nuns average 68 years of age approx. Not enough young women are heeding the call of our Lord today. We need many more Sister's like Sister Marcy in this world today, not less. It is books such as this that can make a difference in the world. If nothing else, let this be a wake up call! We need to spread the word about nuns such as Sister Marcy who have helped countless souls strive toward Salvation. I was shocked when I finished reading my Dad's book and my life has been changed forever. I also strongly believe now that my Dad's life was changed by some of these very nuns. Although some nuns were not as good as other nuns, the bottom line is that they tried to make a safe and secure home for the orphans in their care. From the bitterness at the beginning of the book, to a changed man at the end, my Dad in his first attempt at writing a book, has become a crusader without knowing it for the story of Sister Marcy and the many more nuns like her who selflessly give their lives to God and helping their fellow human beings. Sister Marcy should have serious consideration for Sainthood from what I read in the book. My Dad should be commended for never giving up on his dream to write the story of his "incarceration" in a Catholic Orphanage. Please buy and support this book so that my Dad can someday tell the full story of Sister Marcy. Tell your friends and God Bless You All!

A very fast and interesting read of a street smart 8 year old in a Catholic orphanage, and his maturation into a decent young man over the next 8 years. His recollections are amazing, as is the nostalgia he feels. I enjoyed it very much!

Very easy reading. An interesting story about life in an orphanage where the children were taught morals, values, obedience, discipline, and the work ethnic. But where was the love that all children so desperately need during their formative years? The author was able to overcome this obstacle and become a worthwhile, productive member of society. This is a attribute to the values taught at the orphanage. This book gives one an opportunity to compare his/her childhood with those who were reared in an orphanage setting. A thought provoking and interesting reflection of the author's childhood.

Easy to read and language easy to understand.
Really great book.
You really understand the reason behind the Sacred Heart devotion
with this book.

When I was little, I used to love reading about the Saints. My Dad encouraged it, and I found their lives very inspiring. As I got older and busier, I either didn't have the time to read these books or I just wasn't interested. The other day, I couldn't find anything to do so I pulled this book out.

It starts out by giving you a bit of background on the life that St. Margaret Mary was living. She was 13 and very ill. She and her mother prayed all they could for young Margaret to get better, but nothing worked. Finally, her Mom came up with the idea that Margaret should offer herself to be a Nun. After praying on such, Margaret was healed, and was able to resume a normal life.

Years later, Margaret's mother wanted her to get married, but Margaret knew that she had to become a nun. The idea made her so happy. She begged her Mother and brother, and finally, they allowed it. They wanted her to become a nun at the nearby convent, but Margaret wanted to be a nun with the Order of the Visitation. They finally agreed, and she was accepted.

When Margaret was there, it was hard for her to undersatnd some of their ways of life. And when she started to have visions from God, the sisters began to think she was mental. They were very critical and felt that she was very different from them.
Margaret did all she could, but they still criticized her. After convincing the Superior of the time that she wasn't crazy, they got a new, more practical, Mother Superior. But God told her things would be better. Margaret still was having visions and knew that all of the criticism and suffering would be worth it in the end. And God told her he would send someone to help.

That someone was a priest. Sister Margaret Mary told Father Coliembre about her visions, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and how Jesus wanted to be loved, and not feared so much. The Priest offered to do everything he could to help her, and convinced the practical Superior that the Sister was really having visions. But later on, Father Coliembre gets sent away.

Later on, troubles meet Father in England and the story goes to him for alittle bit, telling of all that he had to deal with in England at a time when Catholicism was looked down upon. When he is finally done with all the suffering, he goes back to the convent, and is surprised to see a new Mother Superior, who won't let him speak to Sister Margaret Mary. When they finally do talk, Sister Margaret tells of all of the promises of the Sacred Heart that God told her about.

Father Coilembre dies later on, and a few strange things happen at the convent when Mother Superior won't allow Sister Margaret Mary to make her holy hour of prayer on Thursday nights, and get communion on the first of every month. She allows Sister Margaret to do these things, and also believes that Sister Margaret is meant to be a Saint. With the help of Mother Superior, Sister Margaret Mary stops getting criticized for her visions and ways and gains support from her fellow sisters. She receives the final promise, and gets many involved with the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Soon, Mother Margaret Mary (She was ranked higher) dies.

This book is great, especially for those who want to know mroe about the promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. And remember, I'm a 14 year old who reads popular teen books (by Meg Cabot, Ann Brashares, Lisi Harrison, etc.) and if I liked it, then there is a good chance you will too! :-)

The story for children 10 and up of the revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to a holy French nun, including the Great First Friday Promise, her painful childhood, troubles in the convent, St. Claude, the Apparitions and her many penances.

Saint Margaret Mary... an apostle for Christ, a loving and obedient nun, one who would do anything for Christ and Our Blessed Mother, one who recognized the power of love and suffering for Christ... yes, this is who St. Margaret Mary is.

And Mary Fabyan Windeatt wrote the book, Saint Margaret Mary and the Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in such a way that it is very hard to describe. The story started out with Margaret, ill in bed, at the age of 13. Mary Wineatt tells how Margaret and her mother promised to Mary, Our Blessed Mother, that if Margaret is cured of her illness she will become a religious. Their prayers were answerd... the Blessed Mother cured Margaret!

It took a long time until finally Margaret could visit the Visitation nuns to become a religious. When she becomes a Visitation nun at the convent she begins to have visions of Christ's suffering. Most of the nuns don't believe her at first. Our Lord revealed twelve promises to Margaret and she saw the Sacred Heart of Jesus two times.

Our Lord tells Margaret of a person who is going to come and help her spread the word. This person was Father de la Colombiere. He was a very well known and educated priest. He helps Margaret in a lot of ways until he dies at the age of 41.

Before Margaret dies she was perfectly healthy but in a few hours she dies at the age of 43.

I like this book so much because the way the author writes it. It sounds like a story instead of facts just put together. This book is beautifully written. And I especially liked how Margaret seems so loving and kind to everyone.

We used this book in a "Five in a Row" style the week before St. Patrick's day and my kids got so much out of it. It's a little book full of great information about a great Christian. It was an introduction for them to missions, persecution, slavery, Ireland, the Trinity, and more. We followed up our study with Celtic music and a meal of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, green shamrock-shaped honey rolls and green lemonade just for fun.

Ann Tompert, an excellent author of children's books, has done it again in her wonderful style of writing. It will be most enjoyed by those 5-10 years old, with 3rd to 5th graders being able to read it for themselves. She wrote this book based on the facts present in one of St. Patrick's letters. It is primarily about his life to when he got home from his slavery, and prepared to return to Ireland. Only one page is spent on his ministry in Ireland. Then it talks about his days of slavery and incarceration later in his life ending with how his being in Ireland has continued to affect it. There is only one page of writing for every two pages open. Most pages of writing only have 7-12 lines of typing on them. The illustrations are great. As the School Library Journal Editorial Review states it: "It is mounted in an exceptionally handsome format, with a formal presentation of the text on yellow backgrounds richly framed by borders of brown and gold, facing full-page, mixed-media illustrations of power and distinction, gleaming with brilliant color. The artistic style is decorative yet forceful, with an interesting variety of landscapes and flat, simple, but very expressive human figures."

This is a great book for people who wan't to know a little basic information about the life of St. Patrick. It explains wonderfully for children and adults! It talks from birth to death. There is little information about his childhood, but Ann Tompert covers it best she can.

Long ago in the forth century a boy was born in Britain,his parents called him Succat but later in his life he was called Patrick. He grew up with his parents in Britain they thought him about God. He was not a religious man until he was captured by the Irish pirates and sold as a slave. His master was very kind to him. He tended his flocks and while doing that he prayed to God and started to communicate with him. God deliverd himfrom his bondage and show him the way home back to his parents. There he thought people about God after a few years he went back to Ireland and spread the word of God,he was captured and put in prison but he still teach people about God and started many churches and stayed there until ha died.

I began reading Cathy Giandrande's little guide to St. Petersburg with a great deal of skepticism. As I kept exploring the book, all my doubts quickly disappeared. That alone came to me as a surprise. Unlike most Russians who still suffer from a mild identity disorder, Petersburgers have a strong sense of local patriotism and know what they are and what their city is about. From time to time, their patriotism mutates into a peculiar kind of city chauvinism. It is taken for granted that no temporary visitor, be he or she from Moscow or Paris, can know the city or truly appreciate it. I am no different. As a Petersburger, I would never think that an outsider, least a foreigner, least someone from a culture many Russians perceive as hostile and extremely russophobic, would be able to put together a concise guide to the lesser known museums and landmarks of the city and do it in such a low key, friendly and unbiased manner, that the final work is a joy to read and is more useful from any practical standpoint of city exploration than many far weightier and thicker "serious" guides.
Cathy Giangrande's St. Petersburg is a guide to the city museums and lesser-known landmarks. If the author "missed" any museums, then I have a feeling, that she excluded them deliberately because they are so obscure (like the Museum of Armed Forces Medical Academy) that almost no locals are aware of their existence. On the other hand, the guidebook contains information on some really obscure museums, such as the new private museum of toys.

The book is a journey of exploration and is a pleasure to read "as is" from cover to cover. Alternately, it can be used as a helpful reference manual.

The guidebook has its own share of minor irritants, such as the occasional misspelling of French and English words transliterated backwards, but they are not very significant.

The book is beautifully printed on high quality paper and is richly illustrated with color photographs. It contains a helpful map or rather an outline plan of the central part of the city, a schematic plan of St. Petersburg region, and a well-designed plan of St.Petersburg "Metro" (or the city's subway system). All museum and landmark entries include detailed address and contact information, and indicate the nearest subway or suburban train station.

Among all foreign languages guides and books on St. Petersburg, that I ever came across, this one is the only work that is worth translating into Russian. Even locals would find this book a great aid in exploring their own city.

As the founder of a company devoted to business and cultural travel to Russia, it pains me that so many tourists come to St. Petersburg for a day or two and only visit the Hermitage, Peterhof, and a ballet. Russia is like a Fabergé egg-a beautiful exterior with a hard-to-open but spectacular hidden interior. Among the little known gems in St. Petersburg are the Museum of Theatrical and Musical Arts, the Nabokov Museum (former residence of Vladimir Nabokov), the Russian Ethnographic Museum, the Rimskii-Korsakov Memorial Apartment-Museum, the History of Religion Museum (formerly the "Anti-Religion Museum), the recently-opened Museum of Toys, and the Museum of Russian Vodka. All these treasures and more are fondly catalogued in Cathy Giangrande's Saint Petersburg: Museums Palaces and Historic Collections (Museums).

To appreciate this book a traveler needs to understand the unintentional irony of the chapter titled "Also well worth a visit are ..." listing the Hermitage Museum, one of the world's premier cultural treasures (and the most popular tourist site in Russia). It makes a great companion to such guides as DK Eyewitness's St. Petersburg guidebook (far more sights and coverage of the Hermitage, but without lengthy descriptions of lesser-known museums).

Its small size makes this a "laptray book", but for the visitor in body or spirit to St. Petersburg is just as enthralling as a five pound coffee table book. One-to-four pages are devoted to each of the over 40 lesser known attractions in St. Petersburg. Each listing had a clear address, directions, phone and web site (if available).

Books like this will help St. Petersburg, and Russia, become one of the world's premier tourist destinations in the next 10 years. There are literally thousands of such treasures throughout Russia as these listed here, but few people know about them. Truly, this book will help anyone interested in truly discovering Russia.

I happened on this wonderful book by reading all the reviews written by one of its reviewers. It is small, light weight and so very easy to use. The pictures are beautiful. We went to St. Petersburg last December with the book in hand. Each night we decided where to go the next day. Planning is important because each museum is usually closed at least one day a week. Unfortunately the museums were so interesting, that we often stayed way longer than we planned to. We never would have gone to some of the museums had we not had this little book. We especially liked the maps showing the ocation of each museum in relation to the others. Because of this book, we will return to St. Petersburg in the off season and enjoy many more of its amazing little museums -- after all what better way is there to spend a cold December day?

I began reading Cathy Giandrande's little guide to St. Petersburg with a great deal of skepticism. As I kept exploring the book, all my doubts quickly disappeared. That alone came to me as a surprise. Unlike most Russians who still suffer from a mild identity disorder, Petersburgers have a strong sense of local patriotism and know what they are and what their city is about. From time to time, their patriotism mutates into a peculiar kind of city chauvinism. It is taken for granted that no temporary visitor, be he or she from Moscow or Paris, can know the city or truly appreciate it. I am no different. As a Petersburger, I would never think that an outsider, least a foreigner, least someone from a culture many Russians perceive as hostile and extremely russophobic, would be able to put together a concise guide to the lesser known museums and landmarks of the city and do it in such a low key, friendly and unbiased manner, that the final work is a joy to read and is more useful from any practical standpoint of city exploration than many far weightier and thicker "serious" guides.

Cathy Giangrande's St. Petersburg is a guide to the city museums and lesser-known landmarks. If the author "missed" any museums, then I have a feeling, that she excluded them deliberately because they are so obscure (like the Museum of Armed Forces Medical Academy) that almost no locals are aware of their existence. On the other hand, the guidebook contains information on some really obscure museums, such as the new private museum of toys.

The book is a journey of exploration and is a pleasure to read "as is" from cover to cover. Alternately, it can be used as a helpful reference manual.

The guidebook has its own share of minor irritants, such as the occasional misspelling of French and English words transliterated backwards, but they are not very significant.

The book is beautifully printed on high quality paper and is richly illustrated with color photographs. It contains a helpful map or rather an outline plan of the central part of the city, a schematic plan of St. Petersburg region, and a well-designed plan of St.Petersburg "Metro" (or the city's subway system). All museum and landmark entries include detailed address and contact information, and indicate the nearest subway or suburban train station.

Among all foreign languages guides and books on St. Petersburg, that I ever came across, this one is the only work that is worth translating into Russian. Even locals would find this book a great aid in exploring their own city.

This review{by the way} is for the last volume of saint tail. My first one was for volume 4.
This book includes:
The birth of Saint Tail -
When Meimi first becomes Saint Tail.
The Christmas Present-
The story that takes place after Saint Tail's adventure in volume #6.
Seira and Sawatari-
Seira and Sawatari spend time together.
It also has some character notes and sketches, plus two short stories.

I don't think this book is boring at all, considering I look at it so much.
1st chapter:
Kids want to see a comet, but the parents won't let them. It's up to Saint Tail.
2nd chapter:
A brother and sister need one last ingriedent to make a perfume that their dad started before he died.
3rd chapter:
Meimi goes on a date the same day as she has to get the Greensleeves music box.
4th chapter:
Saint Tail steals a locket. Meimi and Lina compete in a shampoo contest.

Saint Tail is a story of a girl from a Catholic school who is student by day, thief by night. She steals for "lost lambs," rescuing things that were taken and returning it to them. In the meantime, a cute young detective, who is also one of her classmates at school, is on her trail. In the fourth of this adorable and highly recommended series, things are beginning to develop between thief and detective if they haven't before. Does end on a slightly suspenseful note that will leave you wanting to read more.

This volume, volume #7 is the last of the Kaitou Saint Tail series. The actual 'story' ends in vol. #6, this is filled with Tachikawa-san's little extra stories and a few of her other small one issue mangas.
The first story is about the birth of Saint Tail. About how Meimi and Seira became friends etc. etc. the second story goes back to present and it's Christmas again and Meimi and Asuka Jr. have just become 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend' and decide to go on their very first date. You could actually really concider THIS chapter to be the very end. Meimi becomes worried on who Asuka Jr. likes really, her or Saint Tail.
The second story is my favorite ^-^ It's the Seira and Sawatori special. I do not want to spoil this incredibly kawaii story for you. It's very...important though. That's all I'll say.
The last two stories are very cute. The first one was pretty predictable though,the second one is very cute though. No real big plot in them, just little fun fluffy stories.
I recomend this to all Saint Tail fans. This manga is not as popular as some of it's other kaitou conterparts.(Though it should, Kaitou Saint Tail started it all!) *ahem* anywas highly recomended. Very kawaii ending to this incredible series of Justice,Love, and Life.