Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God

by Allison Gingras, Kelly M. Wahlquist (Foreword by)

Overview

After a friend gave Allison Gingras a Miraculous Medal, she began to incorporate it and other sacramentals into her personal prayer time and family devotions. She soon discovered that these tangible signs—which Catholics believe prepare us to receive the grace of the sacraments—helped both her and her profoundly deaf daughter connect with God and the spiritual motherhood of Mary, who is intimately connected to so many of these practices.

Blessings, prayers, devotions, and objects such as rosaries and scapulars are forms of sacramentals. In Encountering Signs of Faith, Gingras—founder of Reconciled to You ministries—shares the story of how these helped her discern the adoption of her daughter from China, strengthened her faith as she waited to meet her, helped her bond with the toddler, and taught her daughter about her faith.

Gingras offers examples of saints who inspired and embraced sacramentals, including Juan Diego, Faustina, Bernadette, and Venerable Patrick Peyton. You will also learn about the spiritual benefits of incorporating sacramentals such as sacred images, novenas, prayer cards, lectio divina (sacred reading), and holy water into daily life. Reflection questions and grace-building activities are included with each chapter.

Gingras will guide you and your family to experience these sacred signs in a new way and to connect you more meaningfully to Jesus, Mary, and the saints.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781646801411
Publisher:	Ave Maria Press
Publication date:	10/28/2022
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	1,069,151
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Allison Gingras is a Catholic social media consultant and the host and creator of the podcast A Seeking Heart.

Gingras developed and acquired six volumes in the Stay Connected Journals for Women series and wrote two—The Gift of Invitation and Seeking Peace. She is a contributor to a number of books, including The Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers, Called by Name, and The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion. Gingras has been featured on a variety of Catholic television and radio programs and podcasts. She is a regular contributor to LPI, Diocesan.com, CatholicMom.com, Family Rosary, WINE, Amazing Catechists, and CatholicSistas. Gingras is the cohost of the Catholic MomCast.

She was given the Light of Christ Award by the Archdiocese of Boston in 2008. She is a member of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s Diocesan Revitalization Committee in the Fall River Diocese. Gingras is a member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild, the National Council of Catholic Women, and Catholics Online.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Bridgewater State University and a master’s degree in technology in education from Lesley University. She is a certified paralegal.

Kelly M. Wahlquist is a Catholic author and speaker, and the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization. She is the director for the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Wahlquist is the author of Created to Relate, the editor of Walk In Her Sandals and Gaze Upon Jesus, and a contributing writer for WINE. Wahlquist leads women’s pilgrimages through Italy and Ireland and travels around the country speaking on the New Evangelization. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, Andy, and their children.

Table of Contents

Foreword Kelly M. Wahlquist vii

Introduction xi

1 All about Grace:

St. Catherine Labouré and the Miraculous Medal 1

2 Companions on the Journey:

St. Faustina Kowalska and Divine Mercy 13

3 Surrendering to the Cross:

St. Padre Pio, Relics, and Crucifixes 29

4 A Little Prayer Never Hurts:

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Prayer Cards, and Novenas 43

5 Covered in Love:

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Brown Scapular 55

6 My Weapon of Choice:

Ven. Patrick Peyton and the Rosary 67

7 Inspired by the Word:

St. John the Evangelist, the Blessed Mother, and Scripture 79

8 Someone to Look Up To:

St. Juan Diego and Sacred Images 91

9 Staying Connected to Church:

St. Bernadette Soubirous, Holy Water, Incense, and Candles 103

10 A Modern-Day Miracle:

St. Gemma Galgani and Religious Medals 117

Conclusion 129

Appendix 132

Notes 138

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Allison Gingras beautifully unites us as a faithful family by introducing us to people, places, and things that make God’s love real. In Encountering Signs of Faith, we meet men and women from around the world who embraced sacramentals and lived holy and venerable lives. And, we see how the tangibles of our faith invoke the prayer of the entire Church and help us live the plan of sheer goodness God has for each of us.” —From the foreword by Kelly M. Wahlquist, founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization

“Like sacramentals, this book is a blessing.” —Melanie Rigney, author of Sisterhood of Saints

“Encountering Signs of Faith is informative and instructive, yet much more. It is at its heart the story of an intimate journey nourished by love and a passion for the faith.” —Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, Diocese of Fall River

“Real, refreshing, and relatable.” —Michele Faehnle, coauthor of Divine Mercy for Moms