CBB Review: My Badass Book of Saints

Review by Michele Craig

Lately I have noticed that as God turns the pages of my life, He sends a quote to me to introduce the new story that is about to unfold for me.  The most recent quote is by St. Ireneaus “The glory of God is man fully alive.”  (Or in my case “woman fully alive.) So when I saw the title (not to mention the fabulous cover) of Maria Morera Johnson’s book My Badass Book of Saints: Courageous Women Who Showed Me How to Live.  I knew I must read this book.

As I expected, Maria Morera Johnson is living life fully alive as she explains…”Now in midlife, I find myself picking up my old holy cards and looking past the dull pictures and facts to see the real women who are my spiritual role models.  Their holy lives inspire me to live my life in fulfillment of my baptismal promises… and yet I also love that these women tend to be tremenda, a little badass, too.”

Maria, a first generation Cuban-American, goes on to explain the meaning of the word tremenda.  “My long-suffering mother knows this about me.  She calls me tremenda, a Spanish word that has many layers of meaning.  To look at it, you might think it translates handily as tremendous, but that’s not quite right.  It does mean tremendous, sometimes.  It also means terrific, and terrible.  It translates as bold.  Daring.  Fearless. Stalwart.  Smart.  Courageous.  In a lot of cases, it can be used as a modifier to express both judge-y disdain and profound admiration.  But mostly it means badass.”

The author chose badass as a descriptor, not as a vulgarity, because “… I can’t help but be drawn to the nuances inherent in using a word that carries a little shock value.”  It worked.  I have to say that although I love reading all things Catholic…. it was a bit of fresh air to see this title, and as I mentioned earlier, I am on the path of learning how to really live, be fully alive.  I have found my mentor- La Tremenda.

While offering suggestions on how to use this book: “My Badass Book of Saints” contains both questions to ponder at the end of each chapter and group discussion questions designed for a six-week study at the end of the book.”  I found it to be an excellent source of material to ponder upon privately throughout the day – beautiful stories on the lives of the new friends Maria has introduced to me:  St. Christina the Astonishing (even her name sounds badass!), Sr. Blandina Segale, Nancy Wake, Edel Quinn, Mother Mary Lange, Phyllis Bowman, Irena Sendler, Dorothea Lane, Mother Antonia Brenner , Bl. Rosalie Rendu, and St. Bibiana to name a few.

As well as discovering these new friends, Maria offers the opportunity to revisit some of my old friends -favorite saints, learning more about them as their stories are woven into Maria’s life story and the lives of other women saints/badasses.  Some of my favorites mentioned are: St. Teresa of Avila, St. Joan of Arc, St. Helena, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Gianna Beretta Molla, St. Rose of Lima, St. Rita of Cascia, and your Mother and mine, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To quote the author, quoting St. Catherine of Siena:  “If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!”  We know that St. Catherine of Siena set the world ablaze, and now I know that Maria Morera Johnson, La Tremenda, has too!

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