Books to Inspire Your Faith and Imagination

Discover a collection of stories and reflections that ignite your faith, spark your imagination, and draw your closer to the beauty of God’s purpose in your life.

From an early age, Dan Paulos wrote, drew, and played the pipe organ at his church in Sioux City. God’s gifts of talent helped him navigate the turbulent years of childhood and adolescence. Although he knew he wasn’t exceptionally skilled at these three activities, he learned that doing one’s best is all that God expects.

At just twelve years old, he became pen pals with artist and author Sister Mary Jean Dorcy, a world-renowned paper- cutting artist known for her flowing silhouettes of the Madonna and Child. The nun responded and maintained a unique friendship and partnership with Dan until her death in 1988. Dan promised to keep her silhouette style alive, which contributed to his growing recognition for his work.
His writing skills were honed when he was invited to write articles about Christian artists living in America for established magazines and newspapers across the country, including Our Sunday Visitor, St. Anthony Messenger, Ignatius Press, Liguorian Magazine, Vatican Press (Vaticano), Don Bosco Press (Tokyo), Liturgical Press, and Catholic Worker, to name just a few. Dan attributes his preparedness for his career in sacred art and writing to his relationship with Sister Mary Jean She not only shared her successes but also her failures, sparing him from experiencing the same hardships she faced.

Dan later collaborated with significant figures such as Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Sister Wendy Beckett, art critic; Virginia Broderick, beloved Catholic artist; Brother Placid Stuckenschneider, a revered pioneer of liturgical art; Ade Bethune, a pioneer of sacred art; Dame Felicitas Corrigan of Stanbrook Abbey; and actress Rosemary Harris, among others.
He often laughs when interviewed about his career, saying, “It’s not about me. It’s about God. The talents that He lends us are not for keeps. They are on loan. It’s all about God and His Kingdom. We’re all on the same path-we just need to learn how to respect one another, even if we don’t agree. Just respect. The rest is simply, patiently awaiting our final journey Home.”