"In Married Saints John Fink fleshes out, in his compelling narrative style, the home
and family interests of 24 saints studied for centuries, yet 'unexplored' in the areas of
domestic life. Monica, Thomas More, Perpetua and Felicity, Zachariah and Elizabeth, Frances of
Rome, Margaret of Scotland, Isidore and Maria, Elizabeth of Hungary, Bridget of Sweden, Elizabeth
Ann Seton and more. This is must reading for lay spirituality. A welcome addition to church,
school and public libraries." --Mary C. Blooming, HM in
Catholic Library World, November 1, 2003
"John Fink, formerly a longtime publisher of Our Sunday Visitor, gives us here chapters
on the many saints who were married. Sometimes Catholics get the notion you have to be a priest,
brother or sister to be a saint. But in this book are St. Elizabeth Seton, St. Monica, St. Bridget
of Sweden and many more married saints. It gives encouragement to mothers and fathers. One does
not have to be a missionary out in a jungle to be a saint or convert thousands of people or
preach endlessly. Many saints have been canonized because they have been good husbands and wives,
good mothers and fathers. In truth, today, raising children, especially teens, in our half-pagan
society with drugs everywhere and a sex craze in our nation, is nothing less than heroic. Children
somehow in our society have been forgotten while there is a rush in parishes to move around
sanctuary furniture and redesign ceremonies. Parents are often beside themselves trying to keep
their youngsters in the faith in our world when having fun is everything for may. It is the "in"
thing to do, while television and the media in general imply that religion is old-fashioned.
When one reads about these married saints he is encouraged and gains new hope. The saints are our
guides to Heaven. These saints will help married people in their many trials at home and at work.
It is not easy today. John Fink in his introduction tells us that this book brings to the
attention of the world 'the great charity and heroic virtue that characterized the lives of
married saints.' Many more married saints are in Heaven, of course, but these have been canonized
and are honored by the Church." --Fr. Rawley Myers in
Homiletic & Pastoral Review, January 2000
"This [book] focuses on married men and women who are listed in the Catholic Church's official
roll of canonized saints. Fink's subjects span the ages from biblical times (Joachim and Ann,
Zachary and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph) to a saint whose life was lived during the 18th and 19th
centuries, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton. Fink's style is plain, straightforward, and factual,
reflecting his experience as a journalist. Yet the brief stories he tells about each of his
twenty-three subjects are fast moving and engaging. Married Saints fulfills the author's
self-stated purpose 'to explain why the Church considers these men and women holy enough to be
included in its roster of saints.'" --Clare Boehmer, ASC in
Review for Religious, July-August 2000
"Great gift for pre-marital couples, anniversary couples, engaged: Married Saints, by
writer, editor and publisher John F. Fink, this 192 page paperback book offers a major message --
that married life is and has always been a path to holiness. Author concentrates on married saints
in the liturgical calendar; 18 chapters drawn on history, scholarship and tradition, brought
together in readable, often witty prose that tell some of the best (and least known) stories in
Church history. The author refers to the chapters as 'profiles' rather than biographies. His
reasoning: Showing why the Church considers 'these men and women holy enough to be included
in its roster of saints.' Superbly written and inspiring stories, enjoyable and insightful
reading." --Crux of the News, March 15, 1999
"Married Saints, the latest book by Criterion Editor Emeritus Jack Fink, not only
fills a gap in Catholic hagiography but it also provides a great gift possibility for engagements and
wedding anniversaries. We know of no other volume especially devoted to the recognized married
saints of the Church.... As always, Fink's writing is clear, engaging and well-researched. And,
typically, he includes fascinating tidbits in the material for his readers. In this volume,
readers are treated to a plethora of little-known facts about these married saints....
Fink has also sprinkled a goodly amount of his own wit throughout the book.... But perhaps the
best part is to be found in the 8-page introduction in which Fink tells readers why he chose to
write a book on married saints.... [He] says that he wants to 'show that the term married
saint is not an oxymoron.' We believe he has succeeded." --
William R. Bruns in The Criterion, April 16, 1999
"Most of the Church's canonized saints were not married. Married Saints, by John F. Fink, is
a collection of brief biographies of those who have found sanctity within marriage, highlighting
their great charity and heroic virtue." --Fr. William C. Graham in
National Catholic Reporter, May 7, 1999
"Fink profiles the lives of several married saints such as Thomas More, Margaret of Scotland,
Sts. Peter, Monica, Frances of Rome and Elizabeth Ann Seton. He also writes about married couples
such as Joseph and Mary, Joachim and Ann, Zachary and Elizabeth and Isidore and Maria. The book
abounds with interesting facts and insights into the lives of the profiled saints, bringing a
human dimension to many of God's elect. Throughout, Fink illustrates how the saints incorporated
their faith and holy actions into all realms of their lives, including their marriages. It was
Fink's intention to 'encourage husbands and wives everywhere to strive for greater holiness in
their marriages and to take pride in their peers who did so before them and are now listed in the
roster of the saints'." --Ann Aubrey Hanson in
The Southern Cross
"Historically the Church has placed a greater value on virginity than on marriage, with the
result that, except for the martyrs, any list of saints consists mainly of monks and celibate
clergy. This book starts by reminding the reader that most saints in heaven are married since St.
Paul defined saints as those persons who follow Christ (Col 1:2). Although the laity and the
married are underrepresented in the lists of canonized saints, this small book provides short
biographies of 23 married saints that have been officially canonized in the Catholic Church....
This book is very informative and beneficial for spiritual reading. It opens the door for
publishers, authors and readers to many hidden treasures in the Church." --
Coptic Church Review, Summer 1999
"John Fink is editor emeritus of The Criterion, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of
Indianapolis. He notes that although most canonized saints were not married, there are many who
were. Beginning with Mary and Joseph, Joachim and Ann, Zachary and Elizabeth, and St. Peter, he
presents brief lives of 23, including Thomas More, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Monica, Louis, Elizabeth
of Hungary, Elizabeth of Portugal, Henry, Margaret of Scotland, Edward the Confessor, Bridget of
Sweden, Isidore and Maria de la Cabeza, and Perpetua and Felicity." --W.
Charles Heiser in Theology Digest, Summer 2000
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Editor Emeritus of The Criterion, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis,
John F. Fink was its Editor in Chief from July 1984 to January 1998.
Prior to that he was with Our Sunday Visitor for 30 years, 11 of them as president and
publisher. From 1965 to 1975 he was on the board of directors and served as treasurer, vice
president and president of the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada. He
was subsequently vice president and then president of the International Federation of Catholic
Press Associations. He and his wife have seven children and eight grandchildren.