Melaine Ryther

Partners in Holiness Melaine Ryther

St. John Bosco's assumed the form of a large dog and protected him on numerous occasions from bloodthirsty assailants.

St. Frances of Rome's helped her to read at night by the light of his hair.

St. Lydwine's "flew" her to faraway places in the heavens and on earth.

And St. Gemma Galgani's graced her with constant visible companionship for most of her short life.

Everyone has an angel story, or so it seems, but the Catholic Church has some pretty spectacular ones, especially those that are found in the lives and legends of the saints. Starting in earliest Christian times with Gregory the Great and finishing in the 20th century with one of the Church's newest saints, Padre Pio, Partners in Holiness tells the stories of nine men and women who grew in virtue and holiness with the assistance of their angels. Sometimes the help was sublime; sometimes it was stunning.

Written in a manner friendly to all age groups, these accounts recreate the times and settings in which they occurred. But always at their core is the message that the friendship of an angel is not just for a canonized saint, but is a gift to each of us, saint or sinner.

Woven throughout the book are teachings and anecdotes about the angels from a Catholic perspective. For anyone interested in angelology, hagiography, history, theology, or just an inspiring read, Partners in Holiness satisfies on many levels.