Catholic Thought discussion

Within the next few days I will post a list of the Christmas reads we've read in past years and the ongoing list I have with possible suggestions. So stay tuned!

Thank you!

Here is the promised Christmas reading list. When we get closer we'll have our regular nomination/poll process to make our selection(s).
Please feel free to make new suggestions! I will add them to the list.

Works we have read:

No date – Pope Benedict XVI: Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration
2017 – Adalbert Stifter: Rock Crystal
2018 – Scott Hahn: Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything
2019 –
1. Charles Dickens: The Cricket on the Hearth, 84 p, published 1845
2. Henry van Dyke: The Story of the Other Wise Man 50 p, published 1895
3. Dylan Thomas: A Child's Christmas in Wales, 48 p, published 1952
4. J.R.R. Tolkien: Leaf by Niggle, 22 p, part of Tales of the Perilous Realm
5. Leo Tolstoy: Where Love Is, There God Is Also, 12 p (to 89 p ??), published 1885
2020 - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 114 p, Medieval Romance
2021 - Fr. Dwight Longenecker: Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men 320 p, published 2017


Suggestions:

1. Augustine: Christmas Sermons 189 and 194, 4th century, (need to find texts)
2. Benedict XVI: The Blessing of Christmas: Meditations for the Season, 140 p, published 2005
3. Truman Capote: A Christmas Memory, 48 p, published 1956
http://www.sailthouforth.com/2009/12/...
4. G.K. Chesterton: The Shop of Ghosts, 2-4 p, part of Tremendous Trifles published 1909
5. Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol, 104 p, published 1843
6. Charles Dickens: The Chimes, 116 p, published 1844 (the story is usually published as part of a compilation)
7. Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle - a Sherlock Holmes Short Story, 72 p, published 1892
8. T.S. Eliot: Journey of the Magi, 2 p, published 1927
9. E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, 196 p, published 1816
10. Selma Lagerlöf: The Holy Night, 40 p, published 1904
11. Leo the Great: Christmas Sermons (sermons 21 – 28), 5th century, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3603...
12. George MacDonald: The Christmas Stories, 96 p, second half 19th century
13. George MacDonald: At the Back of the North Wind, 346 p, 1871
14. Francis de Sales: The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales: For Advent and Christmas, 160 p, 16th / 17th century
15. Fulton Sheen: Advent Meditations with Fulton J. Sheen 32 p, mid-20th century
16. Nikolai Gogol: The Night Before Christmas, 65 p, published 1832
17. Dietrich Bonhoeffer The Mystery of Holy Night, 48 p, 1930s / 1940s

I haven't read it yet, but I own this: The Advent of Christ: Scripture Reflections to Prepare for Christmas

I read this, I believe it was last Advent (?) Advent and Christmas Reflections: Catholic Daily Reflections Series

Thanks Michelle!

I also own these two but I don't know how they are yet. Maybe someone else has read them and can enlighten us 😊

Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas

Letters from Father Christmas

'Letters from Father Christmas' is wonderful!

Kerstin wrote: "'Letters from Father Christmas' is wonderful!"

Kerstin wrote: "'Letters from Father Christmas' is wonderful!"

Oh, good!

Just a reminder we read Journey of the Magi last Christmas as part of the Magi reads.

Edit: It was one of the folders in The Mystery of the Magi file.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Oh this reminds me. Fr. Dwight Longenecker, who wrote The Mystery of the Magi, is coming out with a new Christmas book. It’s not in Goodreads system yet since it hasn’t come out yet but should be out shortly. It’s called The Secrets of the Bethlehem Shepherds. From Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Bethleh...

You might want to add it to the list.

I have purchased At the Back of the North Wind

Free on Kindle.

Manny wrote: "Just a reminder we read Journey of the Magi last Christmas as part of the Magi reads.

Edit: It was one of the folders in The Mystery of the Magi file.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group......"

I forgot about that! I'll fix it :-)

Manny wrote: "Oh this reminds me. Fr. Dwight Longenecker, who wrote The Mystery of the Magi, is coming out with a new Christmas book. It’s not in Goodreads system yet since it hasn’t come out yet but should be o..."

Great find!

Alas, I have checked one of my favorites, but it is not translated into English - and I don't know if it ever will. Sigh! It is called The Flight into Egypt written by German author and Catholic Otfried Preußler who wrote the delightful The Robber Hotzenplotz series. If you have kindergarten / elementary school kids in the family, I highly recommend them.
The setting is Bohemia (now Czech Republic) before World War I, and the Holy Family is on its escape into Egypt, which naturally passes through Bohemia. It is funny and poignant at the same time.

Celia wrote: "I have purchased At the Back of the North Wind

Free on Kindle."

Thank you, Celia! I just picked it up.

I mentioned above the upcoming publication of The Secrets of the Bethlehem Shepherds. It still is not out yet, but Fr. Longenecker discusses his research for it at this article at The Imaginative Conservative:

https://theimaginativeconservative.or...

Actually, the article is an excerpt from the book.

Manny wrote: "I mentioned above the upcoming publication of The Secrets of the Bethlehem Shepherds. It still is not out yet, but Fr. Longenecker discusses his research for it at this article at The Imaginative C..."

Sounds like a really interesting book, Manny. I won't be joining the current read but hope to be part of the Christmas read. This book and a few others on the Suggestions list have really caught my eye.

OK. I always enjoy your participation Gerri.

Was this on your list Kerstin?

Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas

Manny wrote: "Was this on your list Kerstin?

Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas"

I just bought that one! That's a coincidence!

Manny wrote: "Was this on your list Kerstin?

Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas"

I don't think so. I will add it.
My plan is to repost the updated list before Thanksgiving. So keep the suggestions coming!

Kerstin, you were right! I'm reading Letters from Father Christmas, and I love it. The love he felt for his children is very evident!

Oh Kerstin, I came across another book to put on the Christmas list. How about The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art by our old friend Elizabeth Lev, the Catholic art historian. It's also on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Knight-...

OK
I will post the updated list within the next few days.

Michelle wrote: "Kerstin, you were right! I'm reading Letters from Father Christmas, and I love it. The love he felt for his children is very evident!"

It is. Tolkien gave of himself, there is no better gift.

Here is the updated Christmas read list. I have put daily devotionals separately on the bottom. Our format here isn't really suited for these, but they are great suggestions for private devotion. If there is interest though to form a buddy read for a daily devotional we most certainly can open a discussion thread for that.

Christmas Reads – Master List

Works we have read:

No date – Pope Benedict XVI: Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration
2017 – Adalbert Stifter: Rock Crystal, 96 p, published 1863
2018 – Scott Hahn: Joy to the World: How Christ's Coming Changed Everything
2019 –
1. Charles Dickens: The Cricket on the Hearth, 84 p, published 1845
2. Henry van Dyke: The Story of the Other Wise Man 50 p, published 1895
3. Dylan Thomas: A Child's Christmas in Wales, 48 p, published 1952
4. J.R.R. Tolkien: Leaf by Niggle, 22 p, part of Tales of the Perilous Realm
5. Leo Tolstoy: Where Love Is, There God Is Also, 12 p (to 89 p ??), published 1885
2020 - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 114 p, Medieval Romance
2021 –
1. Fr. Dwight Longenecker: Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Men 320 p, published 2017
2. T.S. Eliot: Journey of the Magi, 2 p, published 1927


Suggestions for Group Read:

1. Augustine: Christmas Sermons 189 and 194, 4th century, (need to find texts)
2. Benedict XVI: The Blessing of Christmas: Meditations for the Season, 140 p, published 2005
3. Truman Capote: A Christmas Memory, 48 p, published 1956 http://www.sailthouforth.com/2009/12/...
4. G.K. Chesterton: The Shop of Ghosts, 2-4 p, part of Tremendous Trifles published 1909
5. Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol, 104 p, published 1843
6. Charles Dickens: The Chimes, 116 p, published 1844 (the story is usually published as part of a compilation)
7. Arthur Conan Doyle: The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle - a Sherlock Holmes Short Story, 72 p, published 1892
8. E.T.A. Hoffmann: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, 196 p, published 1816
9. Selma Lagerlöf: The Holy Night, 40 p, published 1904
10. Leo the Great: Christmas Sermons (sermons 21 – 28), 5th century, http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3603...
11. George MacDonald: The Christmas Stories, 96 p, second half 19th century
12. George MacDonald: At the Back of the North Wind, 346 p, 1871
13. Francis de Sales: The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales: For Advent and Christmas, 160 p, 16th / 17th century
16. Nikolai Gogol: The Night Before Christmas, 65 p, published 1832
17. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The Mystery of Holy Night, 48 p, 1930s / 1940s
18. William P. Saunders: Celebrating a Merry Catholic Christmas: A Guide to the Customs and Feast Days of Advent and Christmas, 179 p, published 2018
19. J.R.R. Tolkien: Letters from Father Christmas, 111 p, 1920s – 1940s
20. Dwight Longenecker: The Secret of the Bethlehem Shepherds, 144 p, published 2022
21. Elizabeth Lev: The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art, 277 p, published 2021



Daily Advent and Christmas Reflections for Private Devotions

1. Edward Sri: The Advent of Christ: Scripture Reflections to Prepare for Christmas, 104 p, published 2013
2. John Paul Thomas: Advent and Christmas Reflections, 128 p, published 2016
3. Fulton Sheen: Advent Meditations with Fulton J. Sheen 32 p, mid-20th century

So how do we want to pick Kerstin? Maybe if everyone picked their top three and whichever one tallies the most picks is selected? Would that work? Or is there a better way?

Manny wrote: "So how do we want to pick Kerstin? Maybe if everyone picked their top three and whichever one tallies the most picks is selected? Would that work? Or is there a better way?"

I have read John Paul Thomas' Advent and Christmas Reflections and it was terrific.

Manny wrote: "So how do we want to pick Kerstin? Maybe if everyone picked their top three and whichever one tallies the most picks is selected? Would that work? Or is there a better way?"

Sounds good to me.
...I better make a note in my document for next year not to forget the selection process :-)

So let's start the nominations. Three titles/picks per person. Nominations are open until next Sunday, 27 November. And if you want to, no obligation!, let us know why you're interested in the titles you choose.

My picks are:

Gogol, The Night Before Christmas - it is funny - Gogol had a wonderful sense of humor and at the same time it is deeply Christian.

E.T.A. Hoffmann, The Nutcracker and the Mouse King - never read it and it is a classic!

Longenecker, The Secret of the Bethlehem Shepherds - I really enjoyed last year's read of the Magi, so I am sure this one is very promising as well.

George MacDonald: The Christmas Stories, 96 p, second half 19th century
-I've never read MacDonald and I've been wanting to, and short stories are a pleasurable read.

20. Dwight Longenecker: The Secret of the Bethlehem Shepherds, 144 p, published 2022
-The Magi book was very good last year. I'm curious to see how Fr. Dwight writes whole book on those two or three verses abot the shepherds.

21. Elizabeth Lev: The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art, 277 p, published 2021
-I really enjoyed Lev's How Catholic Art Saved the Faith: The Triumph of Beauty and Truth in Counter-Reformation Art. In addition to that book, I find Lev an extraordinary thinker.

Are we picking 3 from the list already given or are additions accepted for the list of suggestions? If I can add to the list, I'd like to suggest a short excerpt from Thomas of Celano's 'Life of St. Francis' - the section about the first manger scene. It's free to read online. This link should take you directly to Chapter XXX, which is the section about the manger. In English and Latin! https://franciscantradition.org/franc...

Gerri wrote: "Are we picking 3 from the list already given or are additions accepted for the list of suggestions? If I can add to the list, I'd like to suggest a short excerpt from Thomas of Celano's 'Life of St..."

Sure you can add to the list Gerri.

Let's jump start the selection for our Christmas read:
Please pick three titles from the above list (msg # 26), and we'll tally everything up Sunday. If we don't have enough picks, we may just do a poll.

Chesterton, Shop of Ghosts
MacDonald, Christmas Stories
Tolkien, Letters from Father Christmas

I like the Chesterton, MacDonald, Tolkien works Madeleine nominated, too.

George MacDonald's Christmas Stories won.
We will have to read from this book, My Little King: George Macdonald's Christmas Stories and Songs ($ 0.99 on Amazon), as the one I linked to is out of print and not available in e-book format. I was able to compare both indexes and 'My Little King' has more content, but they don't completely overlap.

For anyone who wants to take a look at the original book, it is available on archive.org:
https://archive.org/details/christmas...

Oh, great. I was hoping that would win. I apologize for being absent of late. I've been extraordinarily busy and then under the weather. I'm still trying to catch up on our recent reads.

Kerstin and all, Joseph Pearce has an article on Christmas reads. He assigned an undergraduate class to come up with a Christmas read and talk about it in class. He listed most of them in this article, "An Undergraduate Christmas." You might find some good ideas not on you list for next year.

https://theimaginativeconservative.or...

The Dostoevsky short story, "The Beggar Boy at Christ’s Christmas Tree”, catches my eye.

Manny wrote: "Kerstin and all, Joseph Pearce has an article on Christmas reads. He assigned an undergraduate class to come up with a Christmas read and talk about it in class. He listed most of them in this arti..."

Thanks Manny!