Human beings are born to adore. It is in our nature. Without good role models, children look to celebrities who all too often demonstrate that money, immodesty, and popularity are the 'keys to the kingdom of heaven,' and that without these things, life isn't worth living. How then, in our wounded culture, are we supposed to raise upstanding citizens? How can we raise saints?
As a mother, how can I raise my sons to respect women, to defend innocent life, and to know real love? How can I teach them to fall in love with what counts? Children need positive role models. But where are we to find these role models? We cannot expect to find these role models on television. We can't expect to find them at the movies. But we can, however, find them in a book...
In his easy-to-read book entitled the Golden Legend of Young Saints, author Henri Daniel-Rops outlines the lives of some of the greatest saints our world has ever known. What do they all have in common? Every single one of them rose to the level of sanctity as a child or a teenager.
The book is very easy-to-read, and each chapter outlines the life of a different child saint. I kept it beside my bed and read a chapter each night before falling asleep. In this book children will learn about 13 year-old Agnes of Rome, 12 year-old King Louis XI, young Joan of Arc...the list goes on...
So the next time your child asks to turn on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," hand him this book instead. You'll be happy you did. Our world needs more saints and superheroes.
This review was written as part of the Catholic Book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Golden Legend of Young Saints. Click here to order the book.
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