Saints: 12 Heroes for All Times Special Collector's Edition

By Joseph J. Randazzo

pecial Collector's Edition Grandpa had a vast collection of many books about Saints. He gathered from Italy written in Italian, where he then spent much time each evening reading stories before bedtime to Joseph about Saints that Grandpa had collected. As it was told in amazement to little Joseph very specific without missing details. Joseph then told his mother and father the Saint's life stories step-by-step. The parents were impressed as to the detail in storytelling by Joseph of such amazing content. However, mother was not happy with her father, Joseph's grandfather, speaking and telling the stories to young Joseph and Italian. Mother's fear was that little Joseph would go into first grade speaking broken English and mother's intuition was correct. For the young boy did have a challenging time in first grade understanding the Irish nun's English and thus he could not grasp reading or writing and was held back in the first grade. The relationship between Grandpa and the little boy just became stronger. The more mother complained and protested, Joseph looked up to his Grandpa. As he called him his Knight, his hero, and Grandpa in turn would tell the little boy over and over the real heroes are these incredibly special Saints, they are heroes for God and little Joseph believed his Grandpa. Grandfather would say the Saints have a "secret code". They wake up each day and knowing they are born again to do honorable deeds and give service working for God. They are true heroes, they pray each day and attend church and communion where they understand fasting and listening to the Holy Spirit who helps them grow their faith. Thus giving them special abilities to conduct miracles and many powerful and unexplainable things. Now, over a half of a century later, Joseph gives an impressive tribute to his grandfather for making his way as a 9-year-old little boy from a small boat from Italy to America without a passport and leaving his loving parents behind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elohim Inc.
• Release date: Feb 2, 2024
• ISBN: 9781545757284

Book preview

Chapter 1

Saint Mary Mother Of Jesus

Ask someone to name a famous Mary, and he or she will almost certainly mention Mary, Mother of Jesus.

She is perhaps the most famous Mary in history.

And Prestigiously Called,

The Queen of Angels.

The Virgin Mary is known by many names, such as the Blessed Virgin, Mother Mary, Our Lady, Mother of God, Queen of Angels, Mary of Sorrows, and Queen of the Universe. Mary serves as the patron saint of all human beings, watching over them with motherly care due to her role as the mother of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe is the world's savior. Mary is honored as a spiritual mother to people of many faiths, including Muslim, Jewish, and believers in general.

The Name Mary In History

Miriam is the name used in many eastern traditions for the name of Mary. In Hebrew history it is said the Mother Mary was named after the sister of Moses whose name was Mariam.

However, in the new testament the name of Mary is a combination of two names, Mariam and Maria. Mother Mary used the name of Mary very honorably and courageous during her time on earth.

In The Beginning,

Mary was born into a devout Jewish family in Galilee at a time when it was part of the world dominant, Roman Empire. The bible says, parents were named, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, where in the Roman Catholic tradition states that an Angel visited separately to inform them that Anne was expecting Mary. It is believed that the mother of Mary, Saint Ann was spiritually inseminated by the visiting Angel, who announced a child was to be born, this child as to be Mother Mary, the future Mother of Jesus.

Thus, the parent of Mother Mary proceeded to offer a dedication of special thanks to GOD for the little child called Mary in a Jewish temple when she was about three years old. By the time Mary was between the ages of 12 to 13 years old, scripture says young Mary was engaged to Joseph, a devout Jewish man.

And in the period while Mary was engagement to Joseph, she was visited by an Angel. The Angel explained she was chosen to give birth to a special child from the highest GOD. The Angel explained this is GOD’s plan for her to serve as the earthy mother of the child to be called Emmanuel. (meaning GOD is with us)

Young Mary responded with faithful obedience to God’s plan, despite the personal challenges that it presented in your Jewish tradition and consequences while being engagement to Joseph.

When Mary’s cousin Elizabeth (mother of the prophet John the Baptist) praised Mary for her faith, Mary gave a speech that has become a famous song sung in worship services, the Magnificat, which the Bible records in Luke 1:46-55: "And Mary said:

My soul glorifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me -- holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.

Mary and Joseph raised Jesus the Christ Child, along with other children, brothers and sisters of Jesus whom the Bible mentions in Matthew Chapter 13.

Protestant Christians think that those children were Mary and Joseph’s children, born naturally after Jesus was born and Mary and Joseph then consummated their marriage. But Roman Catholics think that they were cousins or Mary’s stepchildren from Joseph’s former marriage to a woman who had died before he became engaged to Mary. Catholics say that Mary remained a virgin during her entire life.

Mother Mary had to learn to be a tough woman to endure the daily walking the hills of Judea while pregnant and then giving birth in a stable. The woman of the time did not learn to read or write, and this may have been the situation of Mother Mary, however blessed and highly favored she would have memorized the biblical stories as a true Jewish woman. And learned how to trust her instructions from the Holy Spirit as a need to know.

The Bible records many instances of Mary with Jesus Christ during his lifetime, including a time when she and Joseph lost track of him and found Jesus’ teaching people in a temple when he was 12 years old as mentioned in, Luke Chapter 2.

And another famous mentioned at a wedding and when wine ran out, Mary asked Jesus to step in and help provide new wine for the quest to stop and prevent any kind of embarrassment it would have on the new bride and groom. "Jesus says to his Mother, it’s not yet my time" but Mother Mary persisted, and Jesus granted his Mother the request and obeyed her, …

from this profound mention that Christians should always remember, Mother Mary says to the servants working the wedding, go with him – and do whatever he says. Jesus, her son then turned the water into wine to help the host of the special occasion, the wedding ceremony, John Chapter 2.

Mother Mary followed along and observed the sentencing of Jesus during his passion and was near the cross as Jesus died on it for the sins of the world as said in, John Chapter 19.

Mother Mary was with the Apostles in prayer after the Jesus’ resurrection and then later the ascension into heaven shared in Acts 1:14.

As Jesus spent his last minutes on the cross before he died, he looked down and say Mother Mary, Mary of Magdala and his brother John. Jesus spoke out with a request and asked the apostle John to take care of Mother Mary for the rest of her life.

What Area Did Mary Live

In the first century of the Roman Empire that ruled the known world of the time, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, and Turkey where areas ruled by the Roman Government and Mother Mary called this province her home to raise her family.

Mary is believed to have born in Nazareth during the reign of Herod the Great. Herod’s reign ruled form 37-4 BC. Mother Mary most likely spoke several languages such as Aramaic, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Mary and family where part of the social class called peasantry that were known for tradecrafts such as carpentry and laborers. As a woman of the times, Mary occupied her days by doing household work and physical work in the fields and caring for the domestic animals as need, all being part of her chores with other family member.

Mother Mary – Or Saint Mary Mother of Jesus Has Many Feast Days

The Roman Catholics claim Saint Mary – Mother of Jesus to be the patron saint of all humanity and special groups or industries welcome Mother Mary as this spiritual association. The following is a minimal example:

Groups that include mothers blood donors.

Travelers and those who work in the travel industry.

Cooks and those who work in the food industry.

Construction workers.

People who make clothes, jewelry.

People who are seeking a quest for GOD.

Mother Mary Assist As A Prayer Intercessor For Miracle Request

Millions of people around the world pray to Mother Mary as a prayer intercessor, believing that Mother Mary will then in turn, ask GOD for special favor in her prayer’s session request. With this belief people have credited a vast number of miracles to GOD working through the Virgin Mary. Those miracles can be divided into those that were reported during her lifetime, and the many miracles reported now for centuries after her physical life on earth.

The Virgin Mary Inspires Miraculous Events

The Roman Catholic faith believes that Mother Mary was conceived, miraculously free of the taint of original sin and she had spiritual power as affected every other person in history except Jesus Christ. This special specific belief is called, "the miracle of the Immaculate Conception".

Muslims believe that Mary was miraculously a perfect person from the moment of her conception onward. Islam says that GOD gave Saint Mary special grace when he first created her so that she could live a perfect life.

Around the world collectively, the Roman Catholics, Protestant and Muslims believe in the miracle of the Virgin Birth, in which Mary conceived Jesus the Christ Child as a virgin, through the power and intercession of the Holy Spirit delivered by the Archangel Gabriel.

The Bible says, that the Archangel called Gabriel visited Mary as a young girl and informed her of GOD’s plan for her to serve as the Mother of Jesus on Earth, Luke 1:34-35.

Young Mary not being ready in any way for this message questions the Angel Gabriel as describes part of their conversation:

How will this be,' Mary asked the Angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

In the Quran, Mary’s conversation with the Angel is described in Chapter 3, Ali Imran, verse 47:

"She said: 'O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man hath touched me?'

He said: 'Even so: God creates what He wills: When He has decreed a plan, He but says to it,

'Be,' and it is!"…

Since Christians believe that Jesus Christ was God incarnated on earth, they consider Mary’s pregnancy and birth to be part of a miraculous process of GOD visiting a suffering planet to redeem it errors and mistakes.

Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that Mary was miraculously taken to heaven in an unusual way. Catholics believe in the miracle of the Assumption, which means that Mary didn’t die a natural human death, however, was assumed both body and soul from Earth into heaven while she was still alive in front of witnesses.

Miracles After Mary’s Life on Earth

For many centuries throughout history people have reported the unexplainable events called miracles that happening through praying to Mother Mary since she went to heaven. These have included a myriad of Marian apparitions, which are times when believers say that Mary has miraculously appeared on Earth to deliver messages to encourage people to believe in GOD, call them to repentance their errors and mistakes thus giving people healing which provides a fresh new start in life.

Also, over the years famous apparitions of Mother Mary have been reported and some apparitions have been filmed in modern times. More famous and acknowledged reports have taken place in Lourdes, France, Fatima, Portugal, Japan, Guadalupe, Mexico, Ireland, Rwanda, and Egypt along with many more countries as around the world for years.

Mother Mary And The Child Jesus Growing Up Events

The Roman Catholic Church does not tell the stories of young child Jesus unless you search and then you will find stories of mention in the following apocryphal writings:

•The Infancy Gospel of Thomas, originally from the second century.

•The Pseudo-Matthew, 6 th -7 th century.

•The Arabic Infancy Gospel 6 th century.

•The Irish Versified Narrative, early as 700 A.D.

The stories or events of young boyhood Jesus were brought to the attention of Mother Mary and Joseph and all the stories about Jesus have many different opinions from the religious clergy type.

One profound obvious notice is that the stories wish to show the supernatural or miraculous powers that Jesus displayed from early age and then throughout his earthly life.

He gives life to the clay sparrows, is master of the Sabbath, and shows at an early age that His knowledge is that of the God-Man. Jesus is a healer and restores health and even life.

The action of Jesus is a combined of chiasmatic personality, and, at the same time, he acts like a young impatient boy, displaying both his humanity and his divinity in front of his earthly parents Mother Mary and Joseph.

For Mother Mary and her husband Joseph watching or witnessing the unexplainable events conducted in person by Jesue as a boy surely shocked them beyond explanation and understanding, … yet they knew presently, that Jesus was still a little boy whom they loved very much.

The Following Events Of Boy Jesus Witnessed By His Mother and Joseph

1. Jesus gathers water, makes it clean and drinkable. He then uses the water to mix with clay to make little birds, and molds twelve sparrows. Jesus does this action on a Sabbath. When chastised by the watcher, he makes the sparrows come to life, chirp and fly away. Jesus then punishes his accusers.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, A,2-3

2. Jesus became angry that the Son of Annas, the Scribe, was dispersing the drinking water Jesus had collected whereby Jesus commanded that Annas shall wither like a tree. As Annas wither up like a piece of tree, the parents of Annas brought young boy to Joseph the father of Jesus moaning and panicking of the death of their lost child.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, B, 2-3

3. Jesus, playing outside his home-made pools of water, but another child of Annas came and broke up the pools. Jesus complained, You shall not go on your way, and you shall dry up like a stick … The father came and complained to Joseph about his dead child. Jesus made 12 sparrows. But it was the Sabbath and one child complained to Joseph. He asked Jesus why he did these things—profaning the Sabbath. Jesus did not answer but said to the sparrows: Fly away and they did so". Joseph marveled.

The Gospel of Mathew says, Ps 26-28

4. One of the children moved with envy about the passages for water and overthrew what Jesus had built up. Jesus caused him to die. The parents came, complaining. Joseph asked Mary to speak to Jesus. Mary admonished Jesus. Jesus kicked the boy’s backside, and he came back to life. Again, Jesus made 12 sparrows. People complained to Jospeh about Jesus working on the Sabbath…Jesus clapped his hands, and the sparrows flew away. People were filled with astonishment, but some complained. The Son of Annas came and broke the dams Jesus had made. Jesus cursed the boy and he withered away and died.

Arabic Infancy Gospel says, 36.

5. At age of 7, Jesus playing with his friends, made different animals from clay,… Jesus then told these figures to walk, some to fly, and some to eat from his hand. The other boys told this to their parents who told them not to play with Jesus because he is a wizard.

Arabic Infancy Gospel says, 46.

6. Again, on Sabbath, Jesus and some boys made fishponds. The son of Hanan became angry at their working the Sabbath. Jesus had made 12 sparrows and arranged them around the pond. After Hanan reprimanded them, Jesus clapped his hands, and the sparrows flew away. Hanan kicked the pond of Jesus and the water spilled away. But Jesus told him that as the water vanished away so shall his life.

7. A certain Jen upbraided Jesus to his father Joseph for making twelve small birds…Jesus clapped his hands, and the birds were scared away.

Irish Versified Narrative says, 1-10

8. The son of Annas came and destroyed the work of Jesus…And Jesus said: May you be as a little branch that falls before its fruit. The boy collapsed like a withered twig.

Boy Jesus Curses A Boy As Mother Mary Is Puzzled

This series is based on the following recurring scenarios: Jesus is attacked or vilified by one or several boys; he curses the attacker who dies or is incapacitated. The conversation with Joseph or/and Mary leads to the restoration of the boy’s health or life. Almost like a refrain, the stories mention the wonderment of the people, the fact that Jesus’ every word becomes immediate deed, the rejection of Jesus and his parents, and the puzzlement of, Mother Mary and Joseph.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, A 4-5

9. Since you have such a child, you cannot dwell with us…Every word he speaks whether good or evil, was a deed and became a miracle.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, A 4-5

10. They complained to Joseph. Every word he says has an immediate effect…teach your child to bless and not to curse…

Ps Mathew says, 29.

11. at least teach him to bless and not to curse. At the same hour, Jesus seized the dead boy by the ear and lifted him up… And they saw Jesus speaking to him like a father to his son…

Arabic Infancy Gospels says, 47.

12. "As you have thrown me down, so you shall fall and not rise again…

Irish Versified Narrative says, 11-21

13. A boy annoyed Jesus...the boy collapsed; he died on the instant… Jesus responded to Joseph: Anyone who is innocent does not die from judgment… It is only the wicked that the curse pursues.

Boy Jesus Schools His Teachers As Mother Mary Is Amazed

Irenaeus says, Adv. Haerese, I, B.1

14. Jesus and the Alphabet introduces to the Lord’s wisdom and knowledge. He reveals himself, through the mouth of his teachers, as more learned than all the masters. He reads their minds and declares that he is before all ages. He is not Joseph’s son. He alone knows the unknown mystery symbolized in a letter Alpha.

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, A, 6-8

15. Zacchaeus, the teacher said after hearing Jesus…Woe is me…I desired to get a pupil, and I have found I have a teacher. (The child) said: I have come from above to curse them and then call them to things above…

Infancy Gospel of Thomas says, B, 6-7

16. …Joseph led him to a certain teacher named Zacchaeus and said: "Take this child and teach him letters…And when Jesus heard he laughs…You say what things you know, but I understand more things than you; for before the ages I am…Behold, you do not believe me now. When you see my cross than you will believe that I speak the truth!...

Ps Mathew says, 30-31

17. Zachyas, doctor of the law, said…after hearing Jesus, the boy, I thought I had a scholar. I, not knowing him, have found my master… …And Jesus said: …that each may return to his original state, and abide in him who is the root of life and perpetual sweetness.

Irish Versified Narrative says, 22-29

18. Joseph brought Jesus to Zachaeus for instruction… But after listening to Jesus, the Master said to Joseph: You have brought to me to be taught a boy more learned than all the masters. To the Lady Mary also he said, This son of yours has no need of instruction. (Arabic Infancy Gospel, 48) The little boy Jesus answered, ‘Sage of the law of God, you think Joseph is my father. It is not he. ‘I was before your begetting; it is I who am the sage; I know every thought that has been in your heart. …Jesus answered the sage Zacharias. Thus, did I see even you long ago through the mystery of the Holy Spirit; sage of the law, from all time before your begetting, I was".

Mother Mary Rasing Young Jesus

In the story of young Jesus in the Temple at the Age of Twelve.

The Gospel says, Luke 2. 41-51

Referred to in the Infancy Gospel of