Dan Morris-Young is a veteran of the Catholic Press, having warmed the seats of the editor's chair in Spokane, Oakland, Seattle, Little Rock and San Francisco. He authored a syndicated humor column for Catholic News Service for more than three decades, and has written for The Tablet, Huffington Post, Liberty, St. Anthony Messenger, U.S. Catholic, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Reporter, The National Observer, and Mt. Ranier High School's student paper. Others, too. He even won awards.
More germane, perhaps, is that he has also bussed tables at the Pine Shed Restaurant; copy-boyed at The Spokesman-Review; owned and operated a tavern; managed sales at a mobile home dealership; directed an insurance and investment practice; and made much of his family's income under water -- harvesting sea urchins and sea cucumbers in the San Juan Islands and Alaska. Really.
In Beatitude Saints Dan Morris-Young brings the lens of an experienced journalist and a relatively recent convert to examine some fascinating saints with a witty, nuanced and down-to-earth perspective. Instead of a lives-of-the-saints volume, this is a connect-the-dots look at the communion of saints, pairing well-known officially canonized saints with 20th century figures living the same timeless beatitude values and pointing the way to how we can do the same.
-- Kathy Finley, author of Savoring God: Praying With All Our Senses
Dan-Morris Young presents a wonderful collection of reflections on saints old and new, officially canonized and saints by popular acclaim. How do we live out the Beatitudes? The 16 men and women presented here demonstrate through their lives how to be faithful to the teachings of Jesus. Many saints have asked: what are we to do with our lives? Morris-Young's simple volume gives ample material for reflection.
-- Jeffrey M. Burns, director, Frances G. Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture,
University of San Diego
Saints, officially canonized by the Catholic Church or not, intrigue and fascinate, inspire and educate, and Beatitude Saints is just the ticket if you want a slim volume that will help you become better informed about how saints connect with the gospel; in particular with the Beatitudes of Matthew’s Gospel. Readers of the Catholic press regularly benefit from Dan Morris-Young’s skilled journalism; now they can also benefit from his deep understanding of genuine holiness and saintly wisdom. Beatitude Saints is a page-turner, big time.
-- Mitch Finley, author of The Patron Saints Handbook
I enjoyed Beatitude Saints in much the same way I did Dan Morris-Young's Catholic News Service humor column, Uncle Dan, for many years. He brings his faith to life exactly by bringing the reader into his own life, and sharing his impressions as a convert to Catholicism. Morris’ reflections made me smile some, think much and learn more.
-- Amy Orr, writer and columnist, National Catholic Reporter