Biography book suggestions?

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Pax2u said:
Another good one is “The Story of a Family-the Home of St. Therese of Lisieux” by Father Stephane-Joseph Piat. It is about her whole family. An interesting read.
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Thanks, Pax. Sounds good. I’ve read one or two about her, but not that one. Would be interesting to get more details regarding her whole family. God’s blessings to you!
 
CyrilSebastian said:
American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton
by Joan Barthel

:byzsoc::byzsoc::byzsoc:
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Thanks very much for all three of your suggestions, Cyril! Sounds like I now have some great Lenten book choices! God’s blessings always to you.
 
Saint Luke the Evangelist
by Walter Hayward Pitman
:okpeople::okpeople::okpeople:
 
Saint Augustine: Man, Pastor, Mystic
by Agostino Trape
:juggle::console::idea:
 
CyrilSebastian said:
Saint Augustine: Man, Pastor, Mystic
by Agostino Trape
Code: 
:juggle::console::idea:
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Ah, I really like St. Augustine! I read a few other parts of books about him, but it wasn’t enjoyable reading for some reason. Some authors write so much better than others. Thanks for recommending the particular one that you liked, Cyril. It’s probably much better reading!
 
bmaj said:
Just wondering if anyone has some good recommendations for specific biographies or autobiographies of Catholics which you have read that inspired you over the years. Am looking for some good Lenten reading, not necessarily bios of Saints, although many of those are very good. Possibly also some of those who have converted to Catholicism, etc., even if they’re not well known.
Thanks! Blessings to all.
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I’m getting in on this a bit late, but my two highest recommendations would be the following two books:
  • Isabel of Spain: The Catholic Queen, by Warren Carroll
  • The Last Crusader: A Novel about Don Juan of Austria, by Louis de Wohl
I also would recommend:
  • Set All Afire (a novel about St. Francis Xavier), by Louis de Wohl
  • Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles, by Raymond Arroyo
The two Louis de Wohl books I mentioned are not strictly biographies, but more like fictionalized biographies or biographical novels. As far as I know, the stories are based mainly on true historical facts, but they are also embellished with smaller fictional details, so that they read more like a novel than a biography.

Also, I will put in a caution against Chesterton’s biography of St. Francis. I have heard many good things about it, and I love some of Chesterton’s work myself (especially Orthodoxy, and to a lesser extent The Everlasting Man). But I just couldn’t get interested in Chesterton’s biography of St. Francis. I forced myself to stick with it through about one third of the book, and then I gave up and went on to something else.
 
PaulGH said:
I’m getting in on this a bit late, but my two highest recommendations would be the following two books:
  • Isabel of Spain: The Catholic Queen, by Warren Carroll
  • The Last Crusader: A Novel about Don Juan of Austria, by Louis de Wohl
I also would recommend:
  • Set All Afire (a novel about St. Francis Xavier), by Louis de Wohl
  • Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles, by Raymond Arroyo
The two Louis de Wohl books I mentioned are not strictly biographies, but more like fictionalized biographies or biographical novels. As far as I know, the stories are based mainly on true historical facts, but they are also embellished with smaller fictional details, so that they read more like a novel than a biography.

Also, I will put in a caution against Chesterton’s biography of St. Francis. I have heard many good things about it, and I love some of Chesterton’s work myself (especially Orthodoxy, and to a lesser extent The Everlasting Man). But I just couldn’t get interested in Chesterton’s biography of St. Francis. I forced myself to stick with it through about one third of the book, and then I gave up and went on to something else.
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful insights and recommendations, Paul. The Mother Angelica bio sounds especially intriguing to me… will have to see if I can get one from the library or elsewhere! God’s blessings always to you.
 
Mother Angelica, Her Life Story
by Dan O’Neill
:nun1::nun2::nun1:
 
Thanks very much for those recommendations, Cyril! I just love reading biographies, especially if written well, of Catholics who have had such a wonderful influence all through the years! God’s blessings always.
 
There are some books that should be considered the greatest biographies of saints from all time. One for example would be St. Teresa of Avila’s autobiography, already mentioned here. Another is Raymond of Capua’s biography of St. Catherine of Siena. He was her confessor.
I think though that the books mentioned here are generally of a high level of quality, and I have been happy myself to have these titles mentioned.
 
mdgspencer said:
There are some books that should be considered the greatest biographies of saints from all time. One for example would be St. Teresa of Avila’s autobiography, already mentioned here. Another is Raymond of Capua’s biography of St. Catherine of Siena. He was her confessor.
I think though that the books mentioned here are generally of a high level of quality, and I have been happy myself to have these titles mentioned.
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I like the sound of the St. Catherine of Siena bio - thanks for recommending - and for all of your insight! Now to find the time to read these great books…
 
Another vote for “With God in Russia” - amazing.

Along those same lines, try The Shadow of His Wings, The True Story of Father Gereon Goldman.
 
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