Book Reviews and More: Advent & Christmastide with the Saints - J.B. Midgley

Thursday, 16 June 2022

Advent & Christmastide with the Saints - J.B. Midgley - CTS Books

Advent & Christmastide with the Saints

CTS Books

J.B. Midgley

Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860824104

CTS Booklet D680

A few of years ago I encountered the works of J.B. Midgley and was very impressed with his writing. I have worked at tracking all his books down. And it took me a few years. I now have all of his books, or at least the ones I am aware of. After reading this one I only have 2 volumes to go to have read all of his books. I have read his works a total of 31 times so far; with a few having been read more than once. It has been well worth tracking down all 28 books by J.B. Midgley. Twenty-six of those books were for the Catholic Truth Society. And 6 of those were from the CTS Great Saints Series. And 7 are from the CTS Companions Series. I have also read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series. And have loved most of them. I first read a book by Midgley almost nearly 4 years ago. This volume is a good book, by an excellent author.

The description on the back of the book is:

“For many today the richness and warmth of these two seasons are almost unknown or long-forgotten. In our secular age Christmas has been sadly reduced to the shopping frenzy culminating on Christmas Eve. For those searching for more, this collection of sayings drawn from biblical sources, the fathers of the Church, saints and inspiring Christians, leads us into a new perspective, helping us to receive and savour the graces of this precious time and to live it as we are surely meant to.”

And the chapters in this little volume are:

Introduction

Advent - A waiting the Second Coming

Advent - Joyfully awaiting the Saviour

The Nativity of the Lord

The Holy Family

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Circumcision and Holy Name of Jesus

The Epiphany

The Baptism of the Lord

The Presentation of the Lord - Candlemas

Index of Saints

The quotes come from these sources:

Aaron

Alphonsus Ligouri

Ambrose

Anselm

Athanasius

Augustine

Aurelius Prudentius

Basil Hume

Bede the Venerable

Bernard

Bernardine of Siena

Blessed Virgin Mary

Charles Borromeo

Clement of Alexandria

Cyril of Alexandria

David

Elizabeth

Ephrem of Syria

Eusebius of Caesarea

Ezekiel

Ezra and Nehemiah

Fathers of the Second Vatican Council

Francis of Assisi

Gabriel

Gertrude the Great

Gregory Nazianzen

Gregory the Great

Gregory X

Hilary of Poi tiers

Hippolytus

Hugh of Lincoln

Hugo of Saint-Victoire

Ignatius of Loyola

Irenaeus

Isaac of Stella

Isaiah

James

Jean-Baptiste de Santeuil

John Baptist De La Salle

John Chrysostom

John Eudes

John Henry Newman

John the Baptist

John Paul II

John XXIII

Karl Rabner

Leo the Great

Leonard of Port Maurice

Leo XIII

Luke

Malachi

Mark

Matthew

Maximilian Kolbe

Maximus of Turin

Maximus the Confessor

Moses

Odilo of Cluny

Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

Paul

Paul VI

Peter Abelard

Peter Chrysologus

Peter Julian Eymard

Peter

Philoxemus of Mabbug

Pius XI

Robert Bellarmine

Ronald A. Knox

Simeon

Sirac

Sophronius of Jerusalem

Tertullian

Theresa of Avila

Therese of Lisieux

Thomas Aquinas

Thomas More

Thomas a Kempis

I highlighted a few passages my first time through this volume, they were:

“For a great many people the richness and warmth of these two seasons are almost unknown or, at best, long forgotten. 'Christmas' has sadly been reduced in our secular age to the December shopping frenzy culminating on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day and Boxing Day offer a brief respite, but the rush resumes with equal ferocity once the New Year Sales descend on cities and towns. This need not be the end of the story.”

“As winter draws on each year, Christians begin their liturgical new year in early December, and set out on their Advent journey that will take them to Christmas, Christmastide, and to the beginning of February. They prepare Advent candles, wreaths, Nativity cribs of various kinds and sizes, songs and carols, and look forward to the visit of the Three Kings. Above all they wait in great expectation for the coming of Christ into their hearts and minds, into all their thoughts and activities.”

“On your bedside table, in your pocket, on the train or bus, in a few moments before the Blessed Sacrament, this little book is designed to help us receive and savour the graces of this precious time and to live it as we are surely intended.”

This is a great little volume. The quotes span the from the Old Testament through to contemporary authors. Some sources have a single quote, and a few have many. This book was a great read. My only complaint is that none of the quotes are attributed. We know the author but not book, document, or article. There are several quotes I would have liked to read the volume it came from.

I have been blessed by all of the books from Midgley’s pen that I have been able to read. I recommend this book, especially for reading over advent. Another good resource from the Catholic Truth Society.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2022 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.