I’m happy to participate in Jean M. Heimann’s blog tour for her new book, Learning to Love with the Saints: A Spiritual Memoir. I encourage you to follow along on her blog tour, which includes several opportunities to win a paperback copy of this faith-enriching book.
Learning to Love with the Saints
is the inspiring personal witness of how Jean M. Heimann was wooed by Jesus to return to the Church after being raised Catholic and then leaving her faith for fifteen years. In this riveting memoir, Jean tells the story of growing up in the Midwest in a French-Catholic family during the tumultuous times of the sexual revolution, the Vietnam War and mass misinterpretation of Vatican II in the Church in the ’60s.
Jean expertly weaves Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, Scripture passages, brief biographies of the saints, and poignant quotes from the saints into her story to illustrate how the saints served as spiritual guides who interceded for her, resulting in some astonishing miracles. Through all these trials, it was the saints who restored her faith, kept it alive and helped her discover the meaning of true love.
Jean M. Heimann is a Catholic author and freelance writer with an M.A. in Theology, a parish minister and a diocesan speaker, a retired psychologist and educator, and an Oblate with the Community of St. John. In addition to her highly acclaimed first book, Seven Saints for Seven Virtues, Jean has had her work published in a variety of Catholic periodicals, some of which include: National Catholic Register, Catholic Exchange, Canticle Magazine, and St. Anthony Messenger/America. Visit Jean at her award-winning blog, Catholic Fire.
My Review
Learning to Love with the Saints beautifully illustrates the role of the saints in all of life’s joys and challenges. In sharing her life story, Jean Heimann uses the saints’ lived example, wisdom, and intercession to shed light on their role in comforting, instructing, and achieving sanctity.
Prominent among the saints mentioned are the ever-popular St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower) and Pope St. John Paul II, whose long pontificate and Theology of the Body have given the world a beautiful, holistic vision of the meaning of our bodies and sexuality. Because he is among my favorite saints, I greatly appreciated how his wisdom was interwoven with the author’s story.
Jean Heimann’s story alone makes interesting reading. She recounts failed romantic relationships, estrangement from the church, and physical and financial crises, each of which provided yet another opportunity to grow closer to Jesus. Of particular interest to me was the all-too-common misconceptions about divorce that kept her away from the sacraments, her encounter with infamous abortionist “Tiller the Killer,” and the grace with which she has endured suffering.
I recommend this relatively quick read to anyone interested in learning how we can be strengthened and grow in virtue with the help of our brothers and sisters in heaven, the saints.
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Blog Tour Schedule
Friday, May 13
Ellen Gable Hrkach at Plot, Line, and Sinker
Saturday, May 14
Rosemary Bogdan at A Catholic Mother’s Thoughts
Sunday, May 15
Carolyn Astfalk at My Scribbler’s Heart (including Book Giveaway!)
Monday, May 16
Lisa Mladinich at Patheos
Tuesday, May 17
Nancy HC Ward at Joy Alive in our Hearts (including Book Giveaway!)
Wednesday, May 18
Esther Gefroh at A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
Thursday, May 19
Barb Szyszkiewicz at Franciscan Mom (including Book Giveaway!) and at Catholic Mom
Friday, May 20
Jeannie Ewing at Love Alone Creates (including Book Giveaway!)
Saturday, May 21
Patrice Faganant McArthur at Spiritual Woman
Sunday, May 22
Melanie Jean Juneau at Association of Catholic Women Bloggers and at Joy of Nine
Monday, May 23
Virginia Lieto at Virginia Lieto (including Book Giveaway!)
Tuesday, May 24
Tony Agnesi at Finding God’s Grace in Everyday Life
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! STAY A WHILE AND LOOK AROUND. LEAVE A COMMENT. SHARE WITH A FRIEND. IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE, PLEASE SIGN UP FROM MY AUTHOR NEWSLETTER TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE ON NEW RELEASES, EXTRAS, AND HOT DEALS.
Congratulations to Jean Heimann on the release of Learning to Love with the Saints! I love learning about saints I’ve never known before and also learning more about favorite saints. Pope St. John Paul II is one my favorite saints of modern times. I also love Padre Pio and Saint Conrad of Parzam.
A man who was in seminary with Padre Pio was at our parish last week to give a talk and unfortunately, we couldn’t make it. There’s also a shrine to him in Baro, Pa that we’ve been meaning to visit forever. (And JPII is really my favorite though he’s so modern when someone asks about my favorite saint, I sometimes forget him.)
Congratulations to Jean Heimann on the release of her book. My favorite saint has always been Catherine of Siena, but both St. Teresa of Avila and JPII are gaining ground.
Thanks for stopping by, Christine! I love JPII more all the time.