“The Church’s celebration of Christmas isn’t just for a day (or even twelve) but starts with the joyful waiting of Advent and lasts until the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.” Quote from the back cover of A Catholic ChristmasA Catholic Christmas by Kathleen M. Carroll is a brief book with eleven chapters explaining the who, what, when, where, and why of Catholic beliefs, practices, and traditions surrounding the season of Christmas.
By using several quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church and explaining the history behind them, Carroll underlines the essentials of Advent and Christmas. A look at the liturgical year, some popular saints, and some holy feasts allows readers a glimpse into the practices from Christmas past, Christmas present, and point to the aspects of Christmas that will remain the same in the future.
Carroll’s easy-to-follow explanations, modern culture references, conversational writing style, and thought-provoking reflection questions at the end of each chapter make this a great gift book for the new convert, old expert, or the inquisitive teen.
I’m thinking of sharing this book with a family friend who came into the Roman Catholic Church in the past couple years from another Christian tradition and has eagerly incorporated a number of Advent and Christmas celebrations into their life as domestic church.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on A Catholic Christmas. They are also a great source for a Catechism of the Catholic Church or a Catholic Bible.
