Bøger i Vision Books serien

On October 4, 2014, the first Beatification in the United States occurred. A young American religious, Sister Miriam Teresa, was declared a Blessed. Born Teresa Demjanovich to loving immigrant parents, Blessed Miriam Teresa grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey, in the early twentieth century. She witnessed events that changed the United States--such as the introduction of automobiles and motion pictures, the sabotaging of American industry during World War I, and the rise of the labor union movement. All the while, Teresa was discovering the unchanging reality of God's love. Like Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, Teresa learned that God wanted to be her friend and from an early age desired to become a Carmelite. Jesus longed to be with her, and she wanted to be with Him, whether she was studying, working, praying, or enjoying the company of friends. This was her secret to happiness, and to holiness.

Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty was working in the Vatican when dictator Benito Mussolini fell from power and Germany invaded Italy in 1943. This courageous Irish priest who resisted the Nazi occupation was made famous by the movie, The Scarlet and the Black, starring Gregory Peck. The Monsignor O'Flaherty brought to life in this story is as intriguing and exciting as the film version.Witty, brilliant, and fearless, Monsignor O'Flaherty helped escaped Allied prisoners of war and persecuted Jews to elude capture by the Germans. At great risk to themselves, Monsignor O'Flaherty and his equally brave friends--priests, nuns, and lay men and women, including a few aristocrats--saved thousands of lives. They constantly needed to stay one step ahead of the ever-persistent Nazis until their surrender to the Allies in 1945.This is the 35th title in the acclaimed Vision Books series on saints and heroes for youth. Not just a thrilling adventure story, this book offers a portal into a real-life battle between good and evil. It also tells of the need after a war for forgiveness and redemption.

Maximilian Kolbe's decision to take the place of a condemned man in the Auschwitz concentration camp is one of the greatest stories of heroism to emerge from the Holocaust. This book brings to life for a younger audience the incredible story of a Polish weaver's son who grew up to be a priest, a missionary, and a martyr.Kolbe lived amid the political unrest, the social change, and the spiritual battles that shaped the modern world. In the thick of it all, he had one goal--to share the love of God with as many people as possible. And he was a great innovator, spreading the Gospel through multimedia--a work that took him all the way to Nagasaki, Japan.With his deep love for Our Lady, Kolbe also founded a Marian movement that has spread throughout the world, the Militia Immaculatae, also known as the Knights of the Immaculata. His imitation of Mary's tremendous trust in God enabled him to bring hope everywhere he went, including a prison camp.

Since its world premiere on Broadway in 1959, The Sound of Music has captivated millions of people around the world. After it was turned into an Oscar-winning movie, the singing von Trapp family became household names in America. While many know about their heroic resistance to Nazism and their narrow escape from German-occupied Austria, few are familiar with the true story behind the musical.In this New Vision Book, the dramatic history of Maria von Trapp and her musical family comes to life for young readers. Based on her best-selling autobiographies and a memoir by one of her daughters, this novel is part epic adventure and part spiritual testimony to God''s faithfulness.Beginning with her birth on a train and the loss of her parents, and ending with her vital role at the family-run lodge in Vermont, this story shows how Maria learned to trust God at every difficult step in her life and to see his guiding and protecting presence at every turn.

Set against the colorful background of power struggles in imperial Rome and battling Roman legions, this is the exciting story of St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine, who found the Cross of Christ in Jerusalem. This book for young people paints a vivid portrait of a remarkable woman who overcame every obstacle with faith, hope, perseverance and a healthy dose of ambition.In this 29th book in the acclaimed Vision Books series for youth, Louis de Wohl, known for his masterful storytelling, describes the amazing events that led to the conversion of Helena and the rise to power of her son. He also recounts the vision Constantine experienced on the eve of a pivotal battle and his subsequent legalization of Christianity in the fourth century.The story dramatically concludes with St. Helenas final accomplishment her dangerous and miraculous expedition to the Holy Land.

"...brings to life the inspirational story of St. Josâe Sâanchez del Râio, a 14 yr. old boy in Mexico who died a martyr for the Catholic faith during the Cristero War in the 1920s." --

This is the 30th title in the very popular, award-winning series of Vision Books on the lives of saints and heroes for youth 9 - 15 years old.Louis IX of France, who took the throne in 1226, had one aim in life -- to be a good king. Guided by the advice of his mother, he ruled well and was beloved by his people. At the age of twentyeight he took the cross of the crusade and, with his army, set out for Egypt to defeat the Saracens, the most energetic enemies of the Holy Land.Instead, the Saracens charged to victory and imprisoned Louis, whose saintly conduct while in prison shamed his captors. Released, and after another miserable failure in Palestine, he returned to France broken in health but still fired with the desire to liberate the Holy Land.And so again, St. Louis led his men out from France, this time on the last crusade.

This 25th volume in the acclaimed Vision Books series of saints' lives for youth 9-15 years old is the story of the saintly Fr. Damien, who in 1872 went to the island of Molokai, where lepers had been exiled to live in miserable surroundings. Damien earned the trust of the lepers, and his appeals for help resonated throughout the world. He spent his life caring for all the needs of the outcast lepers, and even after Damien himself contracted leprosy he carried on working for his "fellow lepers" to the end. Illustrated

This new story in the Vision Books series of saints for 9 - 15 year olds is aobut Saint Elizabeth of Hungary who spent her life differently than most saints. Instead of living in poverty like St. Francis of Assisi, she lived most of her life in a castle surrounded by incredible wealth. She was born Princess Elizabeth of Hungary, the daughter of King Andrew. By the age of four she was already engaged to be married and was sent far away from her home to live with Louis, her husband-to-be, who was only 10 years old. From the beginning of her life in her new castle, Elizabeth was ridiculed by all of those people who were jealous of her. They noticed that she was always trying to be holy. As she would play games with other children, she would contrive little ways to sneak into the chapel and have a visit with Jesus. Although Elizabeth was a princess, she longed to live the kind of poverty she heard about through the Franciscans. She became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and she constantly gave her jewels and best clothes to the poor. Sometimes she gave everything away and had nothing nice to wear, but Jesus always provided for her at the last minute. When she emptied the castle store-houses of grain for the poor, Jesus would miraculously fill them up again. Her subjects were never able to grow accustomed to the queen who lived the life of a saint, but they always appreciated her generosity and saw in her such simplicity and holiness. Only four years after her death she was canonized a saint.

This new story from the popular Vision Books series of saints lives for youth 9-15 years old is about the inspiring life of the great missionary to the Far East, St. Francis Xavier. After his wartorn boyhood in Navarre, Francis Xavier went to the University of Paris, determined to have a good time. He was interested in sports and became broadjumping champion of his college, and did not pay much attention to his studies. At first he scoffed at this fellow student, Ignatius Loyola, a former soldier who wanted to win the world for God. But Ignatius showed him that true champions are a far more heroic breed - those who risk their all to win the world for God. Francis joined Ignatius' followers, and became one of the first members of the Society of Jesus.Francis Xavier was selected by Ignatius to do missionary work in India. To all sixteenth-century travelers, a voyage from Portugal to India meant months of deadly peril from storms, pirates, and diseases. But to Father Francis Xavier, it also meant a chance to win the Orient for Jesus Christ. This great saint's eagerness to spread the Word of God involved him with the pearl divers of the Indian coast, the natives of Malaya and the Spice Islands, the cannibals of Morotni and the hostile feudal lords of ancient Japan. This book captures the true spirit of a daring man who braved the many dangers of India and Japan in amazing adventures of courage and faith.

This book tells the story of one of the Catholic Church's most lovable and loving saints, St. Philip Neri. Despite his wisdom and learning, he was a simple, childlike soul who never ceased, even in his old age, to make jokes and play with his many pets.