'The Princesses of Heaven': Disney Artist Unveils the Inspiring Stories Behind Powerful Female Saints
These saints are a great example for young princesses today! 🙌
On this episode of "The Catholic Talk Show," Ryan Scheel, Ryan DellaCrosse, and Father Mac Hill discuss inspiring female Catholic saints with Fabiola Garza, Disney illustrator and author of Princesses of Heaven: The Flowers from Votive by Word on Fire.
Fabiola says she wanted to introduce readers to the lives of these extraordinary female saints who had profound faith. Her unique illustrations are meant to bring these saints to life on the page and make their stories engaging for any audience.
“I thought it would be a really great way to help them connect with the saints and see them in a different light– their personality, virtue, and where their worth lies.”
She says each saint’s story is specially crafted to showcase their virtues and impact on the Church.
For example, Joan of Arc uniquely inspires us to bravery and leadership.
“It starts when she gets her calling from the three saints that appear to her," Garza says. "It just moves straight to being in battle in the victory.”
Josephine Bakhita’s “ability to forgive her captors... and the amount of joy and love she was able to give after all that was again like, 'Lord, You're so present in these people.'”
Fabiola says understanding the path to sainthood these female saints took can be excellent role models for Catholic children.
“I really wanted them to be able to connect with them as saints as daughters of God.”
She hopes to help young readers recognize their worth and potential as "princesses of Heaven." Her mission is to bring them “into the story and then call them to holiness at the end."
“I think for so many girls, they’re waiting to be worthy... and to know that you don’t have to do things to become a princess or be told you’re a princess, you already are.”
How beautiful is that?