The Modern Saints: Portraits and Reflections on the Saints

Sherry Hayes-Peirce reviews a new book by Gracie Morbitzer that depicts the saints in non-traditional ways.

Gracie Morbitzer’s The Modern Saints: Portraits and Reflections on the Saints is an incredibly nuanced book on members of the Communion of Saints that you may or may not know. The images of the holy men and women are distinctly different from anything I have seen before. As a person of color, seeing the saints depicted as people of color rather than the traditional European look or iconography really led to a shift in how I see the saints. There is a description from the artist explaining why they painted the subject in a particular way.

The Modern Saints

I love the way the book is laid out! You are drawn in by the non-traditional imagery, provoking questions around why the artist depicts the saint. In every chapter an explanation of the image is shared in an “Artist’s Statement.” This is followed by a short story on the who this holy woman or man was and a personal essay written by a contributor about how the saint affects the writer and ending with a prayer for intercession from the saint.

The image on the cover of the book is Saint Martha, and she is depicted as a very young and urban looking woman. I think it really causes the reader to open their minds to how young adults may want to see saints in modern day times. Various contributors wrote personal essays about how they feel about these holy women and men. One that was surprising for me was Fr. James Martin, SJ, talking about how for him and other Catholics, Saint Ignatius of Loyola doesn’t spark affection. As this saint is the founder of the Society of Jesus (aka the Jesuits) and Ignatian spirituality I have always had great admiration for the original “SJ.” The prayer for this saint's intercession is so powerful:

St. Ignatius, we ask you for your prayers today: That we may not freak out when things don’t go our way. Because it didn’t bother you when you had to change your plans. You knew that God was with you, no matter what happened. Help us always want to do God’s will, even if we can’t figure it out yet. Help us to notice God in things both big and small. And help us fing the wisdom and discernment that enabled you to lead such a bold, fruitful, and holy life, In our own way and in or own time, Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Did you know the name of the thief who hung on the cross to the right of Jesus who requested to join our Lord in paradise? His name is Saint Dismas! In the short story on him, this saint is described as the patron of forgiveness, second chances, criminals, prisoners and the abolition of capital punishment. Another holy man that I didn’t know about was Saint Peregrine who is the patron of people suffering from cancer, AIDS, and terminal illnesses.

This book is a great gift to share with young people who feel that the Church doesn’t relate to them because they don’t see themselves in it. It could also serve to spark conversation with children and grandchildren about the Communion of Saints, the power of intercessory prayer, and the universality of the Church.

It would also be a great read for youth/young adult ministry leaders as they prepare lesson plans for confirmandi who are in discernment for choosing a saint's name.

Ask for The Modern Saints at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com.

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