Wanting to find a fun way to introduce Super Girls and Halosto you – I decided to share an interview with the author! Maria’s answers are in bold – which seemed appropriate given the boldness with which she writes.  While her new book can be light in tone. *SHAZAM*  It is thoroughly rich in insightful and encouraging content!

Maria, can you take us into your thoughts?  I am so curious as to how one contemplates the virtues of justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance, and thinks ooh, female superheroes! Saints, I get, but the superheroes connection definitely begs a desire for more explanation.

I get a variation of this question a lot, and to be honest, it wasn’t really that way by design, but the Holy Spirit has a fun way of suddenly turning on the lights for me.
I knew I wanted to talk about the heroines’ strengths, and I knew there were specific character traits I wanted to talk about — certainly Wonder Woman and Justice. As I started making lists of these attributes, I saw a pattern emerge. Boom!

I thought you had exhausted what I refer to as a Saint Posse, in your first book, My Badass Book of Saints.  The subheadingMy Companions on the Quest for Truth, Justice, and Heroic Virtue, hints you have more saintly friends to share with us.   While I am aware this new book is not a sequel to Badass, I am wondering, will we met new companions, learn more about those introduced before, or find a mix of new and familiar saintly friends?

There are all new Saints in this book, and I hope I do have a good mix of favorites and new ones. St. Clare of Assisi is paired with Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I include St Kateri Tekakwitha and St Mary Magdalne, too. Then, I bring along St. Mary MacKillop, who was teased by a pope for having been excommunicated, and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, who is one of my new favorites. I hope the book intrigues people and leads them to read more about these and other saints.

As I mentioned in my first question, Super Girls and Halos, includes the Cardinal Virtues (justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance).   Let’s say I fancy myself a pretty decent person, do I really need to grow in knowledge and understanding of the virtues?  What benefit are these virtues to us mere mortals as compared to our superhero friends?

I think that most of us fundamentally want to be good. To that end, we seek role models that demonstrate positive traits that we’d like to emulate. These heroines have qualities that are positive and worthy of emulating, but we really need more than just “being good.” Framing these characters with the cardinal virtues, and showing those virtues in the lives of saints can encourage us to seek more than just being good, but being holy — seeking and trusting and loving the Lord as the saints demonstrate.

Let’s put on our imagination caps – this will be fun!  So, I am perusing the books on the shelf of my favorite Catholic Bookstore.  I see Super Girls and Halos on the shelf.  This particular copy of the book has super powers – it can talk!  What does it say to entice me to bring it home to read and share with the Bible Babes (aka the faith sharing small group that meets weekly at my home)?

You crack me up…
Ok, what would the book say? It wouldn’t say anything; it would send out a laser beam and grab you right away! I mean, you gotta be a little curious about what the super girls have in common with the saints, don’t you? I think Ave Maria Press is my superpower — they did a great job with a fun title and cover design!