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Mike Aquilina

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Why Me? When Bad Things Happen

Are you managing your life or is your life managing you?

Get back on track with the perfect dose of inspiration, fresh perspective, and faithful direction in Our Sunday Visitor's "30-Minute Read" series.

Find a sliver to time at lunch, in the parking lot, or just before bed and get started today!

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Sharing Christ's Priesthood: A Bible Study for Catholics

This engaging, straightforward Bible study shows how all Christians are sharers in Christ s priesthood. It opens the door for laity and clergy alike to grow in faith and understand their priestly role during Pope Benedict's Year for Priests.

Follow Scripture's path of the natural priesthood, Jesus as the high priest and then Biblical priesthood today with the masterful weaving of history, Scripture, Tradition, and insightful discussion questions.

Perfect for group or individual study, the easy-to-follow format of this study guide will inspire and enlighten.

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Take Five: Meditations with Pope Benedict XVI (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna)

Discover Pope Benedict's wise and visionary perspective as a guide for your own daily spirituality. Find clarity, direction, and inspiration with five brief minutes of quiet reflection as if led by Pope Benedict himself.

Each topic begins with a simple excerpt from Pope Benedict's writings or teachings, followed by these helpful prompts for thoughtful meditation:

THINK ABOUT IT -- Points that serve as a springboard for prayerful consideration of each meditation topic.

JUST IMAGINE -- Brings to life a scene from the Scriptures, tying it to the issue at hand.

REMEMBER -- A simple memorization passage to help you work through the meditation topic.

Let the Holy Father help you hear God's voice in everything you do!

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Fire of God's Love: 120 Reflections on the Eucharist

Science falters and poetry fails when we try to speak of the Eucharist, but across the centuries saints, theologians and ordinary Catholics have nevertheless found words to express the inexpressible: Jesus, fully present, body, blood, soul and divinity, offers himself to humanity in this sacrament. Mike Aquilina brings together 120 of those reflections to encourage and inspire you as you ponder the fire of God's love revealed in the mystery of the Eucharist.

It is Jesus whom the saints know in the Eucharist, the sacrament of the altar. There he is present, Body, Blood, soul and divinity. Under the appearance of a small bit of bread, a drop of wine, God abides in his entirety. The finite contains all infinity, drawing us into communion, making us like himself, sharing his divine nature as generously ss once he took up our human nature.

That infinite love is the power behind the words of the saints, the words of Catholics ancient and modern that appear in this book. The Eucharist inspired them to extend the range of science and art, to elevate human words beyond their ordinary reach, to raise them to heaven, as the Eucharist raises the Church even now.

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Praying the Psalms With the Early Christians (co-author with Christopher Bailey)

Mike Aquilina and Christopher Bailey open a treasure chest of ancient Christian wisdom that will enrich your experience and appreciation of the psalms. Gathered together in this book are reflections from some of the greatest saints of the early church on the psalms. Each of the short chapters on selected psalms is designed to help you pray these beautiful and personal Old Testament songs-not just to read or recite them, but to make them part of your lives. Each chapter features: the complete text of the psalm in the Revised Standard Version translation; a brief introduction that sets the psalm in context; "Words to remember"-a few lines to recall throughout the day; short reflections in modernized language from one or two great early Christian thinkers; questions to help you apply the words of the psalm and the ideas of the early Christian writers to your life; also included are brief biographies of the men and women quoted in the book.

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Angels of God: The Bible, the Church and the Heavenly Hosts

Angels are everywhere - as a matter of fact, right at your side. Forget the sweet-faced cherubs of popular culture, however, and brace yourself for a far more potent reality: powerful heavenly beings who play a significant role in the personal drama of daily life - your life.

Drawing on Scripture (where angels appear often, carrying out crucial tasks), the words of the saints and Church teaching, Mike Aquilina shows how developing our "fellowship with the angels is not an ornament on our religion, it's a life skill."

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Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's 'The Fathers'

Popular author Mike Aquilina's encyclopedic knowledge of the Church Fathers intersects seamlessly with Pope Benedict XVI's insightful reflections about them in this faith-building companion guide.

It shows that the Fathers are much more than wise men from ages past who sacrificed their lives for what they believed: they are teachers and philosophers, orators and pastors, leaders and problem solvers, martyrs and heroes whose stories and example are still relevant today.

Discover a wealth of inspiration and insight on twenty-six Fathers of the Church as well as thoughtful reflection/discussion questions on what His Holiness and the Fathers have said. Divided into six sections, the Companion Guide to Pope Benedict's The Fathers provides an easy road map for parish study groups or independent study.

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Signs and Mysteries: Revealing Ancient Christian Symbols

Imagine the dangerous life of a First Century Christian. You've embraced your newfound faith in Christ but fear the risk of persecution or death at the hands of the pagans living around you. Then a trusted friend tells you about some of Jesus followers who secretly meet. He whispers into your ear, Look for a fish carved into the entranceway to the burialchambers beside the Via Tiburtina. You smile in gratitude.

Comparatively, modern society is awash in those same Christian symbols that kept early Christians safely connected: they appear on churches, bumper stickers, mugs even mints and stuffed animals. Yet, we are often ignorant of the origins of these symbols having lost the urgency of our spiritual ancestors hostile environment.

Noted author Mike Aquilina conducts an intriguing tour of symbols that guided the first four centuries of the Church s existence. He explains how Christians borrowed pagan and Jewish symbols, giving them new, distinctly Christian meanings. Recover the voice and urgency of our spiritual ancestors symbolic language and discover the impact the symbols still have.

Black and white illustrations by Lea Ravotti of artifacts uncovered throughout the Middle East beautifully complement the text, showing the variety of contexts in which they were found and the range of skills displayed in their execution.

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Take Five: On the Job Meditations With St. Ignatius (co-author with Fr. Kris Stubna)

Build your career while you build your faith by discovering the balance and insight of one of history's greatest workers--St. Ignatius--founder of the Jesuits. Literally designed and written to be used in short breaks from work, there are three prompts following each meditation to help you apply St. Ignatius's teaching to interpersonal issues, stress, office politics, goal setting, moral issues, and more:

Think About It - Makes the connection between the teaching and everyday work issues.

Go There - Helps you vividly imagine the scene in the Gospel story and ties it to the issue at hand.

Remember - Gives you a single sentence or phrase you can easily learn by heart to help you through the issue.

Americans spend the bulk of their lives at work. How will your investment and activity at work serve the Lord?

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Love in the Little Things

"God stoops down to lift up our homes, to make them outposts of his paradise…no matter how cold the winds may blow on a winter day." —From the Introduction

Paradise? Family life? Really? Yes—and one filled with laughter. If that doesn't sound like your family but you wish it did, or if you're just looking for a book to lighten your spirit, Love in the Little Things is for you.
Love involves sacrifice, Mike Aquilina notes, but as he spins humorous stories from his own family, it is evident that moms, dads and kids are happier when they lay down their lives for one another. Love in the Little Things nudges the reader toward a more satisfying family life.

“I wish I could have read this book when I was a young dad, but I was too busy learning all the lessons alongside Mike Aquilina. No matter what stage of the parenting game you’re at, don’t delay—start reading this book now!” - Scott Hahn, author, Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy

“…a domestic catechism for the domestic church…absolutely delightful and insightful” - Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Providence, R.I.

“…a book that knows real life smells a little like incense, a little like pasta and a little like a used diaper. As someone who has experienced the gracious vivacity of the Aquilina home firsthand, I can promise that you have a sure and fine guide to finding the Blessed Trinity in the clutter and chaos of the glorious thing known as family.” - Mark P. Shea, author, By What Authority?

“This book is a delight—easy to read and pregnant with insight. It is amazing how little things will change your view about family, faith and life.” - Curtis Martin, president and founder, FOCUS

“Mix lots of laughter and a few tears, add generous helpings of faith and hope, bring it all to a boil with the flame of love—that’s Mike Aquilina’s recipe for a happy, holy family. Love in the Little Things stands out for its good humor and deeply Catholic good sense. A terrific read for married couples of any age and for couples preparing for marriage.” - Russell Shaw, author, Catholic Laity in the Mission of the Church

“…a charming yet profound blueprint on how to be a devout Christian. People of all ages, of all religions, will delight to read this self-deprecating guide for pursuing holiness in a family milieu with all its humorous idiosyncrasies. Bravo!” - Rev. T.G. Morrow, author, Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World

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The Fathers of the Church

An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers

Most Christians have at least a passing acquaintance with St. Augustine, but how many know much about Irenaeus, Cyprian, Origen, Polycarp, or Justin? These are just a few of the famous "Fathers of the Church" whose thoughts and teachings have influenced the entire history of Christianity. Now, in easy-to-read and understand language, Mike Aquilina offers "a first look" at the first Fathers.

Concentrating on the first centuries of the Church, this exciting historical overview of the formation of the Faith concentrates - not on the great movements and insights - but on the characters who gave voice to those ideas. From Clement, who was St. Peter's successor, to John of Damascus, all the greatest names of the first millennium of Church history are present.

A must-read for all who seek to understand the Church's past in order to prepare for her future.

"An ideal introduction to the early history of the Church" - Homiletic and Pastoral Review

"Simply a great read... a clear, compelling, accessible primer that's a gem of readability for a popular audience. I highly reccomend it." - Archbishop Charles Chaput

"Mike Aquilina has made the Fathers accessible, interesting, and - now and then at least - even fun." - Russell Shaw in Lay Witness

"I am sure that the work in question will become a classic." - Archimandrite Joseph Lee

"A very useful and well-written book, and a good addition to any library." - Dave Yap, Greyfriars, Oxford

"A perceptive, well-written, and extremely useful introduction to the Church Fathers. The quotations from the Fathers themselves were chosen with care and will enlighten and inspire all serious Christians." - Thomas Reeves, Professor of History, University of Wisconsin - Parkside, and author of The Empty Church"

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The Grail Code

by Mike Aquilina and Christopher Bailey

The Holy Grail stories possess a mysterious power that has seized human imagination for centuries. They tell of a great secret finally revealed, of surprising answers to the most profound questions, of a hidden mystery that satisfies our deepest longings. Writers, poets, artists, composers, and filmmakers have pursued the Grail for 1700 years. This great quest drives the legends of King Arthur, propels Indiana Jones' greatest adventure, and keeps us turning the pages of The Da Vinci Code.

All this makes the Holy Grail stories themselves something of a mystery. Why have these tales captivated humankind so thoroughly and for so long? They enthrall us, say the authors of The Grail Code, because these stories really do touch the deepest parts of our hearts. They are profound meditations on the human condition, showing humans at their most heroic and most vile--pointing us toward God's remedy for what ails us. The Grail Code is a literary and theological detective story that ends where the Grail legends began--in the room where Jesus gathered his closest friends for the last time, spoke blessed words, broke bread, and shared a sacred cup.

"The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence is a lucid treatment of the Grail legends, based on real history. It satisfies the hunger that people have for knowledge of this mystery. The true Grail bears witness to a divine gift that exceeds even the deepest human longing. This book is unique and a great read." – Scott Hahn, author of The Lamb’s Supper and Hail Holy Queen

"In Western literature, the search for the Holy Grail is a recurring and engaging theme. In whatever form it takes the spiritual overtones are compelling. While many authors have addressed the quest, Mike Aquilina and Christopher Bailey bring a fresh approach. The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence is both a good read and an invitation to experience a sense of spiritual journey holding the reader’s imagination in the context of faith." – Most Reverend Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D., Bishop of Pittsburgh

"The Grail Code: Quest for the Real Presence is a much-needed book, immersing the reader in the richness of Grail lore through the ages. The book grounds the legends in their historical and theological context, giving a much-needed corrective to some of the more outlandish and unfortunately popular constructs of the legend we find today." – Amy Welborn, author of De-coding Da Vinci

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The Great Life: Essays on Doctrine and Holiness in honor of Father Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap.

Mike Aquilina (editor) and Kenneth Ogorek (editor)

The great life is the Catholic life. This collection of essays presents the answer of faith to many questions of our culture. It is an invitation not only to know the Faith but also to love, live, and teach it from the heart of the Church.

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There are no "self-made" success stories in the spiritual life. No do-it-yourself kits for aspiring saints. That's why Living the Mysteries is ideal for a family member, friend, or fellow parishioner who was recently in the RCIA program and received the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist - at the Easter Vigil. That's why it's perfect for a lifelong Catholic, too.

The early Church had a process in which a teacher guided seekers through stages of inquiry and purification, culminating in a final phase called "mystagogy" - MIST-a-go-gee - "the revelation of the mysteries."

The instruction the early Christians needed is what we all need, no matter when we were baptized, no matter how much theology we've studied. That's because God's mysteries are inexhaustible and, until we get to heaven, we're all unfinished Christians.

Now eight of the early Church's greatest teachers can be your guides as Living the Mysteries presents the wisdom and insights of:

Designed as a devotional - and more - for the fifty days between Easter and Pentecost, Living the Mysteries is a rich spiritual resource valuable any time of the year. Each day features:

You and your family push aside the curtain and enter a room at the back of the private home. You are warmly greeted by friends who have gathered on this Sunday morning to celebrate the Lord's Day. You listen as the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read. Then the presider explains the readings and exhorts all present to live a life worthy of the Savior. After a few moments of prayer, bread and wine are blessed, broken, and distributed to all present.Before you leave for home, a collection is taken up for the needs of the church.

Sound familiar? It should. It's the same Mass we celebrate today. Only this account comes from just a few years after Christ's death.

In The Mass of the Early Christians, author Mike Aquilina uses anecdotes and historical texts to show vividly how the Mass was celebrated at the beginning of the Christian Church, trace its progression over the ages, and highlight the fascinating diversity that arose as Christianity spread throughout the world.

"The Mass we know on Sunday - the Mass you encounter in this book - is where Tradition lives, where Church's memory reigns 'in the Spirit.' Read this book, then, and remember." - Scott Hahn, Professor of Scripture and Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville

"Aquilina is to be congratulated for making these texts accessible to a new and wide-ranging audience allowing us to echo the cry voiced by the martyrs of North Africa in the third century: 'We cannot live without the Mass!'" - Fr. Joseph Linck, St. Vincent Seminary

"This is an excellent and exciting work. I could wish that The Mass of the Early Christians was compulsory reading for all ordinands. Mike Aquilina is to be congratulated." - Robert Beacon in New Directions (U.K.)

"Mike Aquilina has performed a needed service in making this heritage accessible to non-specialists." - Oswald Sobrino, Esq.

"Aquilina has done us a great service in summarizing 800 years of church history in a 239-page book." - Richard J. Vincent, theocentric.com

"Tantum ergo Sacramentum Veneremur cernui!" - "Down in adoration falling, Lo! The sacred Host we hail!" These words, written by the great theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, have inspired millions over the past seven centuries. St. Thomas's devotion to the Eucharist was profound. His brother Dominicans recalled that he would spend long hours kneeling before the tabernacle. When he faced a particularly difficult problem, he would lean against the tabernacle, as if to rest against the Master's heart as did the Beloved Disciple at the Last Supper. Now St. Thomas's immortal poems of praise - in both their original Latin and stunning translation - have been assembled along with insightful meditations and commentary by Mike Aquilina, in Praying in the Presence of Our Lord with St. Thomas Aquinas. Since we usually hear St. Thomas's hymns during Eucharistic Adoration, it is especially fitting to let his words join ours before the altar. Pray these prayers as St. Thomas did, in the presence of Our Lord, before His tabernacle, where He dwells among us.

"This book is so beautiful that I wish I had written it myself." - Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.

From the pious to the practical, the reflections of the Fathers of the Church cover virtually every aspect of the Christian life. Noted author Mike Aquilina has compiled their ancient axioms into a concise collection of comments designed for busy, modern readers. Pray with the poetry of St. Gregory Nazianzen. Find clear direction in the practical advice of St. Jerome. And, let your heart turn toward the heavenly Jerusalem, following the 1000 timeless treasures in The Way of the Fathers.

"A power-packed collection of the Fathers' concise, clear, and challenging statements on issues still relevant to Christians today - a helpful tool, for anyone seeking to live the authentic Gospel life as understood by the first Christians." - John Michael Talbot

"The sayings of the fathers are like hidden treasure. Read this book to gain wisdom, inspiration for prayer, and pearls for preaching and teaching." - Father Michael Scanlan, T.O.R. President, University of Steubenville

What do you say when someone asks, "You're a Catholic. So tell me, what do Catholics do when they pray a novena?" Or when they "offer it up." Or "wear a medal." Or "go to Confession." Or any of the dozens of other devotions that set Catholics apart from other Christians.

If you've ever been tongue-tied trying to explain Catholic practices - or if you have a few questions of your own - or maybe you are just learning about Catholicism, you've got to read The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions. The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions is the only book that not only provides the who, what, where, when, and why of the most time-honored traditions of the Church but also the how.

In this collection of Catholic devotions, authors Mike Aquilina and Regis J. Flaherty outline everything you need to know but nobody ever taught you about the ways Catholics pray with sign and symbol. From the Angelus to an Examination of Conscience to First Fridays, Vigil Candles, and more, you'll learn exactly what words to say, what gestures to make, what actions to take - in short, you'll find step-by-step guidelines to all the devotional rites and rituals of the Catholic Faith. But that's not all. The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions also furnishes a history of each devotion and a reflection on its importance in the prayer life of Catholics as well as succinct and salient quotes from saints and prominent members of the Church.

And there's still more! With its down-to-earth, practical advice, The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions incorporates cautions, drawn from Scripture and Tradition for potential temptations and distractions as well as revealing the blessings and graces associated with the devotions.

If you want to learn what devotions comprise a truly Catholic life and share those practices with others, you can't be without The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions.

"This charming book shows you how to plunge in and do all the things devout Catholics do. Learning to pray in Catholic ways, learning to use Catholic things like scapulars and blessings and holy water, and learning to eat fish on Friday while knowing why - all this amounts to more than one might think. Learning the practices of faith is learning faith again, and remembering why faith is so human and so sacred, and so dear to us." - Fr. Ronald Lawler, O.F.M. Cap. Member, Pontifical Roman Theological Academy

Catholics of a certain age fondly remember the Baltimore Catechism, the gold standard question-and-answer catechism that provided an entire generation of Catholics with easy-to-understand-and-memorize answers to the basic truths of the Catholic Church.

Now, noted authors Mike Aquilna and Fr. Kris D. Stubna have taken this time-honored question-and-answer format and written a new catechism rooted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of Vatican II.

From the very first question: "Who are you?" to the final "What prayers does the Church recommend?" this sure-to-become-a-classic is filled with the richness of Catholic teaching.

In addtion to the question-and-answer section, What Catholics Believe also contains sections on traditional Catholic prayers, a guide to making a good Confession, an explanation of the Mass, and much, much more.

From the very first "Who are you?" to the final "What other prayers does the Church recommend?" A Pocket Catechism for Kids is the ideal introduction to the treasures of the Catholic Faith for children grades 2 through 8. Using a popular question-and-answer format, authors Father Kris Stubna and Mike Aquilina explain the saving truths that Jesus taught in short, easy-to-understand-and-memorize sections that draw from both Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Examining the basics, A Pocket Catechism for Kids serves as both a primer on the Faith and a readily accessible resource and reference guide. A Pocket Catechism for Kids also contains sections on traditional Catholic prayers, a guide to making a good Confession, an explanation of the Mass, and more - virtually everything children need to know to understand and live the Faith!

This collection of the writings of Father John J. Hugo offers an exceptional opportunity to reexamine and renew your desire to determine the will of God.

Father Hugo was a pioneer in the "retreat movement." The spiritual advisor of Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement, and one of the most significant lay Catholic initiatives in the history of the American Church.

What makes Father Hugo's writing so relevant is his ability to bring together the teachings of Jesus and the saints as they apply to today's society. By "translating" the teachings of the Church's spiritual classics, Father Hugo shows that the joy of Christianity lies in the high ceiling of each of us to a genuinely holy life.

"Aquinas gives us the theory, Father Hugo gives us the practice. He is recovering some of the most vital yet neglected teachings of the spiritual life. Every Catholic needs this book. I need this book." - Scott Hahn.

"Father John Hugo (1911-1985) was a wise spiritual voice not to be forgotten." - First Things

A guide for faith-filled parents who want to provide their children with Christian education in sexuality and the family.

It's Christmas time in the city. And if you think that's cause for celebration, you ought to see what's going on in a little cave on the outskirts -- the very epicenter of the extravaganza.

That's the theme underlying this collection of writings and artwork published by the Diocese of Pittsburgh to mark Jesus' 2,000th birthday. An ornamental Christmas keepsake in its own right, the colorful, coffee-table volume manages to evoke the season's warm festivity while putting its cultural customs in their proper place: at the service of the Gospel event they commemorate.

"Christmas decorations, the tree, exchanging gifts and enjoying other Christmas traditions are all important and joyful events, but we should never let them distract us from the truth that is at the very heart of the Christmas season," writes Pittsburgh Bishop Donald W. Wuerl in the book's introduction. "On the first Christmas day, God came among us in the person of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel, God with us. Nothing in human experience is more exciting than this truth, and no one has so changed history as has the infant son of Mary, who is also the Son of God."

The book's graphics are highlighted by full-page and inset displays of paintings by the masters -- Botticelli, Raphael, Grunewald, Fra Angelico -- while the text has been compiled from wide and varied sources spanning the centuries. Along with key Scripture passages and the lyrics of selected carols, here are homilies, liturgical readings, prayers, blessings, poems and reflections. The subject is just what happened in Bethlehem, circa 1 A.D., and among the luminaries who weigh in on the matter are St. John Chrysostom, St. Louis de Montfort, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, Blessed Edith Stein, Caryll Houselander, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy Sayers, St. Bonaventure, Pope St. Leo the Great and T.S. Eliot.

Also included are descriptions of popular customs and symbols, along with explanations of how each relates to historical observances of the birth of Christ. From the Christmas tree to the candy cane, from the hanging of stockings to the entry of St. Nicholas on the Christmas stage, all, directly or indirectly, situate us at the site where an unassuming Jewish girl has just given birth to a son.

"Dear children, as I write to you I am thinking of when, many years ago, I was a child like you," writes Pope John Paul II in a 1994 Christmas exhortation. "[W]hen the star of Bethlehem shone, I would hurry to the crib together with the other boys and girls to relive what happened 2,000 years ago in Palestine. We children expressed our joy mostly in song. How beautiful and moving are the Christmas carols which, in the tradition of every people, are sung around the crib! ... What joy and tenderness they express about the Divine Child who came into the world that Holy Night!"

The editors have chosen a decorative typeface that unnecessarily slows the eye in the prose passages. The payoff is its effect on the poetry. Especially intriguing is how even familiar verse, such as the carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem," works here as silent reflection.

And as evangelical witness. "There's no doubt that ... conversions take place with greater frequency during the Christmas season," the editors write in one section's introduction. "It is on Christmas morning that churches ordinarily empty fill to overflowing." Put this book under the tree for someone who needs to make a little more room in his life for Christ after the tinsel and lights have come down.