‘The Virtues of the Saints: 15 Heavenly Habits for Children’ offers holy witnesses via colorful illustrations and compelling stories.
The justice of St. Joseph, the humility of Our Lady, the faith of St. Peter, the love of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the generosity of St. Teresa of Calcutta, the fortitude of St. Joan of Arc.
Parents looking for a way to teach their children virtues in a memorable way have a new, eye-catching resource in Marian Father Donald Calloway’s latest work. Co-written with Patrick O’Hearn, this beautiful, oversized hardcover book, The Virtues of the Saints: 15 Heavenly Habits for Children, brings the virtues to life through the witness of the saints.
Each chapter runs three to four pages, with the first page featuring a large, colorful picture of a saint, the name of the saint, the name of the virtue, the definition of the virtue, and the origin of the word for that virtue presented in a simple sentence or two. The saints’ images and all supporting decorations and scenes are beautifully illuminated by Adalee Hude, whose illustrations decorate Catholic magazines as well as children’s books.
For example, for the chapter on patience, St. Kateri Tekakwitha is pictured gathering wood on the ground dotted with snow patches and framed by leafless trees. The definition given is: “Patience is the virtue whereby we endure difficulties, trials, and wrongs without becoming sad or frustrated.” What is the origin? “Patience comes from the Latin word patientia, meaning ‘the quality of suffering or enduring.’”
Next in each chapter: two pages of a colorfully written story of the saint’s life that especially illustrates how he or she practiced that virtue. The authors set the scene with a brief history and background, taking readers on a quick journey by sketching out the saint’s life, usually from their early days, such as Kateri’s birthplace and family, the time that she was called “Lily of the Mohawks,” who her parents were, what happened to her in the Indigenous village, and how she was treated after she was a Christian and was baptized.
Then it homes in on the virtue and how the saint practiced it amid life’s circumstances. Readers will learn how Kateri acquired patience and put that virtue into practice. These incidents focus on where that virtue blossoms and thrives.
Kateri’s story, as with the story of each of the saints, is beautifully told, encouraging and memorable. The fourth page of each chapter completes the story, if need be, and then finishes with a simple prayer highlighting the virtue.
Another illustration again pictures the saint, usually in prayer. In effect, it’s as if these holy ones are praying together with the readers.
Naturally, St. Faustina Kowalska is shown praying before Jesus, who appears to her as The Divine Mercy. The highlighted virtue is perseverance. St. Benedict portrays prudence. A beautiful chapter about St. Philip Neri focuses on spiritual joy — joy in loving God, worshipping God, and being a Christian and a Catholic. The saint loved laughter and joy, and he brought that to others, as readers learn.
And what would this book be without St. Thérèse and soon-to-be-saint Carlo Acutis, who teaches the virtue of temperance among other blessed lessons. The chapter about Carlo opens with a beautiful picture of the holy millennial wearing a big smile as he is depicted riding his bicycle. These chapters alone are certainly going to appeal to the young and show that they too can become saints.
Virtues of the Saints also includes a beautiful prayer about these virtues by Father Calloway. It takes every one of the virtues just learned and puts them into one prayer, all beautifully presented.
Special mention goes to the graceful and absorbing illustrations of the Annunciation to highlight Our Lady’s humility and the Holy Family during travels for St. Joseph’s justice.
Bonus material includes a page of “Saintly Sayings” and “References” pages that are simple and direct, with appropriate biblical connections to other books, all richly illustrated with images of each saint.
This treasure of a book for your family’s library will easily and be “read again” — and inspire children to live these virtues.
Virtues of the Saints
15 Heavenly Habits for Children
By Father Donald Calloway and Patrick O’Hearn, illustrated by Adalee Hude
Marian Press, 2025
86 pages; $29.95
To order: EWTNRC.com or call (800) 854-6316