Here are some great resources for the next time your Confirmation candidates need to do a little research to help them choose their saint name:

[UPDATE 2/4/14: I just came across an additional resource from RCL Benziger. Scroll all the way down to check it out a third great resource.]

#1) Who Cares About the Saints? by James Martin, SJ

From the Loyola Press website:

Let James Martin, SJ author of the bestselling book My Life with the Saints [free discussion guide available here], introduce you to his favorite Catholic saints in this exciting new saints DVD, which combines his lively commentary along with dramatic photos and artwork that bring to life the lives of the saints. Perfect for personal reflection, parish groups, or educators.

Click here to watch the entire playlist of Who Cares About the Saints?

You can also click on the saint name below to see an individual clip:

1. Bernadette Soubirous (7:51)
2. St. Joseph: A Hidden Life (7:09)
3. Dorothy Day (9:27)
4. Joan of Arc (6:50)
5. St. Francis of Assisi (7:49)
6. Ignatius of Loyola (9:36)
7. St. Peter (8:11)
8. Pope John XXIII (8:44)
9. Therese of Lisieux (10:02)
10. Thomas Merton (11:14)
11. Mary (9:58)
12. Mother Teresa (10:24)

#2) Walking With the Saints from AmericanCatholic.org

From AmericanCatholic.org:

In order to help Catholics learn about and imitate great models of Christian living from Catholic history, St. Anthony Messenger Press launched Walking With the Saints, a monthly, 12-issue, 4-page newsletter. It was published from March 2007 through February 2008. This informative newsletter offers Catholic leaders a resource to help teach about the meaning of the Communion of Saints and how God calls all of us to be saints and live the gospel.

Click on the title to see the article. Listed below each title are the saints who are specifically featured in the article:

• #1) Men and Women Who Changed the Church by William H. Shannon
  • St. Ambrose (339-397)
  • St. Athanasius (296-373)
  • St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
• #2) Saints of the 20th Century by Robert F. Morneau
  • St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955)
  • St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941)
  • St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (1905-1938)
• #3) Women Who Knew Jesus by Joanne Turpin
  • Salome, mother of James and John
  • Martha and Mary of Bethany
  • Mary Magdalene
• #4) Contemplatives and Mystics by Albert Haase, O.F.M.
  • St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)
  • St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
  • St. Padre Pio (1887-1968)
• #5) Defenders of the Faith by Mitch Finley
  • St. Cyril of Alexandria (376?-444)
  • St. Philip Neri (1515-1595)
  • St. Vincent Ferrer (1350?-1419)
• #6) Martyrs: Belief in Action by Robert F. Morneau
  • St. Thomas Becket (1118-1170)
  • St. Isaac Jogues (1607-1646)
  • Blessed Miguel Pro (1891-1927)
• #7) Immigrant Saints: Newcomers to the Americas by Vicky Hébert and Denis Sabourin
  • St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)
  • St. John Neumann (1811-1860)
  • St. Mother Théodore Guérin (1798-1856)
• #8) Male Founders: Answering God’s Call by Albert Haase, O.F.M.
  • St. Benedict of Nursia (480?-547)
  • St. Francis of Assisi (1182?-1226)
  • St. Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
• #9) Female Founders: Answering God’s Call by Vicky Hébert and Denis Sabourin
  • St. Clare of Assisi (1194?-1253)
  • St. Julie Billiart (1751-1816)
  • St. Angela Merici (1474-1540)
• #10) Companions in Faith by Mitch and Kathy Finley
  • St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) & St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)
  • St. Vincent de Paul (1580?-1660) & St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660)
• #11) Saints of Eastern Traditions by Fr. Anthony J. Salim
  • St. Ephrem (c. 306-373)
  • St. John Chrysostom (349-407)
  • St. Sharbel Makhlouf (1828-1898)
• #12) Special Friends of the Poor by Mary Cummins Wlodarski
  • St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)
  • St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440)
  • St. Martin of Tours (c. 316-397)

#3) Saints Resources from RCL Benziger

All of RCL Benziger’s information about saints and holy people has now been gathered in one convenient location in the Resource Center. Click here to see the Saint Resources page.

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Image courtesy of vorakorn / FreeDigitalPhotos.net