--- title: "Book Review: Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette" description: "In \"Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette: Three Saints who Challenged My Faith, Gave Me Hope, and Taught Me How to Love,\" Elizabeth Ficocelli shares the stories of these three saints as well as the way t" --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/03/20/book-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette#) # Book Review: Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette Mar 20, 2014 12:30:53 PM  |  by [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) [![CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg?width=550&height=169&name=CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/CatholicMom-booknotes-logo1-550x169-151.jpg) [![Book Review - Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Review-Therese-Faustina-and-Bernadette.jpg?width=300&height=279&name=Book-Review-Therese-Faustina-and-Bernadette.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Review-Therese-Faustina-and-Bernadette.jpg)Elizabeth Ficocelli, raised as a non-practicing Lutheran,  did not become Catholic until she was preparing to marry her Catholic boyfriend, but even as a child, she felt that God was leading her to a special mission. To fulfill that mission, Ficocelli states that “God had in store for me amazingly heavenly helpmates who would be there to challenge my faith, give me hope, and teach me to love, which is ultimately what this book is all about.” In *Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette: Three Saints who Challenged My Faith, Gave Me Hope, and Taught Me How to Love (*Ave Maria Press, 2014*)*, Ficocelli shares the stories of these three saints as well as the way that they have shaped and influenced her own life. Saints Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette have much in common. “Each had a passion for saving sinners and rescuing souls, a fear of losing God’s friendship, a dedication to a Gospel-based path to holiness, and a total abandonment to the will of God . . . They suffered spiritual dark nights of the souls . . . [and] each went through a physical passion of sorts during a slow and agonizing death.” For Ficocelli, and for us, they serve as spiritual guides and friends to help us through the challenges of being a modern woman. Each one of the saints also has a particular virtue that she can teach us about. St. Therese and her little way is a master of Love; St. Faustina with her message of divine mercy is a vision of Hope; and St. Bernadette, the visionary of Fatima, is a great example of Faith. We can learn a great deal about how to live a holy faith from these three women’s example. For those not familiar with these saints, *Therese, Faustina, and Bernadette* provides a wonderful introduction to these heavenly helpers. For those already acquainted, it provides an opportunity to reflect more deeply on their lives, their example, and the lessons that they have to teach us. The appendix includes reflection questions for use as an individual or as part of a book group. *** Copyright 2014 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F20%2Fbook-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F20%2Fbook-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F20%2Fbook-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Book%20Review%3A%20Therese%2C%20Faustina%2C%20and%20Bernadette) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F20%2Fbook-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F03%2F20%2Fbook-review-therese-faustina-and-bernadette%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Patrice%20Fagnant-MacArthur%202024.jpg) ### [Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patrice-fagnant-macarthur) Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur has a master’s degree in applied theology and is the author of The Power of Forgiveness, Our Lady of La Salette: A Mother Weeps for Her Children, and The Life and Lessons of St. Zelie Martin. A mother of three, she is the editor of [TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com](http://TodaysCatholicHomeschooling.com) as well as a [freelance writer and editor](http://Pfmacarthur.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Get to Know the Brotherhood of Saints Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/get-to-know-the-brotherhood-of-saints) [ Inspirational Stories of Young Saints Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/inspirational-stories-of-young-saints) [ Spend 30 Days with a Great Spiritual Teacher Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/spend-30-days-with-a-great-spiritual-teacher) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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