The season of Advent is the perfect time to read some great books about the season and about preparing for Jesus' coming, both as a baby and his coming again, as well as learning more about the Incarnation itself. In this section, find all our books relating to the Advent and Christmas seasons, including reflections from Bishop Fulton Sheen, Saint Padre Pio, GK Chesterton, Pope John Paul II, and Saint Francis of Assisi, as well as books with suggestions of traditions and activities for families to do together throughout the season, and other books relating to Christmas and Advent.

Fr. Alfred Delp was a German Jesuit priest who was imprisoned in Berlin. At the time of his arrest, he was the Rector of St. Georg Church in Munich, and had a reputation for being a gripping, dynamic preacher, and one who was an outspoken critic of the Nazi regime. He was an important figure in the Resistance movement against Nazism. Accused of conspiring against the Nazi government, he was …

The Church Mouse of Saint Nicholas By Charles A. Brady. (Imprimatur 1966). Almost everyone has heard the story of how the beautiful and most tender hymn “Silent Night” came to be written. But in this book you will get to hear the full, maybe somewhat fanciful, story. And you will remember the particulars of this version! Told from the perspective of a little church mouse, Hansli, and his …

Book description:   Pope John Paul II continues to be remembered and loved for his closeness to all people around the world. In this book his own words lead readers to the holy season of Christmas. Reflections for each day--from the First Sunday of Advent until the end of the Christmas season--begin with selections from talks and statements of the late Holy Father, followed by …

Bethlehem Fiona French Inspired by England's glorious stained-glass cathedral windows, artist Fiona French has created a stunning celebration of the birth of Jesus. In the magnificent words of the Revised Standard Version of the Holy Bible, Catholic Edition, the story of the first Christmas unfolds. Beginning on the road to Bethlehem, through the Holy Family's flight by night to Egypt, …

Help your children come to understand the lineage of Christ and the most important prophesied events that led up to his birth this Advent season with these spectacular 3D ornaments. Each kit contains an explanation of what the Jesse Tree represents, 12 different black-and-white symbolic ornaments to color, the biblical verses for each, fully illustrated instructions, sequins and strings. Each …

Book review: “Richard Barry’s novel, ‘The Shepherds’ Prayer’, is a Christmas treasure! Reading ‘The Shepherds’ Prayer’, I imagined how the shepherds must have felt on that blessed night of Christ’s birth more than 2,000 years ago. Anam’s search is our search – when we seek the truth, we always find Christ!” …

Lynn M. Simms & Betsy Walter, FSP The Jesse Tree is a wonderful Advent tradition that fosters reflection on salvation history as a preparation for the celebration of Christmas. This user-friendly kit features a history of the Jesse Tree, suggested Scripture verses to accompany each ornament, and a Jesse Tree prayer service. This great activity for families, classrooms, and parishes is …

Advent Is For Children By Julie Kelemen Advent is a time to prepare and what better way to help youngsters prepare than with Advent Is For Children.  Written for children in the middle elementary grades, this book follows on the heels of its popular Lenten counterpart with stories, puzzles, and activities to help children take part in this all-important season.

Advent is the perfect season to begin praying as a family! Its wealth of traditions, such as the Advent wreath, the Advent calendar, and the Jesse tree, can be the perfect focal point for prayer. Advent: A Family Celebration will delight both children and adults with its ability to relate Scripture and prayer to real life events. Each day's meditation, designed to be said after the lighting of …

Written in the 14th century by John of Hildesheim. This book will appeal to you from every angle. Its looks: (beautiful), its quality: (bonded leather cover, sewn signatures with heavy cream paper), printing: (illustrated from fifty-eight 600 year old wood cuts and a unique type style), content: (the most enchanting story written in "Chaucer-flavored" English, PLUS a foreword, a complete table …

Sermons of St. Francis for Advent and Christmas . 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.

Fr. Hubert M. Dunphy Disenchanted with the secular banality encroaching upon the holy day of Christmas, many have reacted with an attempt to “put Christ back into Christmas”. Almost invariably they miss the essential. The essential—that is what Fr. Dunphy has evoked in Christmas Every Christmas. He elaborates upon a simple Catholic truth: Christmas is not a day, it is a liturgical season. It …

Jane Williams In the rush before Christmas, it is easy to forget that the very preparations themselves—decorations, music, gifts and meals—are a wonderful opportunity to prepare for the Lord. This book will help the readers to discover, through lyrical prose and masterpiece art, the spiritual scope of the season’s festivities, and restore the wonder of Christmas to their hearts.

A Child's Book of Christmas Carols Illustrated by Masha. Original design and arrangement by The Artists and Writers Guild, Inc. and published by Random House, N.Y., in 1942. Long out of print, now exquisitely reproduced exactly like the original by the craftsmen at The Neumann Press. This is a book that will give lasting joy to its owner. It contains the words and music of eighteen of the …

Description:   To know Jesus, we must examine the names given to him in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as those Jesus ascribed to himself in the gospels. Light of the World studies what is revealed by the various names of Christ found in Scripture. Each reflection contains an explanation of a name for Jesus followed by Scripture quotes and a prayer. These reflections will help readers …

Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv. The story of the early life of Christ presented for young children. Starting with the Annunciation and ending with the finding of Jesus in the Temple, the book is full of color illustrations.  

In the especially busy season of Advent and Christmas, Bishop Robert Morneau (of Green Bay) helps us pause and prepare spiritually for the coming of Christ. Waiting in Joyful Hope, though a little book, is a treasure of down-to-earth and yet deeply meaningful reflections that bring prayer and Scripture into everyday life in a thought-provoking and lasting way. Through Morneau’s …

When was Christmas first celebrated? How did December 25 become the official date for Christmas? How did the Bible's "magi from the East" become three kings named Melchior, Caspar, and Balthasar who rode camels from three different continents to worship the newborn Christ? Why did medieval and Renaissance artists often portray Joseph as an old man? When did the first Christmas music …

The Season of Light is a guide for families, households, classrooms, communities, and parishes who wish to make the lighting of the Advent candles a daily prayer. For each day of the season, from the First Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day, The Season of Light offers a brief liturgy that is based on the structure of Vespers or Evening Prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours: the lighting of the …