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St. Teresa stands among the greatest of the mystics. It was her pursuit of Christ, not her pursuit of visions, that set her apart as one of the most notable saints in the history of Christendom. It is her dedication to her Lord, her bridegroom, not her experiences, that render her worthy of imitation.

In this short book, Forbes beautifully recounts the life and accomplishments of the famous St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism. Forbes tells of St. Benedict upbringing and early life in Rome, where he became disillusioned with their pursuit of pleasure and comfort. Taking up the life of a solitary in a cave in the mountains of Italy, he grew in holiness through prayer and fasting.

When Our Lord wants a message to get out to his church, he raises up a powerful saint to do the task. Such a saint was Gertrude the Great! She was the one to plant the seed which would bloom through the hands of another powerful saint and visionary St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, four centuries later, and subsequently through Saint Faustina Kowalska in the 20th century, through the Mission of Divine Mercy.

St. Cyril's (313 - 386 AD) famous 23 lectures were delivered to the catechumens in Jerusalem who were being prepared for baptism. They are best considered in two parts. The first 18 are known as the catechetical lectures or Homilies, while the rest are often called the mystagogic catecheses, since they deal with the mysteries: the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist.

This audiobook contains both the biography and the writings of St. Catherine, a 15th century Italian Roman Catholic saint and mystic (1447 - 1510). She was famous for her work among the sick and the poor, particularly during the plague which ravaged Genoa, where she died.

Saint Vincent de Paul could have stayed and basked in the glory that was Rome, but knew he had to go on to Paris. News of his involvement in the conversion of the apostate came to the attention of Pope Paul V, and in 1608, Vincent was commissioned to go to Henry IV on a confidential mission. Vincent departed for Paris, posthaste.

The story of Oscar Romero is one of transformation, from one born of poverty, to one living comfortably within the system, to one determined to change the system. The story of Oscar Romero is one of conversion, of Paul on the road to Damascus, of a man who was blinded, and whose eyes were opened by the Lord, to see his brothers and sisters in agony and misery. The story of Oscar Romero is one of a man who committed his life to right wrongs to his flock, or die trying. The story of Oscar Romero is one of a Martyr for Christ.

Athanasius of Alexandria (AD 296 - 373), was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. His intermittent episcopacy lasted 45 years, during which time he was exiled five times. He is known for his theology as a church father, and for being the chief defender of Christian doctrine against Arianism. In 325, at the age of 27, Athanasius began his principle role against the Arian sect as a deacon and assistant to Bishop Alexander during the First Council of Nicaea.

Joan of Arc (AD 1412 - 1431), nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans", is considered one of the greatest heroines of France for her courageous and pious role during the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years' War. As such, she was canonized a saint in the Roman Catholic church. Joan was born to a peasant family in northeast France. When still a youth, she received visions of the archangel Michael, Saint Margaret, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, telling her to support Charles VII and to recover France from English domination during the Hundred Years' War.

During one of Catherine of Siena's ecstasies, she exclaimed, referring to St. Agnes of Montepulciano: "I give you thanks oh my Lord, for showing me the place that will be mine (in Paradise), next to my sister Agnes." Who is this saint (virtually unknown in our country) that a powerful saint and doctor of the Church - Catherine of Siena should say this of her?

St. Ambrose (CE 340-397), bishop of Milan, felt strongly that virginity was one of the principle virtues. He was very successful in persuading maidens to adopt chaste religious vocations, so much so that many a mother refused to permit her daughter to listen to him. At one point, the saint was compelled to refute the accusation that he was depopulating the state. He did this by appealing to the young men of his age that they should not have any difficulty in finding wives.

St. Bridget of Sweden (1303 - 1373) was a mystic and saint, and founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks after the death of her husband Ulf. She is famous for her saintly life, the many miracles she worked, and her influence on various popes and European leaders. She is also well-known for the revelations she received, which are composed in eight books. St. Bridget is one of the six patron saints of Europe.

St. Anthony of Padua (1195 - 1231) was a Portuguese Catholic priest and friar of the Franciscan Order. He was born into a wealthy family in Lisbon, Portugal and later became a priest. He was noted by his contemporaries for his skillful preaching, knowledge of scripture, and unfailing love and devotion to the sick and the poor. He was one of the fastest canonized saints in church history and was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1946. There are many legends about this saint. This timeless, medieval classic is sure to delight listeners and enliven their faith.

Saint Alphonsus Ligouri begins a life in the courts of law. His father had him trained to become a lawyer. By the time he was 16 years old, he was so proficient in his studies, he received a degree of Doctor of Laws. And this came about in spite of the fact that the required age to receive such a degree was no younger than 20 years of age. Although his father's focus was to groom him for the world, his mother, who was highly spiritual, was the loving instrument who would prepare him for a future life as Jesus and Mary's troubadour.

St. John Bosco, better known as Don Bosco, is one of the great apostles of the 19th century. His ministry was to the children of Turin in Northern Italy, victims of the Industrial Revolution in that country at that time. Don Bosco was God's gift to the Church of that century. The magnetism of Don Bosco reached out and touched souls all over the world. He was one of the most multi-faceted diamonds the Lord has ever given us.

When we wrote on the life of St. Teresa in our book Saints and other Powerful Women in the Church, little did we think that we would, some day, be using her visions of heaven, hell, and purgatory to affirm these important truths of our Catholic faith.

Along the way, and with an entertaining teacher’s clarity, Mabry recounts the stories of many Christian mystics in a simple way and aptly relates them to modern times. He also enriches each chapter with questions and answers to simplify points, as well as experiential practices to help listeners embark upon the mystical journey themselves. In Growing into God, listeners will learn the discipline of growing the soul into God - shedding illusory identities, deepening prayer, seeing God in all things and acting as Christ in the world.

Nine Days with Saint Peregrine brings you a brief biography of the world renowned "cancer saint". Healed by a vision of Jesus coming down from the crucifix, Saint Peregrine is the saint Catholics and non-Catholics turn to for loved ones with cancer. However, this short biography also will tell the listener why St. Peregrine fought vehemently with another great saint of the Church, even to the point of striking him in the face! Then, learn what happened right after that!

The world needs saints to show it the way to true humanity. The Church needs saints to show it how to live out its calling. This audiobook, The Lives of the Saints: Volume IV (October - December), brings to completion a series of four volumes on the lives of the saints, covering the memorials, feasts, and solemnities of the whole Church year, in addition to several of the many optional memorials. This last volume brings with it some of the most beloved of the saints, including St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Holy Guardian Angels, St. Francis of Assisi, and St. Cecelia.

In How to Converse with God, St. Alphonsus Ligouri teaches us how to use the small events of everyday life to raise our hearts and minds to God: in praise, contrition, hope, joy, and union with God's will. In this way, we can “pray unceasingly” and converse with God in the way most pleasing to him - personally and confidently.