Book Recommendation: Christmas at the Nativity
We all know Christmas is commercialized and the real meaning of the feast day is lost in the materialism that consumes modern life. Christmas at the Nativity, a new book by Pope Francis, brings the focus back to where it belongs, the birth of Jesus.
The book is a collection of the Pope’s thoughts on Christmas, taken from his homilies and other public addresses and Admirabile Signum, his Apostolic Letter on the meaning of the Nativity. It was put together and published to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the first Nativity scene assembled by St. Francis in Greccio in 1223.
The Christmas story is so familiar we may think we know all about it, but the insights of Pope Francis help us rediscover what it means for us today. His writings and homilies always have a pastoral orientation and he knows how to speak from the heart. His style is conducive for personal reflection.
The book is organized into chapters that focus on all the main characters of the Nativity (Mary, Joseph, the Child Jesus, the Magi) and the setting (Bethlehem, the stable, the star).
Each chapter is subdivided into sections that are a page or so in length, making the book ideal for daily spiritual reading, one of the best ways to nourish ourselves and strengthen our faith. Spending some quiet time each day to prayerfully read something that will lift up our spirits is a very beneficial practice.
Books make excellent gifts, so add this one to your list, either for yourself or to give to someone else. Christmas is such a beautiful time of year, and so rich in grace. It is too important to let it pass by without drinking deeply of what it really has to offer. Christmas at the Nativity will help all readers experience the real meaning of this wondrous celebration of our faith.
Even if you don’t read the book, take a look at Admirabile Signum. It’s available on the Vatican website, it’s not very long, and it’s almost a condensed version of Christmas at the Nativity. If it whets your appetite for more, then be sure to get the book.
Here is the link for Admirabile Signum: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20191201_admirabile-signum.html
Publishing Details
Title: Christmas at the Nativity
Publisher: New City Press
Date: 2023
Pages: 140
Retail: $17.95
ISBN: 978-1-56548-576-1
From The Back Cover
“The Nativity scene is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman. We come to realize that so great is his love for us that he became one of us, so that we in turn might become one with him.”
Francesco
For many years (1977-2011), we operated Joseph House by the Sea, a book and gift store in Ocean City, Maryland. Our founder, Sr. Mary Elizabeth Gintling, believed it was important “to have a place in the marketplace where people can come to get spiritual direction and guidance in their reading.” In that spirit, we continue to offer recommendations for worthwhile books and other items.
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