Sister Thea Bowman (1937-1980), an African-American Franciscan, was one of the great treasures of the American Catholic church. Through her integration of Catholic tradition and black pride she served as a beacon for a church that celebrates diversity, inclusiveness, and love for all God's children. Through her ministry of public speaking she touched countless people, bearing a message of faith and hope rooted in the Gospels and the wisdom of the Spirituals. Through her final ordeal with cancer she offered an inspiring example of what it means to be "fully alive," and to "live until one dies." Mickey McGrath is among those whose life was changed by her witness and story. Inspired by her message that God wants each of one of us to "let our little light shine" he found his own vocation as a religious artist. Here, through a series of 12 stunning paintings and his reflections on her life and teaching, McGrath celebrates the spirit of one the great prophets and spiritual guides of our time. It is a message that makes one rejoice in life and say Amen.
