Biography of a Living Saint

By Richard Mclean

Whether it’s family, friends, God, or a stranger, life finds a way for you eventually. But when you question where you stand, your foundation begins to crumble.

In this biography of a living saint, Richard McLean reveals how he has prospered in faith through the love and grace of God from an early age.
Sunday school and church taught him how to pray, and when he was old enough to attend Sunday church services, his relationship with the Lord reached a higher plane. He drew closer to Jesus.
He explores what it means to be a saint, noting that the Bible does not define what a saint is or give us a job description of what a saint does.
The author observes, however, that if you look at the saints collectively, their lives seem to follow a pattern. They all dedicate their life God—and they remain steadfast, no matter what.
While there is no blueprint to becoming a saint, you’ll be inspired by learning about their journey—as well as the author’s—as you let God’s love shape your destiny and guide you to heaven.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 17, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664282285

Richard Mclean

Richard McLean rose to prominence at age thirty-two when he was nominated for sainthood by Pope John Paul II. This book covers his lifespan from early childhood to adult retirement. It highlights his spiritual growth from age five to age seventy. His path is the same path the other saints have followed.

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Copyright © 2022 Richard McLean.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher

make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book

and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

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views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8227-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8229-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-8228-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022919692

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/17/2022

CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Preface

Chapter 1 Early Childhood

Chapter 2 Recounting Memories from My Childhood

Chapter 3 Growing Up

Chapter 4 Adolescence

Chapter 5 Further Education and Career

Chapter 6 Family

Chapter 7 The Role of Religion

Chapter 8 Reflecting on My Religious Inclination

Chapter 9 Retirement

Chapter 10 Personal Note

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to the Apostle, Saint Peter, the patron saint of fisherman and the Holy Father of all saints. He holds the keys to the gates of heaven.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks to my son, Zach, for his help with typing the manuscript and shooting the photographs.

Also, a big thank you to Scott Andrews and the Montana State University for their expert help.

PREFACE

This book is my way of giving back to the world on a larger scale than ever before. I’ve always been considered a leader and a sign of hope. However, I have always felt I could do more than that. I want those who aren’t in my reach to have some sort of hope also. I don’t want you to follow my path or become me, but I want you to know that it’s possible to overcome your hurdles, no matter what.

What life has taught me is that human beings are stronger than one could ever think or assume. We are complex individuals. We learn, we feel, we love, and that humanity saves us in unimaginable ways. If it weren’t for this, we would be nowhere. Don’t be scared of reaching out. Whether it’s family, friends, God, or a stranger, life finds a way for you eventually. It’s when you question where you stand that your foundation begins to crumble. You need to stand strong, my friends. This book will teach you how you can, and, more than that, the fact that you have it in you. Maybe you’re just like me, knowing you have a story that can help others with no real way to do it. Stop doubting yourself, your spirit, and your aura. You’re more than what you know. If you embrace that, there is no way to stop your potential.

I, too, used to wonder what to write about and how to pen down my tale. I didn’t know how to start or where to finish; after all, my story is not yet done. However, in the end, I let my mind and my faith do the talking. By the grace of God, words began to flow, and soon, I realized I had so much to say. Don’t let society or your worries stop you from becoming who you want to be. There will always be some work or commitment or hardship in your way. If you look past it and work in spite of it, you’ll always succeed. However, first and foremost, take care of yourself. Your needs are more important than anyone else’s. One needs to help oneself before one is able to help others.

You are never alone. God is always with you. That’s what got me through every criticism, every instance of someone underestimating me, and every moment I doubted myself. If He is with me, no one can be against me. Before I start my story, I want you to know the one piece of advice I have always found solace in from the best possible adviser:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve (1 Corinthians 15:1–58).

CHAPTER 1

Early Childhood

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Life is full of bounties that fall upon each human being. Sometimes one has to look for them, and sometimes we are fortunate enough to experience them without waiting. I guess I belonged to the latter group. From the very first day that I opened my eyes in this mortal world, I was blessed with prosperity—born with a silver spoon in my mouth, so to speak. I was handed over blessings upon blessings, abundances for which I am eternally grateful. I was born on November 24, 1951, in New Castle, Pennsylvania, United States. My hometown is around sixty miles north of Pittsburgh.

I don’t remember my parents’ expressions when they first saw me; I don’t know what my mother might have felt when she first held me or how