Book Endorsements for Icons of Mercy
NEWT GINGRICH
Former Speaker of the House
Having had the privilege of meeting both John Paul II and Mother Teresa, I saw firsthand something of the extraordinary faith, courage, and moral clarity that made them such powerful witnesses to the world. In Icons of Mercy, Patrick Novecosky brings these two remarkable saints together in a moving account of their friendship, their shared commitment to human dignity, and their enduring legacy of mercy. Patrick has given us a timely and inspiring book about two lives that changed the world forever.
Bill Donohue, Ph.D.
President, Catholic League for Religous & Civil Rights
There is no shortage of books on John Paul II and Mother Teresa, but none can compare with this splendid volume that details the fraternal and professional relationship they experienced. These two giants of the latter part of the twentieth century fed off each other in a way that was divinely inspired.
full endorsement
There is no shortage of books on John Paul II and Mother Teresa, but none can compare with this splendid volume that details the fraternal and professional relationship they experienced. These two giants of the latter part of the twentieth century fed off each other in a way that was divinely inspired.
The strength of this book is how Novecosky weaves his narrative, juxtaposing the contributions of his subjects. Both were enormously courageous, speaking truth to power. For the pope, it was his fortitude in fighting totalitarianism; for the saintly nun, it was her resolve in dealing with the consequences of poverty. Both succeeded.
Their love for human dignity, the unborn, and the family shines through. Others shared these commitments, but few did so by commanding the world stage. Saints Teresa of Calcutta and John Paul the Great were very special persons, not just for Catholics but for the whole world. Kudos to Novecosky for telling this story with clarity and precision.
Paul Kengor
Author of “A Pope and A President”
Patrick Novecosky has a gift—a talent, as Pope John Paul II might say—for finding fresh and compelling ways to illuminate some of the most inspiring Catholic figures of our time. He demonstrated that gift in 100 Ways John Paul II Changed the World. Now, Patrick turns his attention to two of the greatest Catholic figures of the late twentieth century: John Paul II and Mother Teresa. They were, quite literally, saints in our time—saints among us. We knew them, and they knew one another. In this touching new book, Patrick brings them together in a way no other author has.
Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk
MC, editor, Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light
Patrick Novecosky captures something I know firsthand from years inside the Missionaries of Charity and editing Mother Teresa’s private letters in Come Be My Light: her hidden darkness and John Paul II’s public witness were two expressions of the same fire. This book tells that story with clarity and reverence — a needed reminder that sanctity and public mission are never truly separate.
Andreas Widmer
Patrick Novecosky’s Icons of Mercy: The Faith, Friendship, and Legacy of John Paul II and Mother Teresa shows the unity between truth and love beautifully by showing two saints who refused to let the modern world split them apart: John Paul proclaimed human dignity from the Chair of Peter, Mother Teresa proved it in the gutters of Calcutta. Novecosky weaves the story of their friendship into a single narrative.
Full Endorsement
Patrick Novecosky’s Icons of Mercy: The Faith, Friendship, and Legacy of John Paul II and Mother Teresa shows the unity between truth and love beautifully by showing two saints who refused to let the modern world split them apart: John Paul proclaimed human dignity from the Chair of Peter, Mother Teresa proved it in the gutters of Calcutta. Novecosky weaves the story of their friendship into a single narrative.
Novecosky weaves the story of their friendship into a single narrative. They did not live parallel lives but had complementary vocations; they were like two notes in one chord, grounded in scenes like Mother Teresa’s reply to a cardinal scolding her for keeping the pope waiting while she tended a leper on the roadside: “Yes, I know, but I met Christ on the road.” The great insight here is that mercy is not a sentiment but action, and holiness is not the luxury of the few but a simple duty for every one of us who wants to go to heaven. The historical detail in this book is solid, the prose accessible, and the book never loses sight of the person at the center: Jesus Christ. If you want to understand why these two figures still matter today, Patrick’s new book is where to start.
Fr. Donald Calloway
MIC, Author, Consecration to St. Joseph
In Icons of Mercy, Patrick Novecosky brings together two of the Church’s most luminous witnesses—St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Calcutta—with the insight of a gifted writer and the affection of one who has long walked in their spiritual company. As his friend for many years, I have seen how deeply Patrick’s own faith has been shaped by their love of Christ, their devotion to Our Lady, and their conviction that every human life is an encounter with divine mercy. This beautiful and deeply personal book will help readers not only understand these two saints more fully, but also hear their urgent invitation to become icons of mercy in the world today.
Jim Towey
Jim Towey, Author, To Love and Be Loved: A Personal Portrait of Mother Teresa
The Church is only beginning to grasp the complementary and colossal legacies of John Paul the Great and Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Icons of Mercy is a must-read for those devoted to these two unforgettable saints.