Category: Catholic Audiobooks

Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, T.O.S.F., (8 May 1786 – 4 August 1859), commonly known in English as St. John Vianney, was a French parish priest who is venerated in the Catholic Church as a saint and as the patron saint of all priests. He is often referred to as the “Curé d’Ars”. He became internationally notable for his priestly and pastoral work in his parish because of the radical spiritual transformation of the community of Ars, its surroundings, and souls from far reaching places who came to seek his spitritual counsel. Catholics attribute this to his saintly life, mortifications, his persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession, and his ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to Saint Philomena. This truly humble parish priest changed not only a town, but much of the world of his time! This short biography of the beloved saint was written before he was canonized in 1925, thus the title Blessed before his name in the title of this audiobook.

1 Hours and 53 Minutes.

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Saint Columba (521 – 597) was an Irish abbot and missionary credited with spreading Christianity in present-day Scotland. He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He is the Patron Saint of Derry. He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts, and is remembered today as a Catholic saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Columba reportedly studied under some of Ireland’s most prominent church figures and founded several monasteries in the country. Around 563 he and his twelve companions crossed to Dunaverty near Southend, Argyll in Kintyre before settling in Iona in Scotland, then part of the Irish kingdom of Dál Riata, where they founded a new abbey as a base for spreading the Faith among the northern Pictish kingdoms who were pagan. He remained active in Irish politics, though he spent most of the remainder of his life in Scotland. Three surviving early medieval Latin hymns may be attributed to him.

The story of St. Columba is not remarkable, however as much for his earthly works, and for the spiritual heritage he left behind. Known for many miracles, and a life of great sanctity, his story is inspiring and well worth the read!

2 Hours and 18 Minutes.

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This book is above all things the story of a mother. But, it is also the story of a noble woman—a woman who was truly great, by the very fact that she never sought to be so. She understood the sphere in which a woman’s work in the world must usually lie, and with unflinching devotion led her life along the lines that God had laid down for her. She suffered bravely, forgot herself for others, and remained faithful to her noble ideals, and thus, she ruled as a queen amongst those with whom her life was cast.

St. Monica’s influence was great and far-reaching, but she herself was the last to suspect it, the last to desire it, and that was perhaps the secret of its magnitude. This type of woman is rare in this present day, but, by the grace of God, there are still “other Monicas” living and serving those around them with devotion. If there were more, wouldn’t the world would be a better place!

2 Hours and 4 Minutes.

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A short and engaging biography of the ardent Spanish soldier who, while recuperating from a battle wound, was converted to the service of Christ by reading a Catholic book. The young Ignatius of Loyola was first a soldier from a noble family who fought in the service of the Duke of Navarre. As a young aristocrat Ignatius had a “love of martial exercises and a vainglorious desire for fame”. Joining the army at seventeen, he strutted about “with his cape slinging open to reveal his tight-fitting hose and boots; a sword and dagger at his waist”.

After an injury which forced him to be bedridden, during which time he read De Vita Christi, a book on the life of Christ, Ignatius experienced a dramatic conversion. He dedicated the rest of his life fully to being a “Soldier of Christ”, and went on to found the great Jesuit order. Formally known as the Society of Jesus, the order demanded an unprecedented degree of education, obedience, and sacrifice, and was immensely influential in turning the tide of the Reformation in Europe.

2 Hours and 11 Minutes.

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With the amazing ability of any gifted story-teller, Mother Frances Alice Forbes lays before us the beautiful life story of St. Teresa of Avila. Witty, gifted with great wisdom, charming and courageous, St. Teresa was the great reformer of the Order of Mt. Carmel, founded numerous convents and monasteries, and is universally considered the greatest mystical writer of the Catholic Church, for which she was declared Doctor of the Church. Beginning with her girlhood, and following along through her joining Carmel, years as nun, mystical call to God’s Mission for her, and finally her sufferings and death. This story is one of the best written about this wonderful saint!

2 Hours and 14 Minutes.

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The Life of St. Teresa is the story of the beloved Doctor of the Church as written by herself. Born in the Castilian town of Ávila in 1515, Teresa entered the Carmelite convent of the Incarnation when she was twenty-one. Suffering great illness, as wells as doubts and self-recrimination, she gradually came to a deeper understanding of the power of prayer and contemplation, and the road to spiritual perfection. Her spiritual enlightenment was intensified by many visions and mystical experiences, including the incredible piercing of her heart by a spear of divine love. Over the years she went on to found seventeen Carmelite monasteries throughout Spain, and was a much needed reformer of the Carmelite Order. Considered to be, along with John of the Cross, a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. Famous world-wide for her writings, her works are second in readership among Spanish classics only to the great Don Quixote!

Like many of her writings, her autobiography is enlightening, yet exhortative, seeking to instruct the reader on how to live a more devout Christian life in the manner put forth by the Catholic Church. The Saint’s spiritual struggles, vision of her potential place in Hell, and mystical graces highlighted in this work are deeply moving–yet ,in spite of her high degree of sanctity and closeness to spiritual perfection, she remained very down to earth, making her a favorite among the saints. The Life of Saint Teresa is a must read for anyone seeking a more contemplative life and a closer and more spiritual connection with God through prayer and religious devotion.

13 Hours and 17 Minutes.

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St. Vincent De Paul [c. 1581 – 1660] was a man renowned during his own lifetime for his great compassion, humility and generosity, with these traits and his wide-spread charitable works leading him to be known as “The Father of his Country”. As a young man he was captured by Turkish pirates, and sold into slavery . He escaped in 1607 and went on to become a priest with a ministry to the poor and neglected. His work included serving the poor souls of men condemned to work on the galley ships, orphans with no one to care for them, and missionary work to bring back to the fold those led astray by heresy.

In 1625 St. Vincent founded the Congregation of the Mission, a society of missionary priests commonly known as the Vincentians or Lazarists ,and with the assistance of St. Louise de Marillac he later founded the Daughters of Charity whose selfless nursing work in hospitals throughout the world and during many plagues is well known.

1 Hours and 54 Minutes.

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In Light and Peace: Instructions for Devout Souls to Dispel Their Doubts and Allay Their Fears Padre Quadrupani(1740 – 1807), Italian priest and member of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, reflects his deep spirituality based on that of the illustrious Doctor of the Church, St. Francis de Sales. Like St. Francis, the insightful Padre offers spiritual advice that is practical and balanced. A handbook for the devout soul to shed light on walking the path to heaven, Light and Peace covers the vital aspects of living out our religious duties, with practical ideas, immense common sense, and helpful advice. This enlightening read shows how, after gaining self-knowledge and learning steps to head down the right path spiritually, the result is Peace, that peace which Our Lord promised and which the world, as we know, cannot give.

4 Hours and 30 Minutes.

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A compilation from the extensive 12 volume set, this condensed volume contains short biographies of the Saints for each day of the year, followed by a reflection for each entry.  Father Butler’s famous Lives of the Saints ranks only after the Bible, the Missal, and The Imitation of Christ as the all-time most popular Catholic book. The author is rightly known as one of the most studied scholars on the lives of the saints, having devoted almost 30 years to the meticulous study of the saints, their lives, and traditions surrounding their history.

A highly recommended read for anyone, this book will enrich your knowledge of the Faith, encourage greater devotion to the Saints, and give examples that will help one to grow in virtue as you strive to imitate their sanctity!

14 hours and 11 minutes.

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A 1907 novel by prolific Catholic author Msgr. Robert Hugh Benson, Lord of the World, centers on: the reign of the Anti-Christ, who will tempt Christians to apostasy before Christ’s Second Coming; the final battle in the supernatural war for souls; and the End of the World. Deeply profound and seen by many a modern day theologian (including the last two popes) as prophetic for our times, the book is heralded as a must read. Before creating his fictional account, Msgr. Benson carefully explored the various passages on the end times included in Scripture and the teachings of the Church Fathers as background for this tale of the Antichrist, lending a level of authenticity to the story rarely seen in endtime fictional works. The storyline of the book is eerily familiar to our times today, giving one pause for thought. However,  we must always remember that in the end the true Lord of the World will triumph!

10 Hours and 17 Minutes

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