The Lives of Seven Saints

By Jeannie Meekins

Throughout history men and women have done incredible things. Some of these people have been recognized by the catholic church, and made into saints. But in the beginning these were just ordinary people going about their ordinary lives.
This compilation of 15-minute biographies tells the stories of seven saints and how they lived. Included are the full texts from the following books:
Saint Nicholas: The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Children
Saint George: Dragon Slayer
Saint Valentine The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Love
Saint Patrick: Ireland's Beloved Saint
Saint Francis of Assisi: The Patron Saint of Animals
Saint Joan of Arc: The Girl Who Fought For France
Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint

Find out more about these great people in this set of seven 15-minute biographies.

Reading level 6.9
Ages 9 and up.

LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LearningIsland.com
• Release date: Dec 4, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310250330

Jeannie Meekins

Jeannie Meekins is an Australian writer who lives with her children and a couple of cats who think they own the computer. And if her dog could read, he’d be jealous, so it’s lucky that he can’t. Jeannie has also written over 10 books for children, many available through LearningIsland.com

Book preview

THE LIVES OF SEVEN SAINTS

Short Biographies of Seven Saints Who Changed The World

By Jeannie Meekins

and Melissa Cleeman

A LearningIsland.com

15 - Minute Book

Editor: Jennifer Robinson

Title page picture by Andreas F. Borchert

Smashwords Edition

(c) Copyright 2014 Jeannie Meekins and Melissa Cleeman. All rights reserved.

Published by LearningIsland.com

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please purchase your own copy from any of several online e-book stores. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

The Lives of Seven Saints / Jeannie Meekins and Melissa Cleeman

Summary: A brief look at the lives of seven people who became saints.

1. Saints. Juvenile Literature. 2. Catholicism. Juvenile Literature.

Words: 17,767

Reading Level: 6.9

Ages 9 and up.

Table of Contents

This book contains the entire textfrom the following 15-minute biographies:

Saint Nicholas: The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Children

Saint George: Dragon Slayer

Saint Valentine: The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Love

Saint Patrick: Ireland's Beloved Saint

Saint Francis of Assisi: The Patron Saint of Animals

Saint Joan of Arc: The Girl Who Fought For France

Mary MacKillop: Australia's First Saint

About the Authors

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SAINT NICHOLAS

The Man Who Became the Patron Saint of Children

Have you ever wondered where the legend of Santa Claus or Father Christmas came from? Maybe you’ve heard of the Saint Nicholas who is a patron saint and known as the Guardian of Children. He is one of the most popular and celebrated saints throughout the world.

Many years ago there really was a man named Nicholas who became a saint. In this story, we discover how a rich orphan became one of the most generous and widely-accepted saints today.

A Saint to Many

Saint Nicholas is one of the most popular figures in Christianity. He was a much loved saint throughout Europe during medieval times. Today, he is a saint to many people from many different religions.

He is known as the patron saint for sailors, women seeking marriage and innocent victims. But he is best known as the Patron Saint of children.

During the Middle Ages, Saint Nicholas’ popularity grew from its origins in Greece. He became the patron saint of many cities throughout Europe and Russia.

Everything about Saint Nicholas is quite remarkable, from his life before the church and how he became Bishop to the many stories about him while alive and after death.

Russian Icon

Early Life and Becoming Bishop Nicholas

The exact date of Nicholas’ birth is unknown. It is believed he was born somewhere between 260 and 280AD in a Greek village called Patara. This area is now on the southern coast of Turkey.

His family was very wealthy. Nicholas was raised as a devout Christian.

When he was a child, Nicholas' parents died of a disease outbreak, leaving him with a large fortune. Some stories say he went to live with his uncle, or with monks or in an orphanage. All the stories say that, instead of keeping all the money, Nicholas used it to help the needy and the sick. This started his reputation as a generous, caring person who helped others.

When he grew up, Nicholas became a bishop. The way he became a bishop was unusual. The last Bishop of Myra had passed away. All the other bishops got together to try and select the new Bishop.

Later that night, the wisest of all the bishops heard a voice. It told him that the first person to enter the church named Nicholas would be their new bishop. The next day, he told the other bishops and instructed them to attend their prayers while he waited by the door. The first person to walk into the church was a young man, around 30 years of age.

The wise bishop asked, Who are you?

I am Nicholas, the man replied.

The bishop led Nicholas to the bishop’s seat and sat him down. Nicholas became Bishop of Myra.

Nicholas and the Storm

In those days people of the Mediterranean often traveled by sea. There are many stories of Nicholas at sea.

The most popular of these stories, is when he was a young priest coming home from the Holy Land. A wild storm broke out, threatening to destroy the ship and everyone on board. The sailors were terrified; certain they would meet their doom. Nicholas calmly prayed. The sailors stared in amazement as the wind eased and the storm disappeared.

Sailors told this and many other stories of Nicholas. The stories quickly spread throughout the ports and harbors of Greece. Soon, Nicholas was known in countries he had never been to, by people he had never met.

Icons of Saint Nicholas and churches dedicated to him were built at many seaports around Greece. Soon other ports and harbors around the world built them. Sailors would pray for a safe journey on the sea and give thanks on their safe return home. Instead of wishing each other, Good luck, sailors would say, May Saint Nicholas hold the tiller.

The dowry for the three virgins - Gentile da Fabriano, c. 1425

Nicholas