Around The Year Once Upon A Time Saints

Relates briefly the lives and deeds of seventeen saints, including Hyacinth, Martha, Servulus, Simeon, and Zita

Ethel Pochocki, whimsically and unforgettably, presents a new set of heavenly friends to readers young and old in this third collection of Once Upon a Time Saints stories. Beginning in the dark of December, the start of the Church Year, there are stories and poems for each month, all bursting with saintly--not to mention angelic--deeds and happenings. Each tale or verse--whether of mystical apparitions in a tiny Irish village or of friars who float in the air or of entire countries single-handedly converted to Christianity--makes it quite plain that heaven doesn't keep to its place at all, but is happily determined to spill over into earthly life--here, there and . . . all around the year.

These stories, the author explains, are meant to show human and lovable people whose mysterious passion for God led them into preposterous escapades. With an eye on the taste of a child for concrete detail and no apologies for the embroidery of legend, each tale, in a style akin to fairy-tale, sets forth the unique qualities of a Genevieve, a Felix, a Dorothy, or Comgall-16 real saints brought unforgettably to our attention and admiration. Illustrated by Tom Matt.

Relates briefly the lives and deeds of nineteen saints including Germaine, Swithin, Clement, and Bridgid.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.” Taking that notion to heart, this collection of short articles and essays seeks to inform, inspire, but also at times amuse. Topics range from the light-hearted (coffee and baseball) to the heart-wrenching (St. Edith Stein and St. Gianna Beretta Molla). And then, of course, there are the angels. Archangels, guardian angels, angels in disguise, and angels loud and proud. They are the glue that holds this book of seemingly disparate topics together, reminding us on each page they appear that they are our friends, our protectors, our teachers, and our guides. Based on the blog of the same name, Angels and Saints and the Rest of Us roughly follows a year’s worth of Church celebrations with teachings from the saints, actions from the angels, and a few personal anecdotes from the author. All in all, an enjoyable reading experience that even an angel would approve of.

“Our children are destined for greatness, each and every one of them. But let us not confuse fame with greatness. All of our children, whether they lead ordinary or extraordinary lives, are called to exemplary virtue, generous sacrifice, courageous heroism, and above all, deep, enduring love. They are called to be saints.” These words of Mary Cooney are the driving force behind her book Evangelizing Our Children with Joy. With an energizing zeal and drive, Mary shares with us the wisdom that has come from the highs and lows of parenthood, intermingled with the inspiration she has received through prayer and the Bible. From the virtues of mercy, kindness, and patience—virtues abundantly needed in the family setting—to the riches of the sacramental life, Mary shows us how to teach our children that the path to living an extraordinary life leads through the ordinary actions and habits of everyday living. Mary Cooney, wife and mother, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. With a degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Piano Pedagogy, she has been teaching children for over twenty years. Her most delightful students are her own five, lively homeschooled children. She currently lives in Maryland.