Encountering Signs of Faith: My Unexpected Journey with Sacramentals, the Saints, and the Abundant Grace of God

The book is written very well and flows easily from one section to the next. I’m not a mom so I was thinking what will I get out of this? How about so much knowledge on Catholic Saints and sacramentals with the added bonus of a wonderful story of faith and Faithy woven in.Non-fiction is not a genre I typically select, but this was for a book club and I’ve enjoyed every minute. There are even some questions for introspection and suggestions for activities or further research and prayer.Even if you aren’t a big “reader” it’s broken down in a way that you could almost use it for daily spiritual reading. I’ve brought it to adoration and I’m pretty sure a saint I was reading about while in adoration is reaching out to me.😇It’s the first book I’ve read by this author, but it won’t be the last! Great job Allison! Thanks for sharing your faith and knowledge! 💖

One just has to view the beautiful cover of this book to get a glimpse of the what lies within the pages of this amazing and touching story of how faith, trust and the grace of God united a sweet little girl and her adoptive family. Allison Gingras shows us so many ways to breathe new life into our Catholic faith as she illustrates through her experiences how to use sacramentals, pray with the saints and receive God's grace in doing so. So interesting, easy to read and informative, it is impossible not to be inspired by this book!

Allison is an authentic writer who isn't afraid to be honest. As she tells her family's adoption story, she also teaches us about saints and sacramentals. A great book club book with discussion questions at the end of each chapter and also suggestions for activities to help you grow in grace. It's not just an adoption story. It's a wonderful story that teaches many lessons and helps you to strengthen your relationship with God. Read it for yourself and share it with a friend or two.

I really enjoyed this book. The best part is the ability of the author to make you feel that you were right there, walking this journey. There is a humor that shines through her writing that keeps the reader hooked to “what happens next?” Somehow, I felt her closeness to God, her desiring to fulfill His plan for her and her ability to overcome barriers with accepting His plan in His time. I did enjoy the activity ideas if you choose to do them at the end of every chapter. There were many things I learned in this book with regarding to Saints. Some that I have never heard of before, others I didn’t know much about. I will ALWAYS recommend this book, no matter where you are on your faith pathway you will enjoy it and inspire you to have “Faith.”

Encountering Signs of Faith is a beautiful synthesis of life in the domestic church. Allison Gingras uses her experiences, both in childhood and adulthood, and particularly in relation to the adoption of her daughter Faithy, to share the rich resources the Church nurtures families with. Scripture, the lives of the saints, prayer, and various sacramentals tied to those saints and devotions are all used seamlessly by God to draw us to a deeper union with Him.If that sounds a little heady, it's not. Encountering Signs of Faith is imminently practical. The author is candid and relatable in her challenges, fears, and doubts. Yet, she unswervingly shares the joys and consolations she's received in the practice of her Catholic faith.There are devotions and sacramentals to discover, verses to revisit, and maybe even a few saints to add to your own "saint posse." This book has much to offer both those new or returning to the practice of the faith and those already familiar.

I loved reading how Gingras shared her adoption story of her daughter and taught her about her Catholic faith through symbols and imagery. Having a deaf Aunt this speaks to my heart. I also love how each chapter focuses on a different sacramental and allows the reader to gain a better insight and deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and its trove of treasures. A well written story that speaks to the heart.

This book is approachable and enjoyable for anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith and sacramentals. I appreciated that the author provided historical information on the saints for readers who are less familiar with them. Her ability to tie in her personal experiences on her faith journey was heartfelt and made me feel more connected to the saints in the book.

This was one of my Lenten reads this year. What a wonderful book, full of great insights into Saints and sacramentals. I’ve known Allison for a few years but didn’t know all of her story. Understanding her faith and determination to answer God's call was incredibly inspiring. I also enjoyed the practical tips and faith-deepening ideas she provides.