Saints for All Occasions Notecards - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Saints for All Occasions Notecards

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

Abrams

ISBN 9781419718106

I have now read all the books read by Barbara and Sandra, this is one of two box set of notecards available from the writing team. I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading that first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read.

The description of this product states:

“Based on a collection of vintage holy cards, this set of notecards offers the perfect saint to send for every occasion. Send your best wishes with St. Casilda (invoked for luck), St. Vitus (invoked for laughter), and St. Teresa of Ávila (invoked for healing). For Mother’s Day there is St. Monica (Patron Saint of Mothers) and for graduations there is St. Thomas Aquinas (Patron Saint of Students). The gorgeous foil-stamped box includes 20 envelopes and 20 cards, each featuring a different saint.”

The cards in this box set in no particular order are:

Saint Margaret of Antioch

Saint Joseph

Saint Anthony Of Padua

Saint John the Baptist

Saint Monica

Saint Jude

Saint Norbert

Saint Adelaide

Saint Casilda of Toledo

Saint Anne

Saint Gabriel the Archangel

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Theresa of Avila

Saint Vitus

Saint Julian the Hospitaller

Saint Therese of Lisieux

Saint Louis

Saint Patrick

Saint Joachim

Saint Joan of Arc

A sample card text is:

“Saint Vitus

Invoked for Laughter

D. 303

Feast Day June 15

SICILIAN BOY IMPRISONED AND MARTYRED BY THE ROMANS for his faith,

Vitus was said to have been entertained in his cell by a band of dancing angels. In the late Middle Ages, it became customary in Germany to celebrate his feast day by dancing all night. Eventually, Vitus became the patron saint of dancers, comedians, and entertainers.

PATRONAGES

hens, roosters, actors, brewers, comedians, dancers, pharmacists, vintners, neurological disorders

INVOKED AGAINST

snakebite, bedwetting, wild-animal attacks.”

This is another excellent product from the team who created it. It ties in well with the books the duo have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a wonderful collection of cards. I enjoyed reading through he whole set, and look forward to using them for notes for friends and family . If you can track it down it is a great set of gift cards.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

…

Other items by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Holy Cards: Note Card Set in a Drawer (2005)

Saints for All Occasions Notecards (2015)

Novena App

...

Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

…

Novena App - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Novena App

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

Novena App on IOS

I have now read all the books read by Barbara and Sandra, have had this app for many months. I greatly enjoyed their books and wanted to write this review to promote this wonderful app. The description of this app states:

“The saints, having been human, lived every type of earthly existence and it is in the details of their life stories that we find their patronages. By invoking the saints, we ask for guidance in overcoming our own earthly trials, much like one would ask advice of a family member or friend. Meditating on the lives of these remarkable people inspires us to conquer our own personal obstacles.

A novena is a nine day period of prayer. Usually the novena prayer is recited nine times in a row for nine consecutive days, the repetitive nature of the prayer serves to bring on a quiet and meditative state. When ones mind quiets down, it allows the solution to a problem to appear or even help in the acceptance of an unchangeable life challenge.

To help you find a saint that can aid you with your specific dilemma, we have divided this app of thirty-six saints into four categories: Health, Occupations, Situations and States of Life. You can find your saint by personally relating to their history, by being drawn to the illustrated depictions in their holy cards, or by searching the Glossary of extensive problems and life situations.

Our beautiful vintage holy cards depict the saints with the enigmatic attributes and symbols that are commonly used to represent them. Brief explanations of these symbols are given to help decipher the visual iconography in their images. The prayers in this app are universally known and have been used for centuries as tools in obtaining clarity and peace of mind. All are free to utilize them, regardless of one's faith or religious belief.”

The categories of Novenas in the app are:

Health

Occupations

Situations

States of Life

Angels

Evangelists

Holy People

Martyrs

Mystics

All Saints

Favorites

There is also a glossary in the app.

Health

     Saint Agatha

     Saint Aloysius

     Saint Alphonsus 

     Saint Blasie

     Saint Dymphna

     Saint Gerard

     Saint John

     Saint Lucy

     Saint Peregrine

Occupations

     Saint Catherine – Philosophers

     Saint Clare – Television Work

     Saint Francis – Ecologists

     Saint Gabriel – Teachers

     Saint Michael – Policemen

     Saint Raphael – Travelers

     Saint Thomas – Students

     Saint V Ferrer – Builders

     Saint Xavier - Missionaries

Situations

     Saint Anthony –Lost Objects

     Divine Infant – Financial Distress

     Guadalupe – Motherly Comfort

     Saint Jude – Impossible Causes

     Padre Pio – Forgiveness

     Perpetual Help – Redemption

     Sacred Heart – Family Peace

     Sorrows – Grief

     Saint Therese - Love

States of Life

     Saint Joachim and Anne – Grandparents

     Saint Joseph – Fathers

     Saint Martin – Mixed Race People

     Saint Monica – Wayward Children

     Mother Cabrini – Immigrants

     Saint Philomena – Poverty

     Saint Raymond – Newborns

     Saint Rita – Marital Problems

     Saint Vincent DePaul – Abandoned Children

Angels

     Saint Gabriel – Techers

     Saint Michael – Policemen

     Saint Raphael – Travelers

Evangelists

     Saint John – Heart Ailments

     Mother Cabrini – Immigrants

     Saint Raymond – Newborns

     Saint Thomas – Students

     Saint Ferrer – Builders

     Saint Xavier - Missionaries

Holy People

     Saint Aloysius – AIDS

     Saint Alphonsus – Arthritis

     Saint Blaise – Throat Ailments

     Divine Infant – Financial Distress

     Guadalupe – Motherly Comfort

     Saint Joachim and Anne – Grandparents

     Saint Joseph – Fathers

     Saint Monica – Wayward Children

     Saint Peregrine – Cancer

     Perpetual Help – Redemption

     Saint Philomena – Poverty

     Sacred Heart – Family Peace

     Sorrows – Grief

     Saint V DePaul – Abandoned Children

Martyrs

     Saint Agatha – Breast Cancer

     Saint Catherine – Philosophers

     Saint Dyphna – Mental Illness

     Saint Jude – Impossible Causes

     Saint Lucy - Blindness

Mystics

     Saint Anthony – Lost Objects

     Saint Clare – Television Work

     Saint Francis – Ecologists

     Saint Gerard – Infertility

     Saint Martin – Mixed Raced People

     Padre Pio – Forgiveness

     Saint Rita – Marital Problems

     Saint Therese - Love

All Saints

     Saint Agatha – Breast Cancer

     Saint Aloysius – AIDS

     Saint Alphonsus – Arthritis

     Saint Anthony – Lost Objects

     Saint Blaise – Throat Ailments

     Saint Catherine – Philosophers

     Saint Clare – Television Work

     Divine Infant – Financial Distress

     Saint Dyphna – Mental Illness

     Saint Francis – Ecologists

     Saint Gabriel – Teachers

     Saint Gerard – Infertility

     Guadalupe – Motherly Comfort

     Saint Joachim and Anne – Grandparents

     Saint John – Heart Ailments

     Saint Joseph – Fathers

     Saint Jude – Impossible Causes

     Saint Lucy - Blindness

     Saint Martin – Mixed Race People

     Saint Michael – Policemen

     Saint Monica – Wayward Children

     Mother Cabrini – Immigrants

     Padre Pio – Forgiveness

     Saint Peregrine – Cancer

     Perpetual Help – Redemption

     Saint Philomena – Poverty

     Saint Raphael – Travelers

     Saint Raymond – Newborns

     Saint Rita – Marital Problems

     Sacred Heart – Family Peace

     Saint Therese - Love

     Saint Thomas – Students

     Saint V DePaul – Abandoned Children

     Saint V Ferrer – Builders

     Saint Xavier - Missionaries

     Sorrows – Grief

Favorites

     (You can favourite any of the above.)

A sample novena is:

“St. Philomena, 291-304

Feast date August 11

Novena to Saint Philomena

Patron of The Poor, Children, Babies, Priests, Lost Causes, Youth.

0 Faithful Virgin and glorious martyr, St. Philomena, who works so many miracles on behalf of the poor and sorrowing, have pity on me. Thou knowest the multitude and diversity of my needs. Behold me at thy feet, full of misery, but full of hope. I entreat thy charity, 0 great Saint! Graciously hear me and obtain from God a favourable answer to the request which I now humbly lay before thee. (Mention your intention).

I am firmly convinced that through thy merits, through the scorn, the sufferings and the death thou didst endure, united to the merits of the Passion and death of Jesus, thy Spouse, I shall obtain what I ask of thee, and in the joy of my heart I will bless God, who is admirable in His Saints. Amen

End with:

Saint Philomena, powerful with

God, pray for us!

Saint Philomena, powerful with

God, hear our prayers!

History:

''It might well be that her name is not Philomena, but this Saint has performed many miracles and it is not the name that did them.''

Padre Pio

Never officially canonized, and listed in the local Calendar of Saints for only 130 years before being removed, Saint Philomena enjoys a unique and fervid following among common people, popes and saints. Her remains discovered seventeen centuries after her death, Saint Philomena is known as one of the great Wonder Workers of the nineteenth century and is the only person declared a saint based solely on their intercessory powers. Recognized for her miraculous influence by six popes and ten different saints who have claimed personal experiences through her intervention, she is called upon when things look most hopeless. Discovered by a priest who hailed from a poverty-stricken parish near Naples, she is said to be particularly in tune with the needs of the poor. 

In 1802, the bones of a girl between the ages of 1 3 and 15 were discovered in the Catacombs of Priscilia in Rome, Italy. Three tiles closing off her space hollowed into the rock read, ''Peace be with thee, Philomena''. Entombed with the girl was a vial thought to contain blood as well as drawings of a palm, two anchors and three arrows. Because these images were well known symbols used by early Christians to convey martyrdom, it was established that the girl was one of the many virgin martyrs in the early, underground church. In 1805 a young priest from the diocese of Nola (a district near Naples requested the Vatican to allow him to obtain a relic for the new altar in the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Mugnano. Because he felt a spiritual affinity when he was near her remains, he was allowed to take the relics of the recently discovered virgin martyr back with him. Before her remains were translated to the church, they were put on display in Naples. Almost immediately, there were reports of miraculous healing. When her relics arrived in Mugnano on August 11 , 1805, a cult rapidly grew, attributing many miracles to the intercession of the little martyr.

In 1833 a Neapolitan nun, Sister Maria Luisa de Gesu, claimed to have a vision of Philomena who relayed her life story. According to her vision, Philomena was the daughter of the king of Corfu in Greece. When the Emperor Diocletian of Rome threatened her father's kingdom with war, he travelled to Rome with his family in order to obtain peace. There Philomena discovered Christianity and vowed her virginity to Christ. But the Emperor saw how beautiful she was and he asked to marry her. Because the young girl refused him, she was tortured and then drowned with an anchor tied around her neck. When two angels raised her up out of the sea, she was shot with arrows. After this failed to kill her, she was decapitated. According to the nun's vision, Philomena declared that August 11th, the day her relics were installed in Mugnano, was also the anniversary of her death.

In 1835, when Pauline Jaricot, the well-known and respected French reformer was gravely ill with heart disease, she made a pilgrimage to Mugnano and was completely cured by Philomena. News of this event spread throughout France and Spain and Philomena attracted such notable devotees as Saint Anthony Mary Claret from Spain and Saint John Vianney of France who built his own shrine to the little martyr. Several popes, while still cardinals paid visits to Philomena's shrine. Pope Pius IX credits her with curing him of epilepsy. Saints such as Francis Xavier Cabrini, Padre Pio and Father Damian are numbered among her devotees. When the Calendar of Saints was reassessed to only list saints who had historical proof of their existence, Philomena lost her place. Her cult is still very strong and pilgrims from around the world visit her shrine in Mugnano.” 

I love this app and all the books about saints this duo has written. This is a great app. It will even add a reminder of the feast day to your calendar for you. I hope that the list of saints and sample novena and history will spark your interest. It is a wonderful app, my youngest two teen kids love it. I can easily recommend this app.

Link to the Novena App on IOS.

Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

…

Other items by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Holy Cards: Note Card Set in a Drawer (2005)

Saints for All Occasions Notecards (2015)

Novena App

...

Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

…

Patron Saints A Feast of Holy Cards - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

Abrams

ISBN 9780810994027

ASIN 

I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading that first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read. This is the seventh and final volume I have read by this writing duo and I can easily state they are all been great. I do sincerely wish that they had more in the works. But back to this specific volume, the description of this book states:

“An introduction to Catholic patron saints is illustrated by color photographs of holy cards depicting the saint and includes information about the saint's life and feast day, other patronages and what they may be invoked for.”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

Introduction

Saints of Health

Saints of Nations

Saints of Nature

Saints of Occupations

Saints of States of Life

The dustjacket states:

“From the birth of Christianity, saints have inspired the classic works of Western art. They are human representatives of divine grace, and their stories of faith and suffering, trials and transcendence have fascinated the secular and comforted, consoled, and encouraged believers. One of the most important and endearing traditions of Catholic iconography is the holy card. Offering images of the saints, these portable objects of daily ritual are carried for protection, given as remembrances at communions, confirmations, and funerals, and collected and traded. 

In Holy Cards, authors Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua offer the first book to survey this rich and varied art form. Featuring both a pantheon of major religious figures in Catholicism and many little-known saints—such as St. Clare, patron saint of television, and St. Monica, patron saint of disappointing children—this book is sure to inform and inspire. Beautifully reproduced, the holy cards are arranged thematically and each is accompanied by a brief biography of the subject, including attributes and powers. A glowing compendium of jewel-like images, Holy Cards can be treasured for both its spiritual and artistic qualities. Indeed, it is the perfect gift for all those interested in Catholicism and devotional art.

110 illustrations in full color.”

As the final volume I read by this writing duo it packs a lot of punch. From the introduction we are informed:

“There are more than ten thousand saints in the Catholic calendar. They hail from all corners of the world, as well as every social class and ethnic group. They have all suffered from human faults, made terrible mistakes, endured illnesses, and borne disappointments both large and small. Some were great rulers and leaders, traveling the world; many never left the towns and cities where they were born, toiling in dull, quiet lives.”

“Since holiness is an energy that transcends all boundaries and does not weaken and disappear as material things do, Catholics believe that the saints exist on a spiritual plane and have a very real presence in the world today. In life, saints served as human examples of what one could achieve by using Christ’s precepts of universal love, and they continue to guide and aid the living in the afterlife by praying with and for them upon request. Every Catholic has a patron saint who functions as a guide or mentor throughout their earthly existence.”

“The word “patron” derives from the Latin word patronus, which means “protector of clients” or “defender.” The intercession of a patron saint is thought to help speed the efficacy of one’s prayers before God. There are many ways to find one’s patron saint, although the most common way is through one’s name. Children are often named in honor of a relative, who in turn was named for a saint. In this way, the saint serves as an ancestral guide through life, connecting several generations of a family. Others claim their patron saint by matching their own day of birth with a saint’s feast day, which commemorates the day of a saint’s death.”

“Representing an immense range of human experience, the stories of holy people related in this book span over two thousand years of history. Because it is common practice for Catholics to carry images of their patron in holy card form, we have chosen to illustrate this book solely with these images. We have divided the patronages of these saints into five basic categories: Health, Nations, Nature, Occupations, and States of Life. In the instances where a saint has multiple patronages that span across these categories, we list all their other areas of support.”

“Saints can enjoy both local and global popularity. Some are well-known in particular regions of the world and totally unknown in others. Their traditional patronages are derived from details about their lives, birthplaces, occupations, or visual iconography. There is no official or comprehensive index of saints; rather, there is a myriad of sources listing saints and their patronages.”

The saints by chapters are:

Saints of Health:

St Louis de Gonzague

Martin of Tours

Anthony of Padua

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Agatha

John the Apostle

Peregrine Laziosi

Margaret of Antioch

Saint Placid

Saint Maurus

Camillus of Lellis

Saint Roch

Saint Willibrord

Saint Blaise

Francis de Sales

Margaret of Cortona

Joseph

Lucy of Syracuse

Genevieve

Gregory the Great

Margaret of Castello

Teresa of Ávila

John of God

Bernadine of Siena

Vitus

Gerard Majella

James the Greater

Anthony the Abbot

Casilda of Toledo

Andrew Avellino

Rita of Cascia

Saints of Nations:

Cyprian of Carthage

Francis Solano

Francis Xavier

Colman of Stockerau

Cyril and Methodius

Louis Bertran

Wenceslaus

Ansgar

Dominic de Guzman

George

Thérèse of Lisieux

Boniface

Andrew the Apostle

Stephen of Hungary

Thomas the Apostle

Patrick

Catherine of Siena

Vincent de Paul

Paul the Apostle

Adalbert of Prague

Ephrem of Syria

Josaphat

Gertrude the Great

Saint of Nature:

Gerlac of Valkenburg

Ambrose of Milan

Perpetua and Felicity

Columba of Rieti

Gregory Thaumaturgus

Margaret of Hungary

Barnabas the Apostle

Hippolytus of Rome

Martin de Porres

Wendelin

Magnus of Füssen

Januarius

Edmund of East Anglia

Saints of Occupations:

Pelagia the Penitent

Helena

Blessed Fra Angelico

Cosmas and Damian

Augustine of Hippo

Stephen the Martyr

Vincent Ferrer

Hilda

Fiacre

Catherine of Alexandria

Brigid of Ireland

Apollonia

Conrad of Parzham

Francis of Assisi

Dorothy of Caesarea

John Gualbert

Mary Magdalene

Elizabeth of Hungary

Eligius

Ivo of Kermartin

Isidore the Farmer

Saint Anne

Ignatius of Loyola

Rupert

Peter Claver

Cecilia

Raymond Nonnatus

Hildegard of Bingen

Justin Martyr

Christina the Astonishing

Albert the Great

Blessed Lydwina of Schiedam

John Regis

John Baptist de La Salle

Clare of Assisi

Saints of States of Life:

Germaine Cousin

Clotilde

Zeno of Verona

Martina

Adelaide

Julian the Hospitaller

Afra

Julitta and Cyriacus of Iconium

Philomena

Catherine of Genoa

Blandina

Joachim

Benedict Joseph Labre

Nicholas of Tolentino

Monica

John Damascene

Norbert

Godelieve

Edward the Confessor

Leopold III

Denis

Benedict

Frances of Rome

A few samples of saints I was unfamiliar with:

“Cancer / Peregrine Laziosi, 

1260–1345, 

Feast Day: May 1

An antipapist political leader, Peregrine converted to Catholicism after his violence against the papal legate was rebuffed with kindness. He eventually became a popular preacher, dedicating himself to working with the hopelessly ill. He himself was diagnosed with cancer. The night before he was to have his leg amputated, Christ came to him and healed him in his cell.

Other patronages: incurable illnesses, running sores

Invoked: for medical breakthroughs”

“Austria / Colman of Stockerau, 

d. 1012, 

Feast Day: October 13

A monk from the British Isles, Colman was making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land when he was stopped in Austria under suspicion of spying for their enemy, Moravia. Unable to speak German, he could not defend himself and was tortured and hanged. His body was left to dangle as a warning, and for eighteen months, it did not decompose and no animal touched it. The Austrians recognized this as a sign of his sanctity and made him their patron.

Other patronages: horned cattle, horses; hanged men

Invoked: against hanging, plague.”

“Pastures / Wendelin, 

554–617, 

Feast Day: October 21

The pious son of a Scottish king, Wendelin made a pilgrimage to Rome, where he was advised to follow his heart. He toured religious sites in Europe and settled in Germany, where he tended sheep, which enabled him to pray most of the day. Eventually he founded a community of religious hermits that became the Benedictine Abbey of Thole.

Other patronages: farmers, shepherds.”

“Dentists / Apollonia, 

d. 249, 

Feast Day: February 9

During festivities celebrating the Roman occupation of Egypt, a violent mob began attacking Christians. Apollonia, a revered deaconess, was repeatedly hit in the face until her teeth were broken. Confronted with a raging bonfire if she did not denounce her faith, she voluntarily threw herself into the flames. Another version of this story says that she was tortured by having her teeth pulled with pincers before being burned.

Invoked: against toothache.”

“Childless People / Julian the Hospitaller, 

dates unknown, 

Feast Day: February 12

A noble layman, Julian was out hunting when a stag warned him that one day he would kill his own parents. To avoid this fate, he moved far away and married. After years of searching, his parents located him and went to surprise him. Returning to his house, he saw two figures in bed. Thinking his wife was with another man, he killed them. Turning back the covers, he saw it was his parents. He and his wife then gave up everything and went on a pilgrimage. Julian did penance, helping the poor and opening a sanctuary for lepers, until he earned divine forgiveness.

Other patronages: hospitality; boatmen, circus workers, clowns, fiddlers, innkeepers, jugglers, murderers, pilgrims, shepherds

Invoked: to find lodging while traveling.”

I must admit there were numerous saints I was unfamiliar with in this volume. It was wonderful to read through. The layout is a picture of a holy card then the information about that saint, and if applicable ‘other patronages’ and ‘what they are invoked for.  

This is another excellent volume from the team who created it. It ties in well with the books the duo have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a stunning volume and I look forward to the release of the eBook edition. I greatly enjoyed working through it and plan on rereading it again. It is a wonderful book I can easily recommend for home, school, or church library!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

…

Other items by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Holy Cards: Note Card Set in a Drawer (2005)

Saints for All Occasions Notecards (2015)

Novena App

...

Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

…

Holy Places Sacred Sites in Catholicism - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Holy Places Sacred Sites in Catholicism

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

Penguin Studio

ISBN 9780670030811

ASIN B011J46TGO

I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading that first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read. This is the sixth volume I have read by this writing duo and I can easily state they have all been great. In fact I only have 1 to go and wish that they had more in the works. But back to this specific volume, the description of this book states:

“Sacred sites are as old as mankind. In the Roman Catholic world, the hundreds of places honored as holy continue to inspire intense feelings of religious faith and, many believe, perform miracles. The pilgrims who visit these sites yearly number in the hundreds, thousands, and even millions. In Holy Places, writer Barbara Calimari and artist Sandra DiPasqua offer an inspirational and informative guide to the religious and cultural meaning of these special places.

Lavishly illustrated with images from Western art, photographs, stained glass, artist renderings, and holy cards, this book focuses on eighteen of the most well-known Catholic holy sites: the cathedrals of Chartres, Santiago de Compostela, and Saint Peter's Basilica; the Gargano caves in Italy where Saint Michael the Archangel first appeared; Croagh Patrick, a rocky cliff in Ireland from which Saint Patrick expelled the demons; the sanctuary in the church of Chimayo in New Mexico where the soil is said to have miraculous properties; and many more. Including a full history and description of each site, with maps and a calendar of holy days and festivals, Holy Places will make the perfect gift for the armchair traveler, the would-be pilgrim, and all readers interested in Christianity.”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

Introduction 

Assisi, Italy 

The Catacombs, Rome, Italy 

Chartres, France 

Chimayo, New Mexico, United States 

Lough Derg and Croagh Patrick, Ireland 

Lourdes, France 

Mont-Saint-Michel, France 

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City 

Santiago de Compostela, Spain 

Tepeyac, Mexico City, Mexico 

In the introduction we are informed:

“Sacred sites are as old as mankind. All civilizations recognize certain locations that are deemed to be special or divinely charged with energy. In some cases, religions rise and fall, but the holy site remains the same. In this book, "Holy Places", we are detailing several of the most well-known and popular Catholic shrines. These locales attract as many of the faithful today as they did one thousand years ago. What we have attempted to do in this book is to research the original reasons why a place came to be known as a site of miraculous occurrences that would make others want to gather there. All of these places are dedicated to a certain saint or came about because of a miraculous incident. Many have strong groups of devotees. Instead of formal pilgrimages most of the modern visits are conducted in group tours. At first glance, the crowds and the commercialism seem to deprive a place of its mystery. What we have found is that most of these places were considered holy in prechristian times and that present day commercial traffic has not robbed them of their spiritual eminence. There is still something very powerful in the feeling a group who gathers there generates.”

I was familiar with all but one of the sites presented in this volume. Each chapter has several pages and numerous photo’s. The pages are beautifully laid out and designed. The information is informative and fascinating. The authors really dug into the history and presented each site with details and facts. 

This is an excellent volume. It ties in well with the books the duo have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a stunning volume, both the physical book and the eBook edition. I greatly enjoyed working through it and plan on rereading it again. It is an excellent book I can easily recommend for home, school, or church library!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

…

Other items by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Holy Cards: Note Card Set in a Drawer (2005)

Saints for All Occasions Notecards (2015)

Novena App

...

Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

…

Novena The Power of Prayer - Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua

Novena: The Power of Prayer

Barbara Calamari

Sandra DiPasqua

Penguin Studio

ISBN 9780670884445

ASIN B010OAKCZS

I stumbled upon another volume by this writing team and have since reading that first one tracked down all but 1 in digital format. Because of a dual form of dyslexia I greatly prefer eBooks. The first volume I read was all about Holy Cards, and it was a fascinating read. This is the fifth volume I have read by this writing duo and I can easily state they have all been great. In fact I only have 2 to go and wish that They had more in the works. But back to this specific volume, the description of this book states:

“Today's spirituality movement stresses the holistic value and the power of prayer. But one special, long-established form of intention and affirmation has been overlooked: the novena. Perennially popular in the Catholic Church, a novena is a nine-day period of prayer for a particular grace or intention, often offered as a supplication to a saint with expertise in a particular area. Novena, a volume that will enchant the eye and touch the soul, traces its history and brings together thirty-six of the best-known novenas. Each is accompanied by a luminous image of its affiliated saint--fiercely beautiful and intensely human--adapted, with a contemporary air, from a traditional prayer card; by a brief discussion of the saint's life and particular specialty; and by instructions on when, and why, to use the novena. Novena is divided into four sections: novenas to the saints, the angels, the madonna (each revealing a different aspect of her personality), and the Divinity. An appendix cross-references specific concerns with appropriate novenas: We learn how the saints themselves transcended such problems as a turbulent youth, a difficult marriage, or abuse. The ideal gift for Easter and Mother's Day, this jewel of a book has year-round bestselling potential.”

The chapters and sections in this volume are:

Preface

INTROduction

The Power of Prayer

THE SAINTS

     Saint Thomas Aquinas

     Saint Agatha

     Saint Patrick

     Saint Joseph

     Saint Caatherine of Siena

     Saint Peregrine

     Saint Dymphna

     Saint Rita of Cascia

     Saint Anthony of Padua

     Saint Paul the Apostle

     Saint Maria Goretti

     Saints Ann and Joachim

     Saint Alphonsus Liguori

     Saint Therese of Lisieux

     Saint Francis of Assisi

     Saint Gerard Majella

     Saint Jude

     Saint Martin de Porres

     Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

     Saint Francis Xavier

     Saint Barbara

     Saint Lucy

     All Saints

THE ANGELS

     Saint Raphael, Archangel

     Saint Michael, Archangel

     Saint Gabriel, Archangel

     The Guardian Angels

THE MADONNA

     Our Lady of Fatima

     Our Lady of Perpetual Help

     Our Lady of Mount Carmel

     The Mother of Sorrows

     Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal

     Our Lady of Guadalupe

THE DIVINITY

     The Infant of Prague

     The Sacred Heart of Jesus

     The Holy Spirit

Additional Prayers

Topic Index

It should be noted that The Holy Spirit Novena has the 9 Specific days with 2 prayers each of the 9 days and specific prayers and intentions each day as a third prayer. When I worked through this volume I slowed down and prayer a few of these Novenas I also added some into my calendar so I will end on the specific saints feast day. 

A sample chapter is:

“Saint Patrick 

389 – 461

His Feast Day is March 17

Saint Patrick is Patron Saint of Ireland, Fear of Snakes, Faith

Though not usually considered a novena saint, Saint Patrick is called upon by many for faith in the most trying of circumstances. Since he himself was forced to submit to living in a country not of his own choosing, he assists in accepting difficult situations where there is little hope of change. The patron saint of Ireland, he is credited with single—handedly changing the beliefs of the entire Irish nation through the purity and intensity of his faith. Saint Patrick’s following has spread to wherever the Irish have settled, especially in North America and Australia. He could never have imagined the astounding impact that his work in Ireland would have on the world.

Saint Patrick was born on the west coast of Great Britain of Roman—British parents. Though his father was a deacon, and his grandfather a priest, early on, Patrick showed no interest at all in God or religion. At the age of sixteen he was abducted by pirates and taken to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery. For six years he was forced to live under the direst of conditions, subject to the elements and hardship, herding sheep. When he began to pray for deliverance, he dreamed of a ship docked two hundred miles away. By following the dream’s directions, he was able to escape from captivity, find the ship, and prevail upon the sailors to take him with them. He eventually returned to his family, and in gratitude for God’s help he became a priest. In A.D. 432 he again had a dream that changed the course of his life. In it, he was instructed to return to Ireland and to convert as many people as possible to Christianity. Though he would have preferred to perfect his studies and remain in Britain, he surrendered to the guidance of the dream and put all his faith in God by returning to Ireland. Living there at a time when the Druid religion was in decline, he nonetheless had to compete with the “wizardry” of the Druid priests. There are many fantastic tales of his magical powers. It was said that Saint Patrick could turn people into deer and that he could turn day into night. He is still invoked today by those afraid of snakes, because he was said to have obtained a promise from God that no poisonous reptiles would be allowed to live on that island. Saint Patrick expelling snakes is a common image. Another one of his symbols is the shamrock, or three—leaf clover. This symbolizes how he explained the Holy Trinity in his preaching.

Saint Patrick built his main church in Northern Ireland. Realizing that the landowners chose the religion of their serfs for them, he set upon converting the major families first. His life as a former slave and fugitive taught him to trust God completely, and those living in similarly miserable circumstances have always been able to identify with him. He died in 461 in the monastery of Saul, and his remains are buried with those of Saint Brigid in Ulster.

Novena to Saint Patrick

O great apostle of Ireland, glorious Saint Patrick, to whom under God so many are indebted for the most precious of all treasures, the great gift of faith, receive our fervent thanks for the zeal and charity that have been to thousands the blessings so invaluable. We ask your intervention in receiving (Mention your request here). Ask for all who dwell in this land and the land of thy labors the precious light of Faith, and beg for us on whom its glorious rays have long since beamed, the grace to regulate our lives by its sacred maxims. Amen

Say this novena nine times in a row for nine days in a row.”

I highlighted a number of passages while reading this volume. Some of them are:

“Catholics consider the very first novena to have been created by Jesus Christ himself. Before Christ rose into heaven he instructed his apostles to spend nine days praying for divine guidance as they awaited the arrival of the Holy Spirit. After the apostles spent this allotted time in prayer, the Holy Spirit appeared to them in the form of tongues of fire coming from the sky. These tongues rested on each apostle, giving them the gift of many languages and the burning desire to spread the story of Jesus Christ. It is thought that the nine—day tradition of prayer comes from this first novena. The novena of the Holy Spirit was written in the Middle Ages to commemorate this event, and so it is presented as the last and most important novena in this book.”

“In seventeenth—century Spain the Christmas novena was instituted. For nine days preceding Christmas Day, each symbolizing a month the infant Jesus spent in the womb, a special novena was said. Many towns in France and southern Italy began doing nine—day novenas in preparation for their local saint's feast day. It became customary to invoke the saint for a requested favor that would be granted in this time of celebration.”

“Fearing that novenas would be used in superstition, the Church began to recognize them only in the mid—1800s. Of the many novenas, only thirty—two are officially recommended, mainly in honor of a feast day. Personal novenas for individualized intentions continue to be a very private form of prayer.”

“The saints all have differing fields of expertise based on the earthly lives they led. Novenas are said to certain saints to help us deal with problems similar to those they suffered.”

“There are at least eleven official novenas to the Virgin Mary, and we have included six of them in our collection. In all of those included she takes on the role of the universal mother.”

“Bear in mind that the only prayer that can be guaranteed to be answered is "Thy Will Be Done". In praying we participate in God's unfolding will for the world and ourselves.”

“Why do novenas work? Is it the willingness to open to the miraculous? Or is it simply setting aside time to address a problem that is crucial? Perhaps by repeating a request for a solution over and over, we are taking the fear out of a problem. Or is it that we open to grace? Prayer brings grace, and grace lightens the spirit and makes the day go easier.”

“Novenas are not magic. They are just another form of prayer. Yet the discipline required in this form of devotion assures us of spending time with a higher level of being, bringing divine blessing and grace into the world.”

“O God, we humbly beseech you through your servant Saint Dymphna, who sealed with her blood the love she bore you, to grant relief to those who suffer from mental afflictions and nervous disorders, especially Name the afflicted person Saint Dymphna, helper of the mentally afflicted, pray for us. Saint Dymphna, comforter of the despondent, pray for us. Saint Dymphna, renowned for many miracles, please hear my plea. Amen”

“O holy Saint Anthony, gentlest of saints, your love for God and charity for his creatures made you worthy, when on earth, to possess miraculous powers. Miracles waited on your word, which were ever ready to speak for those in trouble or anxiety. Encouraged by this thought, I implore of you to obtain for me( mention your request here). The answer to my prayer may require a miracle; even so, you are the saint of miracles. O gentle and loving Saint Anthony, whose heart was ever filled with human sympathy. whisper my petition into the ears of the sweet infant Jesus, who loved to be folded in your arms, and the gratitude of my heart will be ever yours.”

“Crippled by arthritis and ready to die at age seventy—two, Saint Alphonsus Liguori went on to live another nineteen years, publishing over sixty books and writing poetry and music. His disease made him so conscious of his own mortality that he assumed each day was his last and lived accordingly.”

“Holy little Therese, remember your promise to do good upon the earth and shower down your roses on those who invoke you. Obtain for me from God the graces I hope for from his infinite goodness. Let me feel the powers of your prayers in every need. Give me consolation in all the bitterness of this life, and especially at the hour of death, that I may be worthy to share eternal happiness with you in heaven. Amen.”

This is a wonderful volume. It ties in well with the books the due have written on Holy Cards, Mary, and Saints. This is a stunning volume, both the physical book and the eBook edition. Each Novena has a 4 page spread. 2 pages about the saint, 1 for the novena and 1 with a picture of a prayer card of the saint with a quote. The only issues is this full page photo and quote splits up the text, and in the eBook it does so as well. It is an amazing volume. I absolutely loved working through it and plan on rereading it again. It is an excellent book I can easily recommend for home, school, or church library!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Novena: The Power of Prayer (1999)

Visions of Mary (2004)

Our Lady of Guadalupe (2004)

Holy Cards (2004)

Saints: Ancient & Modern (2007)

Patron Saints: A Feast of Holy Cards (2007)

Holy Places: Sacred Sites in Catholicism (2015)

…

Other items by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua:

Our Lady of Guadalupe in a Box: A Novena Prayer Kit (2002)

Holy Cards: Note Card Set in a Drawer (2005)

Saints for All Occasions Notecards (2015)

Novena App

...

Books by Barbara Calamari:

The Bible Companion: The Complete Illustrated Handbook to the Holy Scriptures

…