Saint Catherine of Bologna The Artist Saint:
A Catholic Story of Creativity, Practice, and Faith
Paddy Bréagnamh
Mini Saints & Missionaries Library
ISBN 9798899681264
eISBN 9798899681264
ASIN B0GWYPR7Z6
There are currently 11 volumes available in this series dedicated to specific saints and 3 the focus on 52 female saints. I have enjoyed them a lot and keep checking for when new ones are released. I have enjoyed them all and recommended a few of them to several people. I especially loved the volume on Pope Leo XIV. This volume I picked up shortly after it released and read it the within a few days. The description of the book is:
“Saint Catherine of Bologna: The Artist Saint tells the story of a young woman who used her gifts to create with care, discipline, and purpose.
Catherine loved to learn. She loved to draw, write, and make music. But she didn’t become skilled all at once. She grew through practice: by showing up each day, making mistakes, and beginning again.
Over time, she discovered something important. Creating could be more than something you enjoy. It could be a way of focusing your attention, using your gifts well, and offering your work to God.
Why her story matters:
Saint Catherine of Bologna is known as the Artist Saint—a patron of artists, students, and anyone learning to create with purpose. Her story speaks directly to young readers who are:
• learning a skill
• practicing something new
• trying to improve
• or figuring out how to use their talents
A thoughtful gift for children preparing for First Communion or choosing a Confirmation name, this book helps readers connect their talents and daily efforts with their faith.
Especially well-suited for creative children.
What’s inside:
• A clear, engaging biography written for ages 8–14
• A focus on creativity, discipline, and steady growth
• Real-life lessons about practice, patience, and perseverance
• Reflection questions to help readers apply what they’ve learned
• A timeline of Saint Catherine’s life
• “Words to Remember” inspired by her example”
I now suspect that the author, Paddy Bréagnamh, is a pen name, I can only find these volumes in this series and the previous one on Saint Patrick in several bookstores online. This ninth volume I have read shortly after it was released, at the same time this one was released another volume released and 2 more followed shortly after.
The chapters and sections in the volume are:
1. A Girl Who Loved to Learn and Create
2. Choosing a Different Path
3. Learning, Practicing, Beginning Again
4. The Seven Spiritual Weapons
5. Creating as Prayer
6. Leading with Quiet Strength
7. Becoming a Saint
8. What Catherine Teaches Us
Create Like Catherine
Reflection Questions
Biographical Timeline
Author’s Note
Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series
This volume is written for young readers, it would be considered an early chapter book. Each chapter has illustrations. The material is well put together. It is a good introduction to the saint. I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume they are:
“When she drew, she paid attention to how colors fit together. When she read, she listened to how the words sounded. When she practiced music, she repeated small sections until they felt right. She wasn’t trying to stand out. She simply cared about doing things well.”
“Catherine paid attention. She learned how to speak with confidence. How to carry herself. How to listen before answering. She noticed how people behaved when they wanted power, and how they behaved when they had it.”
“She still looked for quiet. She still preferred careful work over quick attention. And while others were focused on being seen, Catherine was more interested in what she could make—something thoughtful, something lasting, something done well.”
“Catherine found herself thinking about different questions. What was true? What lasted? What made a life meaningful, not just impressive?”
“She was thirteen when she made her decision. Catherine left the court and joined a small group of young women in Ferrara who were living a religious life together. Their days were simple and structured—prayer, work, silence, and shared responsibility. There were no fine clothes, no constant visitors, no need to perform.”
“Life in Catherine’s new community was quiet—but it was not easy.”
“The quiet made it easier to notice everything that was unsettled inside her. When she tried to pray, her thoughts wandered. When she worked, she sometimes rushed or lost focus. When she tried to be patient, she found herself frustrated instead.”
“Catherine had learned how to begin again. Now she began to do something more. She started to write down what helped. She gathered her thoughts into a small book. She gave it a clear title: The Seven Spiritual Weapons.”
“Catherine did not create these works to be admired. She created them to be used. To help someone pause. To help someone focus. To help someone pray.”
“Over time, her story continued to spread. Her writings—especially The Seven Spiritual Weapons—were copied, read, and passed on. People returned to them not for dramatic stories, but for clear, practical guidance.”
“Today, Catherine of Bologna is known as the patron of artists and of the liberal arts, as well as a patron against temptation.”
“Catherine shows that creativity isn’t separate from faith. The way you work—how carefully you pay attention, how you return when something is difficult—can become part of how you live your faith.”
I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. This latest release in this series is another excellent read. The series keeps getting better and better. It was an excellent little read in a great series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books in the Mini Saints & Missionaries Library Series:
Saint Sebastian: The Soldier Who Wouldn’t Stay Down
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha: The Girl Who Walked Two Hundred Miles
Saint Andrew Kim Taegon: The Boy Who Crossed the Mountains
…
Lives of Women Saints: 52 True Stories of Courage, Faith, and Character
The Lives of Women Saints Coloring & Activity Book
The Lives of Women Saints Workbook
Mini Saints & Missionaries Seven Saints for Boys A First Communion Collection of Courage and Faith
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