In A Beautiful Second Act , bestselling author Maria Morera Johnson explores the adventure of life’s second half, drawing inspiration from twenty saints and “soul sisters” who faced these challenges with courage. As advancements in health and medicine extend our lifespan, women of the sandwich generation—those balancing the needs of both children and parents—are experiencing a multitude of challenges as they transition out of the workforce and into the promise of retirement. A Beautiful Second Act: Saints and Soul Sisters Who Taught Me to Be a Badass Age with Grace contains encouragement and wisdom from saints and contemporary soul sisters who experienced similar challenges during their transition to midlife and beyond and offers insight into the aging process. Chapter after chapter, these inspiring saints and contemporary changemakers from all over the world will help you, too, embrace your second half and the changes it brings to our health, our personal relationships, our responsibilities, our work, and our faith. The Benedictine mystic Hildegard of Bingen , whose knowledge of natural sciences led her to create “nerve cookies” to help you “open your heart and impaired senses, and make your mind cheerful.” - Religious sister and educator Marianne Cope , who at fifty pivoted as an educator of children of German immigrants in New York to tend to the patients of a Hawaiian leper colony. - Women of resilient faith like Elizabeth Leseur , whose faithfulness in marriage led to her husband’s conversion after her death. - Extraordinary artists like Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses , whose advanced arthritis drove her to use her creativity to overcome her age-related limitations. - Champions of social justice like Dorothy Day , whose conversion drove her to devote her life to a Christ-centered advocacy. - Second-act soul sisters like Josephine Bakhita , whose passion for freedom and spiritual insights raised a new generation of evangelists for her homeland.   Each chapter offers experiences of female saints and soul sisters as they illuminate different aspects of this season of aging: physical changes in the body, shifts in work and purpose, dealing with aging parents and end-of-life issues, the need for strong spiritual friendships, and the importance of mercy. Drawing from a diverse range of occupations, races, times, and outcomes, Johnson writes about her own struggle to redefine her second act and what it means to trust God as our lives begin to wind down and our ultimate purpose comes into crystal-clear focus. “Whether you are anxiously anticipating your ‘second act’ or are firmly ensconced in living it, let Maria Morera Johnson be your companion in more fully engaging with your truest God-given purpose. A Beautiful Second Act offers a cast of amazing women who shine their lights and point the way to living with greater momentum, desire, and soul. This is the book I wish I’d had years ago. It will be my new go-to gift for all of the women in my life!” -- Lisa M. Hendey , author of The Grace of Yes “With an inviting wit and a clever gift for making obscure facts entertaining, Maria Morera Johnson masterfully introduces us to something we all need—sound advice from women who have gone before us and lived lives of heroic virtue. Engaging stories build a personal and practical relationship between the reader and a variety of unique saints and soul sisters who have embraced the changes that accompany each season in life. This book has something for every woman no matter where she is on her physical or spiritual journey! A must-read for any woman who desires to age with wisdom, beauty, and amazing grace.” -- Kelly Wahlquist , founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization “Thank God for second acts, and I mean that sincerely and prayerfully! In A Beautiful Second Act , Maria Morera Johnson movingly shares inspirational stories of her own transitions and those of women religious, mothers, scientists, teachers, actors, writers, activists, and more. Her wisdom is certain to help readers find the faith to surrender to God’s plan for us in every act of life regardless of how daunting that plan may seem.” -- Melanie Rigney , author of Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century Maria Morera Johnson is the media editor at Catholicmom.com and author of the award-winning books My Badass Book of Saints , Super Girls and Halos , and Our Lady of Charity . She also contributed to The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion , Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary , and Gaze Upon Jesus . In 2016, Johnson retired from her role as a professor of composition and literature. Johnson speaks at a number of events, retreats, and conferences, including the National Council of Catholic Women, Austin Women’s Conference, and the Catholic Press Association. She’s also been featured on CatholicTV and Busted Halo as well as in Catholic Digest and St. Anthony Messenger . Johnson is a