It seriously feels like it was just summer, yet here we are approaching Advent. Advent is a liturgical season that invites us to delve deeper into our faith as we prepare our hearts for Christmas Day. It also coincides with a time of year that is perfect for cuddling under a blanket with a warm drink and a good book. Here are some new releases in the Catholic book world that you may want to add to your own Advent reading list. And don’t worry – these are all available on Amazon so you can take advantage of your free two-day shipping (if you’re an Amazon Prime member) to get these into your hands before Advent starts on Sunday, November 28th. E-book editions are always an option too.
“Adore: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” by Fr. John Burns (released September 24, 2021 by Ave Maria Press). I first encountered Fr. John Burns on the @manyhailmarysatatime Instagram page (if you don’t follow that, go follow it right now and then meet me back here). He is a dynamic, knowledgeable young-ish priest who exudes enthusiasm for the Catholic faith. In this, his second book, he offers guidance on the meaning of Advent through the themes of vigilance, preparation, nearness and Emmanuel. The journal acts as a good starting point for prayer through brand-new artwork, scripture-based meditations and prayers, and reflection questions.
“The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived” by Peter Kreeft (released November 20, 2021 by Ignatius Press). Spoiler Alert: it’s Mary, Mother of God. Peter Kreeft is a well-respected Catholic writer powerhouse who has written almost a hundred books on theology, apologetics and philosophy since converting to the Catholic faith. Thanks to the deep well of Catholicism, he still hasn’t run out of things to write about. In his newest release, he provides a unique look at the Virgin Mary, mother of wisdom incarnate (Jesus).
“Wisdom and Wonder: How Peter Kreeft Shaped the Next Generation of Catholics” edited by Brandon Vogt (release date November 27, 2021 by Ignatius Press). Speaking of Peter Kreeft, this collection of essays offers 18 different perspectives on why he has become one of the prolific Catholic writers of our time. It includes essays by people you’ve probably heard of in the Catholic world, such as Brandon Vogt (author, speaker, content director of Word on Fire Catholic Ministries), Trent Horn (author, staff apologist for Catholic Answers, host of the “Counsel of Trent” podcast), and Jackie Francois Angel (Catholic singer-songwriter, author and speaker).
“St. Dymphna’s Playbook: A Catholic Guide to Finding Mental and Emotional Well-Being” by Tommy Tighe (released November 5, 2021 by Ave Maria Press). Tommy Tighe is another name you’re probably familiar with if you follow Catholic media; he’s the author of “The Catholic Hipster Handbook” and the host of the “St. Dymphna’s Playbook” podcast. Tighe pulls from his background as a licensed marriage and family therapist and his solid understanding of Catholicism to explore how effective a spiritual approach to mental health can be when combined with a professional therapy and intervention.
“Seriously, God?: Making Sense of Life Not Making Sense” by Fr. Mike White and Tom Corcoran (released October 8, 2021 by Ave Maria Press). I discovered Fr. Mike White at the beginning of the Covid lockdown because his parish, Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, provides extremely well-produced online Masses. I found myself looking forward to Fr. Mike’s homilies each week, which offered a bit of salve for those weeks when I couldn’t attend mass in-person due to state guidelines. Fr. Mike White and his associate Tom Corcoran have now written a number of books, including this latest release which looks at hardship as an opportunity to get to know God.
“Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness” by Meg Hunter-Kilmer (released October 22, 2021 by Ave Maria Press). Known in the Catholic world as the “Hobo for Christ,” Meg Hunter-Kilmer has lived out of her car for almost a decade as she travels the world teaching others about God and the Catholic faith. In the past year she has published not one but TWO books about the saints. I am most excited about her latest release, which takes a look at how saints can be made in the most unlikely of people through the love of God. I love the question posed in the book description: “How is it possible that a chain-smoking socialist, a teenage video gamer, an opium addict, a satanic high priest, a disabled beggar, and a self-absorbed mean girl became saints?” Read Hunter-Kilmer’s book to find out!
“The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art” by Elizabeth Lev (release date November 23, 2021 by Sophia Institute Press). This title is a good pick for someone who may prefer a book with more pictures! I heard Elizabeth Lev on the Fountains of Carrots podcast awhile back and she really knows her stuff as an art historian who works in Rome as a professor and Vatican Museums consultant. This book takes a close artistic look at one of the other major players in the Christmas nativity story – Joseph. It can be a perfect bookend to 2021, a year which Pope Francis proclaimed as “The Year of St. Joseph.”
So, what will you be reading this Advent as we draw closer to our celebration of Jesus’s birthday? Books can be a great way to fill our minds with words that remind us of what matters most. Just don’t forget to spend some time with the Word (the Bible) as well this holiday season! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good book.