Christmas/Advent Books
by Rev. Msgr. Aloysius F. Coogan,
Today, Christmas is celebrated without Christ in many quarters. Christmas is the season when God became man in the form of a child, and yet, unhappily, in how many homes, because Christ is uninvited, children, too, are no longer welcome. Christmas, like Emmanuel, means “God with us.” If we celebrate Christmas without God, we have lost its meaning. If we refuse an inn to God’s children as the fruit of marriage, we repeat the sad tale of Bethlehem that refused an inn to Mary and Joseph and the Child.
This book was written with the hope and intention of bringing to our minds the thoughts of Advent that we may think and pray with Mary who brought Christ to us. Advent, like Lent, is a time of preparation in thought and deed for a great event.
Spiritual Steps to Christmas, provide a daily meditiation throughout Advent to prepare well for the coming of the Christ Babe.
Paperback, size 8" x 5.25", 116 pages, Impr 1953
by the Very Rev. Dean A.A. Longs.
Originally published by Benziger Bros. in 1899.
41 short, enjoyable chapters covering the life of the Divine Child starting with "Necessity of a Divine Redeemer", to "The Birth of the Blessed Virgin", and continuing with "The Nativity of Our Lord, etc.
This book teaches many examples to be applied in life for the younger generation. Example: chapters on humility, obedience, mortification, charity and "Jesus the model of Industry."
Paperback, size 6" x 5", 256 pages, Impr.
by Archbishop Alban Goodier
From prophecy to fulfillment, the Incarnation is the center of our holy Faith. This awe-inspiring classic will help you take a breath and ponder the hidden yet stupendous events surrounding this great mystery. You will be spiritually uplifted as you reflect upon insightful and stirring meditations — thirty each for Advent and Christmas.
Although the short reflections may be read in less than ten minutes per day, you may wish to spend time contemplating the mysteries and allowing them to nourish you again and again. Archbishop Alban Goodier provides a handy three-point summary for each meditation, as well as:
- Meditations on an event in Jesus’ life that baffles human comprehension
- An explanation of how God bestows His favors on you, as He did on the Holy Family
- Popular prayers and devotions that sprang from Advent and Christmas
- Ways in which Our Lady shows you how to live both the contemplative and the active life
Advent is a time to slow your pace of life, to be receptive, docile, and still, and to gaze at the beauty before you — Almighty God, present, waiting in the womb of His chosen Mother. The Christmas season, likewise, is a time to rejoice in tranquil adoration before our newborn Savior’s manger.
Archbishop Goodier’s masterful meditations on these sacred moments will awaken in you the powerful mystery of the Word made flesh. Archbishop Goodier guides you along from the Old Testament prophecies to the pure yes of Mary, from the stable birth to the daily life of Jesus in Nazareth. These soul-stirring meditations, drawing from the customs of the time, enliven the Gospel stories in a way that will enrich both your emotional and intellectual experience of the ultimate mystery of God’s love for you.
This keepsake book is a treasure for contemplating Our Lord as the Incarnate God who came to us little, poor, and vulnerable. Archbishop Goodier’s reflections will aid you in raising your mind and heart to God and will nourish your prayers to the Infant Savior. You will grow in knowledge and devotion as you contemplate Jesus’ hidden life and God’s mercy in dwelling among us.
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 120 pages
Selection from Father Faber
by Rev. John Fitzpatrick, O.M.I.
This is a Christmas book about the Blessed Sacrament.
When, at the good tidings of great joy, the little ones crowd to the Crib, going over, as it were, and going back to Bethlehem, to see the gracious mystery which has come to pass, we elders turn rather to the Tabernacle, to find there once again, new-born in mystic birth and wrapped in the swaddling-clothes of the sacramental species, Him for whom there is really no far-away and no long-ago.
These pages will help to penetrate us, while kneeling there in lowly adoration, with the spirit of the dweller in that ‘house of bread’, and to make us, in very truth, as little, children once again.
Paperback, size 5" x 3.8", 120 pages, Impr 1901
by Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Keep Christ in Christmas this year by turning to this slim volume of daily Advent meditations by Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet, one of the greatest homilists in the history of the Church.
Carefully selected to lift your soul to God in those hectic days that stretch from Thanksgiving to Christmas, these forty daily meditations will keep you mindful of the real meaning of Christmas while affording you an admirable distillation of the doctrines and piety of our Holy Catholic Church.
With the help of Bishop Bossuet and the sense of God's grandeur and love that permeates his every word all through the rush toward Christmas you'll stay mindful of the holy words of Isaiah foretelling the birth of our savior; you'll find yourself marveling at the Annunciation and the Visitation; you'll rejoice in anticipation of the coming birth of Jesus; and, finally, you ll look forward to kneeling with St. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin in silent adoration of the incarnate Son of God. This year, you won't (as so often happens) arrive at Midnight Mass distracted, exhausted, and frazzled, having neglected your Advent devotions and your ordinary prayers, too. Instead, you'll find yourself stepping lightly into church, ready and eager to adore the newborn King, your soul what it should be: a fit dwelling place for the Redeemer.
Don't waste another Advent! Let Meditations for Advent keep you prayerful amidst the worst distractions of the holiday season. Let it draw you daily closer to Jesus, whose birth the season celebrates, and whose birth your soul yearns to celebrate, too.
Paperback, size 7" x 5", 173 pages
by St Alphonsus Liguori
Every facet of the early life of Jesus. Consoling lessons about His childhood and His love for us; how He suffered for us from the moment of His conception.
Perfect reading for Advent.
Paperback, size 7" x 4.25", 468 pages
by Abbe Dom Prosper Gueranger
Dom Gueranger notes in his Liturgical Year that St Eulalia is one of the five virgin saints whose feast are prominent during Advent, the others being St Bibiana, St Barbara, St Lucy, and St Odilia.
This little book brings to life the courageous martyrdom of St Eulalia with beautiful watercolour illustrations by Jane Spencer. Written by Prudentius in the 4th century, the hymn was included in the traditional Mazarabic liturgy of Spain.
Enjoy gathering your children around you every 10th December and read this heroic story of the valiant maiden of Christ.
Booklet, 30 pages
God's Christmas Gift to Man
by Fr Raymond, O.C.S.O
Fr. Raymond shares his reflections on the beautiful mysteries of Christmastide. God Himself calls out to us at Christmas, greeting us with the gift of His own Son, Jesus, the Saviour of men.
Taking the word S-A-V-I-O-U-R, Fr. Raymond fashions a chapter for each letter, each representing an event of the Christmas season. He probes and proves God's love for each and every one of us. In meditations on various mysteries from the Annunciation to the Hidden Life, he draws lessons for daily living that are timely and touching.
A book bursting with the boundless joy God wills for those who love Him, Fr. Raymond demonstrates that we cannot "put Christ back into Christmas" unless we put the Mass back in ChristMASS, for it is by the Mass that Christ actually became our Saviour. Love Does Such Things is the perfect book for Christmas and for every day of the year.
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 136 pages
Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas
by St. Alphonsus Liguori
This Advent Season, let the great and prolific Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori, guide you on a daily prayerful pilgrimage from the start of Advent through the birth of our Lord to the Epiphany. Drawing on Sacred Scripture and his profound saintly counsel, St. Alphonsus takes you into the details of Christ’s birth for prayerful reflection that will have your imagination placing you at the feet of our infant Lord. With meditations on the poverty of our Lord becoming man to Jesus weeping as a baby and lying on straw, St. Alphonsus will bring a humble intensity to your Advent prayer life. The contents of these meditations are marked by both joy for the birth of our Lord and sorrow for what we know He will suffer for our salvation.
Few saints have written with such passion, depth, and simplicity on the incarnation and nativity of Christ as Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
This book, The Road to Bethlehem: Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas, is taken from the original book entitled The Incarnation, Birth, and Infancy or the Mysteries of the Faith.
Deluxe Leatherette, size 7.25" x 5.5", 200 pages
by Joseph's Studio
Decorative Holy Family with Angel Panel meticulously crafted by master artisans with great attention to colour and detail. This 3 panel piece will stand out in any room.
Suitable for hanging, or the perfect size for placing on a mantel.
- Material: Medium Density Fiberboard
- Dimensions: 17"H x 13"W x 0.75"D
- Collection; Joseph's Studio
From Epiphany to Lent
Daily Readings and Meditations to Pray Alone or as a Family
by Fr Patrick Troadec
Fr. Troadec’s four-part series continues in this second book From Epiphany to Lent. The series offers a simple and practical guide for individuals and families alike to grow closer to God by better understanding the Church’s liturgical year and practicing daily meditation and prayer.
Each of the daily meditations covered in this book includes a:
Quote: Taken from the Bible, The Mass, or the Spiritual Fathers.
Meditation: A particular truth of the Faith and how it applies to us.
Prayer: Two short daily prayers for the reader to choose from.
Thoughts: Daily recollections that illustrate a profound point.
Resolution: Three simple and practical resolutions.
Anyone looking to draw closer to God through the liturgy of His Church while developing the habit of daily spiritual reading and meditation needs to read this book. It continues to be a wonderful aid for Catholics of any age or walk of life. A profoundly Catholic and truly practical guide to daily growth in holiness.
The series includes:
From Advent to Epiphany
From Epiphany to Lent
Toward Easter
Eastertide Day by Day
From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption
From the Assumption to Advent
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 222 pages
From Advent to Epiphany
Daily Readings and Meditations to Pray Alone or as a Family
by Fr Patrick Troadec
Christmas is the season of joy and peace with a charm all its own. Yet, If we are to receive everything that the Christ Child comes to give, a spiritual preparation is necessary.
This book offers you a daily liturgical meditation from the beginning of Advent to the Baptism of Jesus, richly supplemented with prayers, thoughts and resolutions.
The first days of Advent call to mind the return of Christ at the end of time and the long period of waiting that led up to His first coming at Christmas. The strong words of St. John the Baptist and the eloquent silence of Mary will help us open our hearts to the Infant of Bethlehem, who desires to be born anew each year in our souls. After the Nativity, the reader's glance is directed toward the manger and the Holy Family where the shepherds and the Magi invite the soul to adoration.
The reader is then led through the richness of the feasts from Advent to the Epiphany, inviting him to live each day with Jesus and for Jesus.
Each of the daily meditations covered in this book includes a:
Quote: Taken from Scripture, the Mass, or the Spiritual Fathers.
Meditation: A particular truth of the Faith and how it applies to us.
Prayer: Two short daily prayers for the reader to choose from.
Thoughts: Daily recollections that illustrate a profound point
Resolution: Three simple and practical resolutions.
Anyone looking to draw closer to God through the liturgy of His Church while developing the habit of daily spiritual reading and meditation needs to read this series! It continues to be a wonderful and trusted aid for Catholics of any age or walk of life. A profoundly Catholic and truly practical guide to daily growth in holiness.
The series includes:
From Advent to Epiphany
From Epiphany to Lent
Toward Easter
Eastertide Day by Day
From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption
From the Assumption to Advent
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 160 pages
The Story of the Other Wise Man
by Henry van Dyke and illustrated by J. R. Flanagan.
A powerful story of Christmas from a wise man who spent his life in search of the Christ Child, it was made into a movie called, "The Fourth Wise Man."
"You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren in the presence of the young child Jesus?"
Paperback, size 9" x 6", 36 pages, colour reproduction of the 1920 illustrated edition
(Containing: Liam and the Hunters of Lee'Vi, A Truly Clawful Christmas, and A Very Jurassic Lent.)
by Corinna Turner
Three unSPARKed short stories:
Liam and the Hunters of Lee’Vi
CAN THEY FIND HIS FAMILY BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE?
It’s Christmas week, but sixteen-year-old Tam and the hunters of the Lee’Vi are out looking for a pack of Utahraptors. Instead, they find a boy staggering through the snow, on a mission to save his family. Can they find them before it’s too late?
A Truly Clawful Christmas
CAN HE SURVIVE CHRISTMAS?
If young city-priest Father Benedict can’t find more volunteers for his Christmas Bazaar, he’ll have to cancel it. But an unexpected appeal from his bishop leaves him facing a very different Christmas. Suddenly, complaints from disappointed parishioners are the least of his worries. His new priority—survival!
A Very Jurassic Lent
PERFECT FAITH—LIKE SAINT DESMOND.
When a risky Ash Wednesday mission to sterilize T. rex eggs goes wrong, fasting is the least of Joshua, Darryl, and Harry's worries. Can they survive a protective Rex Momma and a pack of raptors, or will their Lent begin with tragedy?
Paperback, size 8.5" x 5.5", 152 pages
Drinking with Saint Nick
Christmas Cocktails for Sinners and Saints
by Michael P. Foley
Raise your spirits and toast Saint Nick!
Hot gin toddies. Smoking rosemary old fashioneds. A "wet" Advent calendar. Now you can experience Christmas the way it was meant to be celebrated: with festive cocktails and a lively history of Saint Nicholas and other saints! Michael Foley, author of Drinking with the Saints, presents holiday drink recipes; beer, wine, and cider recommendations; and witty instruction on how to honour the saints in this exquisite gift book that will make your Christmas more spirited than ever before.
"With lively stories and delicious drink recipes, this book takes us on a rollicking journey through the lives of the saints. What a fun and fabulous way to engage with your faith during the holidays." -- Jennifer Fulwiler, author of One Beautiful Dream and host of the Jennifer Fulwiler Show on the Catholic Channel
Hardcover, size 7.3" x 5.4", 224 pages
by Gloria Whelan
It was the day before Christmas in a small Russian village. Alexi's babushka was telling him what Christmas was like when she was a girl-before the soldiers came. "Our church was as crowded as a pod full of peas. Candles made the church as bright as the sunniest day. Watching over us was the blessed icon of St. Nicholas." Alexi had many questions, including, "Why can't we celebrate Christmas tomorrow in St. Nicholas?" Babushka sadly replied that it would take a miracle after sixty years. Well, Alexi had heard enough. If there truly was such a thing as a miracle, why couldn't it happen here? And so unfolds a story that poignantly reveals how, though quiet and hidden, faith and hope cannot be suppressed-by soldiers or by time.
Sewn Hardcover, size 10.2" x 8.4", 32 pages, Illus
Hand made Chaplet
Available in 2 colours Amethyst and Light Amethyst 8mm Tiffany Glass beads
Novena start on 30th November on the feast day of St Andrew and finishes on 24th December. Preyer is recited 15 times daily throughout Advent.
With the Church, Volume 1
Advent to the Ascension
by Mother Mary Loyola
Now for the first time in nearly a century, this classic set of meditations on the Liturgical Year are back in print! Written while Mother Loyola was bedridden with a hip fracture, these devotions bring us the urgency of living our life With the Church, for we "know not the day nor the hour."
The Irish Monthly back in 1924 had this to say about With the Church: “Father Thurston tells us that forty years ago Mother Loyola, when bringing out anonymously her first book on Holy Communion, and being anxious to get ecclesiastical recommendation for it, asked him to write a short preface. The favourable reception accorded by the Catholic public to the numerous books which she has brought out since that time has amply justified Fr. Thurston’s judgment in recommending the authoress’s work. This latest book of hers consists of a series of reflections on the feasts of the year from Advent to the Ascension. Her thoughts are always well-grounded and ingenious, and their expression is clear and graceful, with a strong personal charm. They are musings jotted down just as they occur to her devotional spirit and not simply as dictated by a resolution to follow a certain line.”
Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 380 pages
Visitation 1000 piece Puzzle, Joyful Mystery
Second Joyful Mystery - Visitation 1000 piece Puzzle
The two expectant mothers of Raphael's Visitation dominate the pictorial space, showcasing the special graces that have been conferred upon Mary and Elizabeth. Raphael, the most sought-after painter in the world at the time, had just mastered painting in oils when he produced this work, and the innovative technique allowed for softer effects and more natural looking detail. The compositional device of joined hands was a recent innovation, departing from earlier images where Elizabeth either knelt before Mary or embraced her. The background propels the viewer to the Baptism of Christ, when the cousins John and Jesus meet again. John pours water over Christ while above, the skies open to reveal God the Father, borne by angels in a burst of golden rays.
Puzzle size: 19 inches x 27 inches
The Collection:
The five puzzles included in the Sophia Collection feature beautiful sacred art from some of the greatest artists of all time, including Fra Angelico, Domenico Ghirandaio, and Giovanni Penni. Each image depicts a monumental moment in history. For centuries, individuals worldwide have used these very images for meditation and reflection. Now, for the first time, these treasured works have been transformed into 1,000-piece puzzles, allowing families to enjoy a favorite pastime while also reflecting and marveling at the beauty of these classic paintings.
Each puzzle box contains high-quality pieces and elevated packaging, including a beautiful sacred art poster and insert explaining the meaning and significance of these timeless works of art.
Nativity of Jesus 1000pc Puzzle, Joyful Mystery
Third Joyful Mystery, Nativity of Jesus 1000pc Puzzle
Instead of displaying the Christ child in a manger and enfolded in swaddling clothes, in his Adoration of the Shepherds, Ghirlandaio lies Christ on a fold of Mary's robe against the ground, while all the other figures kneel in adoration around Him. Joseph turns away to look towards the dazzling parade of the approaching Magi. The pageant wends its way through an expertly rendered distance in a cheerful array of pinks, yellows, and reds flecked with gold leaf - precious highlights noticeably lacking in the foreground figures. Ghirlandaio himself occupies an unusually prominent position as the kneeling shepherd in the foreground pointing to the Child with his hand on his heart, demonstrating not only his authorship of the work, but his devotion to the subject.
Puzzle size: 19 inches x 27 inches
The Collection:
The five puzzles included in the Sophia Collection feature beautiful sacred art from some of the greatest artists of all time, including Fra Angelico, Domenico Ghirandaio, and Giovanni Penni. Each image depicts a monumental moment in history. For centuries, individuals worldwide have used these very images for meditation and reflection. Now, for the first time, these treasured works have been transformed into 1,000-piece puzzles, allowing families to enjoy a favorite pastime while also reflecting and marveling at the beauty of these classic paintings.Each puzzle box contains high-quality pieces and elevated packaging, including a beautiful sacred art poster and insert explaining the meaning and significance of these timeless works of art.
by St. Francis de Sales
Steeped as he was in Sacred Scripture, St. Francis de Sales gives totally fresh and surprising insights into the truths of our religion including: the Sacred Name of Jesus, Our Lady's wisdom at Cana, St. John the Baptist's temptation, etc. Nine insightful sermons. Published here for the first time in English. Great wisdom from a great saint and Doctor of the Church; excellent spiritual reading for Advent or any other time of the year! Catholics living in the world today can benefit much by reading these substantial, riveting sermons.
Paperback, 135 pages
by Fr Francis X. Weiser
This book unfolds the story of the celebration of Christmas. Beginning with its gospel and history, the author leads us through the festivities of the Middle Ages, to the decline and eventual revival of Christmas customs in Europe and in America.
Paperback, size 5.5" x 8.5", 188 pages
by Susan Peek
Meet Saint Anastasia, one of the greatest Christmas saints and the Patroness of Martyrs. Take her hand and let her lead you to the Crib! When people think of saints that remind them of Christmas, Saint Anastasia is almost always forgotten. For centuries, this humble and unassuming martyr has remained hidden in the shadows of the stable. Yet of all the saints in Heaven, she is the only one whose feast day falls on Christmas itself! It's about time she stepped forward and made some new friends! Join Saint Anastasia and her best friend, Saint Theodota, as they bravely prove their love for God and neighbour, even unto the sacrifice of their own lives.
Paperback, 40 pages, Full colour illustrations, size 8" x 0.1" x 10"
by St Augustine of Hippo
When the great Saint Augustine was called from his country home to become Bishop of Hippo in the fourth century, his new responsibilities took him away from the solitude of his writing and into the glare of the public eye. The author of two of the greatest works of religious literature, Confessions and City of God, St Augustine became a shepherd to the people, inspiring and enlightening them with his sermons. His skills as a speaker were as great -- if not greater -- than his skills as a writer. According to his friend Possidius, "Those who read what Augustine wrote on the divine topics do get something out of them. But those who saw and heard him in person -- they were the ones who got heaven and Earth."
"Sermons to the People" collects the homilies on the liturgical seasons of the Church that Saint Augustine delivered over the course of his lifetime. This edition is the first to include that vast collection of sermons from Advent, Christmas, New Year's, and the Epiphany.
Paperback, 231 pages
A-D-V-E-N-T, The coming of Christ our King
by Mary E. Christie
The Season of Advent honours the coming of Our Lord and Saviour, and encourages us to work on trying to perfect our holiness―so that when the time comes, we can come before the Baby Jesus on the occasion of His Nativity with our souls most purified. It's a time to work on our charity, which as Saint Paul tells us is the most perfect way to sanctify our souls.
Written in poetry-format, may this little book provide an exciting journey through Advent, ending with the joy of Christmas―the Nativity of Baby Jesus.
by Miss Rosa Mulholland
The First Christmas comes to life on the pages of this book from 1875. The original paintings were recreated using a sophisticated woodcut technique that gives the feel of an engraving, but in vivid colors. With verses by Rosa Mulholland, who frequently wrote for Charles Dickens' weekly magazine, All the Year Round.
Hardcover, size 8.5" x 11", 32 pages
This little book, which brings us from the First Sunday of Advent right through to beyond the Feast of the Purification, is both rich in theology and eminently practical.
By means of short daily meditations, Father de Dreux helps us to prepare ourselves spiritually for the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In the days following the great Feast, he guides us through the events of Christ’s Childhood, bringing us up to His temptation in the desert.
This work was first written in French in the middle of the 17th Century, but was not actually published until 1887, having been lost during the turmoil of the French Revolution. It has been republished in French in recent years. This is the very first English edition.
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