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 Selected Ignatius Press Books and Music for Advent and Christmas 
Here are some excellent Catholic resources that I think will be of interest
to you and your family during Advent and Christmas. Remember, many other
wonderful Advent and Christmas-related books, videos, CDs, and sacred artwork
are available at Ignatius
Press. In anticipation of His Coming, Carl E. Olson Editor, IgnatiusInsight.com  BethlehemArt by Fiona French Text from the RSV Bible 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 New Testament, the story of the first Christmas unfolds. Beginning on the road to Bethlehem, through the Holy Family's flight by night to Egypt, breathtaking panoramas in a kaleidoscope of colors illuminate the story's miraculous events and timeless beauty of the Savior's birth. This book is a glorious sequel to her original, Easter. While aimed at children, the classic beauty of French's stained glass illustrations and the timeless, ageless story of the birth of Christ as told in the words of Sacred Scripture make this a book that will appeal to all ages. Illustrated.  Advent,
Christmas, and Epiphany in the Domestic Churchby Peter & Catherine Fournier This is an illustrated book of wonderful activities for children and families to better understand and celebrate the Advent, Christmas and Epiphany seasons. A large size, spiral bound volume, this is perfect for families to learn together and share the joys of this happy time of the liturgical year. Filled with a variety of family activities, saint’s celebrations and crafts, this book has something for everyone in the family. Family activities include making an advent wreath, a Jesse Tree with all its symbols, cloth Nativity figures, words for 21 advent and Christmas songs, recipes for special cakes and breads and more. Also included are stories of special saints for the season with activities and prayers. Finally, it offers numerous craft activities including cross stitching Christmas patterns, gift boxes, table-top and Christmas tree Angels, table runners, and many coloring pages. It also includes a helpful index.  Continual
Feast: A Cookbook to Celebrate the Joys of Family and Faith throughout the
Christian YearBy Evelyn Birge Vitz A cookbook full of wonderful recipes and ideas drawn from throughout the Christian tradition, with suggestions about when, and why, these dishes might be served. It contains more than 275 recipes with which to celebrate all the holidays throughout the Christian year, as well as the many shared rituals that strengthen family bonds and enrich the significance of the day to day events of our lives. How these rituals, rites and feasts came about, how they are celebrated around the world, and how you can bring them into your home are described every step of the way. Includes wonderful illustrations. A Continual Feast brings new meaning to "breaking bread together." A book to cook from and learn from, it includes: menus for holidays and every day recipes for all occasions from church picnics and Sunday suppers to birthdays, namedays, confirmations, and baptisms; wonderful cooking projects for children; recipes for Christmas giving; thoughtful suggestions on taking food to others; customs associated with many great Christian holidays from Advent through Pentecost as well as various saints days around the world; traditional meanings associated with particular foods; tips on fasting and abstinence; recipes that incorporate leftovers; quotations from the Bible and various theological and gastronomic sources; many recipes of varied ethnic origins; a wealth of Christian history and thought.  A
Medieval Christmas The Christmas story is illustrated with miniatures selected from the Books of Hours found in The British Library Some of the greatest European painters of the Middle Ages were employed in the decoration of these manuscripts: Gerard Horenbout, one of the illuminators of The Sforza Hours, illustrates a simple Nativity using rich reds, greens and blues; the Annunciation to the Shepherds, depicted by the Master of the Duke of Bedford, is marvelously detailed and surrounded by classic miniatures; the Master of the Dresden Hours, a prolific Flemish artist of the late 1400’s, has strewn his Epiphany with flowers, so realistic that it seems possible to pick them off the page. Intricate in scale and radiant with gold and colors, these manuscripts represent the popular ideal of the medieval illuminated book. The well-loved story is recounted in the words of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. This masterly translation of the New Testament complements the magnificent illustrations, making this the perfect Christmas gift to be treasured by young and old. With the combination of the beautiful RSV translation and the glorious color miniatures, readers will be deeply inspired by both word and art. The RSV has been acclaimed for many decades as the most accurate, readable and beautiful translation of the Bible in English.  Cradle
of Redeeming Love: The Theology of the Christmas MysteryBy John Saward Following up on his acclaimed Redeemer in the Womb, John Saward returns to the mystery of Christ's Incarnation. He draws upon the rich traditions of the Church, as well as the writings of the great Christian mystics, to create a work that is both new and old, revolutionary and orthodox. This profoundly moving meditation will aid any contemplation on the life of Christ. The subject of this book is the objective and divinely revealed truth of the Nativity of Christ, as proclaimed by His infallible and immaculate Bride. It is the splendor of this truth, of "Love’s noon in Nature’s night", which for two millennia has captivated the Fathers and Schoolmen, and activated the genius of poets, painters, and musicians. Illustrated with eight color paintings.  Redeemer
in the Womb: Jesus Living in Mary By John Saward A unique and profound theological meditation on the nine months the God-man spent in His Virgin Mother's womb. Drawing on Christian philosophy, poetry, liturgy, as well as the Fathers and great theologians of the Church, Saward shows that faith in the Incarnation commits the believer inescapably to the defense of the unborn child. He invites the reader, in the light of Christ, to rediscover the beauty of his own, and every human being's, first few months of existence. The first book of its kind, it invites every Christian to contemplate with renewed appreciation the mysteries of the life of Jesus. It shows the coherence and unity of the dogmatic faith and moral teaching of the Catholic Church.
 Christmas
Night: Carols of the Nativity (CD)Already considered a classic, this gorgeous recording by the renowned John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers highlights 22 carols about Christ’s birth that span six centuries. This magnificent album with booklet, liner notes and lyrics, includes The Cherry Tree Carol, O Tannenbaum, In Dulci Jubilo, Away in a Manger and more.
An Ignatius Press exclusive! More Holiday Music: • A Perry Como Christmas (CD): This album is a generous selection of 22 Como Christmas favorites that combine deeply spiritual hymns and more festive holiday songs to celebrate the birth of Christ. Includes Ave Maria, Silent Night, Here We Come A-Caroling, No Christmas Like A Home Christmas, O Holy Night and 17 more. • The Irish Tenors: Home for Christmas (CD): This new collection of classic Christmas songs includes the best of the tradition. Recorded with a stunning 78-piece orchestra, the 17 hymns include Joy to the World, Silent Night, Ave Maria, The Wexford Carol, O Holy Night and many more. • The Three Tenors Christmas (CD): Pavarotti, Domingo and Carreras capture the joy of the holy season with their first ever Christmas concert. Live from Vienna, this electric performance of 21 traditional Christmas favorites by the world-renown trio is the perfect event for the holidays. All the music has never appeared on any previous Three Tenors CD or video. Films: •
The Fourth Wise Man: Based on Henry van Dyke's classic, ``The
Story of the Other Wise Man". A Magi named Artaban (Martin Sheen)
sees a sign in the heavens that he hopes will lead him and his faithful
servant, Orantes (Alan Arkin), to the Messiah. They pursue Jesus for 33
years, only to miss Him at every turn. Along the way, Artaban uses his
gifts to help people in dire need. He finally encounters the new King
on Easter Sunday. •
The First Christmas: This colorful, clay animated production,
narrated by Christopher Plummer, is a magnificent film for all ages that
tells the traditional story of the birth of Jesus beginning with Mary
and Joseph's trip from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Offering a fresh new way
to recapture the Christmas story, it is enhanced by colloquial dialogue
and traditional carols in the background. Winner of the 1999 Andrew Carnegie
Medal. Many other wonderful Advent and Christmas-related books, videos, CDs, and sacred artwork are available at Ignatius Press. |
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Alleluia
This Sweet Song (CD)
Catholic
Christmas Classics (CD)
Mother
of God Icon 
G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936) was one of the finest Christian authors and apologists
of the past two hundred years. Raised as an agnostic, he embraced Christianity as a young man, ultimately entering the Catholic Church
in 1922. He wrote hundreds of essays, as well as novels, short stories, poetry, apologetics, literary
criticism, and nearly everything else imaginable. Dale Ahlquist, president and co-founder of the American
Chesterton Society and author of 
