The Youngest Day: Shelter Island's Seasons in the Light of Grace

by Robert Farrar Capon

Journey through the Four Last Things—death, judgment, hell, and heaven—with Robert Farrar Capon in this theological tour of Shelter Island's seasons.

When it comes to grace, no one writes with more elegance, humor, and well, grace, than Robert Farrar Capon. Since his first publication hit shelves in 1963, Robert’s voice has served as one of the guiding lights for the Christian faith from generation to generation. Now, in one of his most intimate works, Robert welcomes readers young and old to join him at his home on Shelter Island, NY, for a series of reflections on the seasons and the nature of God’s divine love. Originally published in 1983, this slim, poetic volume offers some of the sweetest, most evergreen musings in the Capon canon. He begins, “If you are in the habit of associating resurrection only with spring, if you think of winter as somehow incompatible with rebirth—let me show you something…”

Genres: Theology

197 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Robert Farrar Capon was a lifelong New Yorker and served for almost 30 years as a parish priest in the Episcopal Church. His first book, Bed and Board, was published in 1965 and by 1977 left full-time ministry to devote more time to writing books, though he continued to serve the church in various capacities such as assisting priest and Canon Theologian. He has written twenty books on theology, cooking and family life.

His lifelong interest in food intersected with his writing and led to his becoming food columnist for Newsday and The New York Times and also teaching cooking classes.

Reviews

[Jesi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Father Capon's writing, even when it's a little puzzling or outdated or outlandish (all of which applies to various passages in this book). I was also lucky enough to pick this up at the perfect time; I read the entire book over the course of a dreary Monday off work, and I read the first section, on winter and its theological connections to death, at about 6:30am, when it was still pitch black outside for a couple hours. Highly recommend that approach if you can swing it.

[Erin Livs · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5