Arise to Blessedness

Winner of a second-place award in the contemporary spirituality category from the Catholic Media Association.

Eight modern saints invite you to follow their example to live the Beatitudes—the heart of Jesus’s teaching—in your own life.

Through her beautiful full-color art, scripture passages, journaling prompts, and original prayers inspired by the Our Father, popular Catholic artist Jen Norton will guide you to put the Beatitudes into practice as she challenges you to examine the state of your own heart and your willingness to grow in holiness.

Norton compares living what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3–13) with climbing a mountain—a difficult, irregular, sometimes fear-filled path that eventually leads to a great reward. But she says that like the saints, if you trust God beyond your own understanding, the end of the climb is heaven.

You will learn about each of the Beatitudes from modern saints, including

• St. André Bessette, a brother of the Congregation of Holy Cross, who served as a porter and powerful intercessor for the afflicted—Blessed are the poor in spirit;
• St. Mark Ji Tianxiang, a Chinese doctor who became an opium addict but maintained a strong faith. He died a martyr during the Boxer Rebellion—Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness;
• St. Maria Goretti, who sought the conversion of those who had harmed her—Blessed are the merciful; and
• St. Oscar Romero, the archbishop who embodied radical love as a peacemaker—Blessed are the peacemakers.

 

This book is perfect for personal or group use.

Jen Norton is an award-winning painter and the author and illustrator of Surrender All: An Illuminated Journal Retreat through the Stations of the Cross. Her artwork also has appeared on the covers of books, including Word by Word and The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion.

Norton served as an art director at CKS Partners from 1989 to 1998, did freelance design, and was an exhibiting artist and illustrator until 2012 when she began focusing exclusively on Catholic art.

Norton earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art with a minor in business from Santa Clara University. She is the president of Allied Artist West and previously served as a board member of the Santa Clara Valley Watercolor Society and the Silicon Valley Open Studios. Norton is represented by The Sacred Art Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is an annual exhibitor at the Los Angeles Religious Education Conference and other shows.