Celtic Advent: 40 days of devotions to Christmas

by David Cole

This inspirational book takes the reader through Advent to the celebration of Christmas through the eyes and beliefs of Celtic Christianity. Starting in November and reflecting on Jesus' coming at his birth as well as into our lives by the Holy Spirit and at the world's end, the author offers a unique approach to the season to help you gain a new sense of wonder in the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.

Genres: Christian, Prayer, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion

142 pages, Paperback

Published September 21, 2018

Reviews

[Vainvt · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my embarrassing characteristics is that I am a Christmas Grinch. Although I love the beautiful tree, the Christian message of hope, the gathering of friends and family, and the outstanding music, I hate the commercialization and the excessive busyness that have taken over my life.
This year, our Celtic Christianity group read this wonderful book and shared our feelings online. It transformed Christmas for me. Every day, we read a thought, contemplation, a Biblical passage, and a prayer that centered on the forty days leading up to Christmas. Individuals shared their reactions in an online forum and that enriched the experience for me.
What was so important about this book? First of all, I believe in many of the concepts of Celtic Christianity, so it brought me closer to those concepts. Secondly, it grounded me in the meaning of Christmas during a time that had become downright annoying.
It takes organization, but reading this book made the season more meaningful and pleasurable than it has been for years.

[Brandy Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Advent book!

I learned about the meaning behind the Advent, and about many Celtic saints. Such a blessing to have read it.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this book has more pages than listed on GR, 141 with endnotes.

Secondly, author Cole does a fine job bringing to the reader various elements of Celtic spirituality and tieing them to the season of Advent. Each day's entry is 2-3 pp, with a few paragraphs of commentary followed by a reflection, scripture, and then a prayer. As is the case for most modern prayer writers, these are a bit 'sappy,' for lack of a better word. They make me cringe a bit.

Nevertheless, this is still a fine book to mark Advent. One place where Cole is lacking is the same from his book on Celtic Prayers and Practices, and that is his lack of awareness or just plain disregard of the links between the Celtic Church and what is now the Eastern Orthodox Church. The most glaring example in this book is the simple fact that is starts on November 15, which Cole states was when the season of Advent (he doesn't give us a Celtic name for this season, just that it was known as the 'lesser Lent'), was observed in the ancient churches in Britain and Ireland. He fails to mention that this was the norm for all Christendom at the time, and that it is still the pre-Christmas penitential season observed by the Orthodox. In fact, he doesn't really detail why Advent was seen as a lenten period. He rightfully describes and organizes the book around the three 'comings' of the Incarnation, but more on the fasting (which I believe he ignores) and confessional aspect of the season.

Another place is that he doesn't tie the Celtic Church into the wider Christian world of the day. I recognize that is not the theme or purpose of the book, but aside from a passing mention of Celtic missionary work in Europe and maybe (can't remember now) the early Desert Monks who inspired all Christian monasticism, there is little to give the reader any indication that Christianity existed anywhere else in the world.

These small criticisms are not to say this book is without value. I enjoyed it quite a bit and have already bought his books for Celtic Lent and The Celtic Year. These are nice editions published by a British Bible society and worthy additions to any person's library.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely Advent book. It was very easy reading, with interesting tales of Celtic saints, but with thought provoking readings and prayers. I would definitely read this again during Advent.

[Charissa Fryberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Celtic idea that Advent invites us to contemplate not only the first and second comings of Jesus, but a third coming as well was new and thought-provoking for me. David Cole uses the lives of Celtic saints and their unusual ways of following Christ as examples and catalysts for suggesting new (to moderns at least) perspectives. In Celtic Advent Cole tells us that, like current-day Christians, the Celts saw Christ’s first coming in the incarnational nativity that we celebrate at Christmas. They defined the second coming, however, as the indwelling of Christ’s Spirit in each of us as we live out our Christian callings. The final Revelational reappearance of Christ at the end of time thus became His third coming.

I found this re-counting to be strangely inspirational and intensely personal. It seems to elevate the ongoing concept of Emmanuel—God with us—and place it on equal footing with the world-changing events of Christmas and Revelations. It encouraging us not only to remember the historical event when Jesus was born at Christmas and to wait in anticipation of the trumpet call of Revelation, but to find ourselves present and active in His current and ongoing coming. This defines me as an eye-witness to His coming now and reminds me to recognize Him with me day after day. He came at Christmas; He will return in the end; but He is also here, in and with me today. Emmanuel.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book. I unusually find the whole Christmas season difficult - a rush followed by a looking forward to a break from work. This book has helped me to appreciate Advent much more than I usually would. The book is broken down into 40 small chapters which are 2-3 pages. Their format is usually a brief commentary followed by a small opportunity for contemplation and a scripture reading and prayer. This is helpful. I found it a great resource for starting the day. The overall breakdown of the book is as follows:

1. The concept of Advent: preparation for the arrival
2. The first coming of Christ.
3. The second coming of Christ - how we receive Christ for ourselves. ( This was a very interesting and useful section)
4. The third coming of Christ.
5. Celebrating the Christmas feast and winter celebrations.

I enjoyed the season of advent much more this year as I had a structure and resource to help me take much more seriously. I will be coming back to this resource again at a later date.
Enjoy.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Celtic Advent

I really enjoyed learning about the different Celtic Saints and where some traditions came from. It gave me a deeper understanding of the importance of his time of year and of concepts that I was not familiar with. The Celtic people seem to rely a lot on nature to guide them through their Christian life. After do many regular advent studies in my Sunday school as a child and again in adulthood the Celtic Advent Study gave me things I should be doing through out the year to honor Christ's coming and to honor God and myself. It seemed a lot more holistic than a regular Advent study.

[Carla Boner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite what I thought it would be. I assumed there would be more focus on Jesus's arrival. But it was mostly light stories of Celtic Saints. Not bad for a simple daily devotional. If you are looking for something meaty to build your relationship with Jesus or to learn about Celtic Saints, this is not it. But if you're looking for a simple 40 day devotional that gives you things to think about then this is a great choice.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the third time I’ve used this resource during advent. It lasts 40 days so it starts on 15th November.

Possibly first time I’ve stuck with it for the full 40 days.

I’ve been hitting down prayers and bits of wisdom.

I find Celtic Christianity very appealing, especially how grounded it is in nature.

I’ll be doing the Celtic lent too.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reflections. Deep spiritual insight. Kept the holy in Christmas. I gave a copy to my Anam Cara and we discussed and prayed together throughout the season. This time sharing this book together was better than any gift under the tree.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always find that I expect to enjoy David Cole's books, but don't. Probably because my beliefs have just moved too far away from Christianity. I loved Celtic Christianity when I was a believer, and there were a couple of nice bits, but overall I didn't love it.

[Ken Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to prepare for Christmas

[Miss J Sheppard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflective and well written

Helped my advent reflections and has giving me interest in exploring Celtic Christianity. It was well written and easy to follow.

[Julie Birkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

daily reading through Advent

[Bobbi Mullins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice change of pace for Advent and I really enjoyed it. Daily devotions are just the right length and depth.

[Paul Newbould · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent