Bold new book features women saints in a whole new light

'They don't make women like that anymore.'

In her new book My Badass Book of Saints, Maria Johnson complies the stories of saintly women who were considered "bold" and "daring" in their day, making them all the more courageous today.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Johnson told CNA she was raised Catholic and sported the nickname "Tremenda." She wrote that the name means "tremendous, sometimes. It also means terrific, and terrible. It translates as bold. Daring. Fearless. Stalwart. Smart. Courageous."

Due to her courageous nature, Johnson struggled to find saints with whom she could relate. When she happened upon stories of courage or bravery, she struggled with temptations to think, "They don't make women like that anymore. But no, God does," she said, "he makes women like that all the time."

Her realization began when she posted a blog about Sr. Blandina Segale, an Italian nun who fought outlaws in America's Wild West. "It really engaged a conversation about some really fascinating women who really were doing some remarkable things," she said.

After covering Sr. Blandina Segale, she began to look into other saints and their interesting stories. Soon, she had the makings of a book.

"This book is really speaking to an audience that might not pick up a regular history of saints," Johnson enthused. "But it uses this world that's in the culture and I think can get the attention of some people how would be interested in picking it up. (We thought) we can take the risk with that title because it'll inspire maybe a chuckle or some curiosity in people."

Each chapter of Johnson's book features two women -one who is a traditional Saint and one who is comparatively outlandish.

So you've got these extremely powerful women," Johnson explained, "but I also wanted to show that there's some power and bravery and courage in this other, gentler side of our feminine genius."

In one chapter, Audrey Hepburn and St. Rose of Lima are featured as "[p]assionate beauties who made the world a better place."

Johnson described how the book has "got these extremely powerful women, but I also wanted to show that there's some power and bravery and courage in this other, gentler side of our feminine genius."

Though some historical figures she compared to saints were not Catholic, Johnson explained she wanted to present virtuous women who had inspirational stories.

"I think that we all have the same essential dignity as women," Johnson said, "and we all have the same capacity for love, and the same capacity for service. And so it's not that I didn't want to make it a uniquely Catholic thing, but it's a uniquely woman thing. These are people who were exceptional because of their virtue as women."

Johnson added that the end of each chapter included discussion questions with the goal of inspiring discussions about inspiring women not only within the Catholic Church, but also across the globe.

"We have examples of leadership and strength and of perseverance of beauty," Johnson stated, "and all the values that I bring up in the book, and we just have to look for them and embrace them and own them, because it's who we are. We are badass, that's how we're made."

Johnson's book was released October 30 and is available at Ave Maria Press.

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