With all the lock-downs, mask-ups, fake news, and the United States presidential elections up in the air, it’s hard to carry on as usual. But we are one month away from Christmas and we need to prepare!
So let’s back off from the news and social media for a bit, break out our Advent Wreaths, and replace our half-spent purple and pink candles. And let’s focus on preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. That’s what Advent is about!
Let’s plan our Advent Scripture reading and prayers. Note: you can find inexpensive Catholic notebooks and prayer journals perfect for prayers and planning HERE.
Consider the traditions you have and those you’d like to add. Don’t let the craziness of the world stop you from enjoying Advent and Christmas traditions this year.
- Do you want to try a Jesse Tree with your children? Check out the Peg Doll Jesse Tree on Catholic Mom HERE.
- What about celebrating St Nicholas Day? Check out this Catholic Mom article of ideas HERE.
- Prepare Christmas cards, either homemade or store bought, and send hope-filled notes to friends and family.
- Learn and teach your children about the Twelve Days of Christmas.
- Plan your favorite Christmas cookies and get a few new recipes. See Carolyn Astfalk’s Virtual Christmas Cookie Swap for fun recipes HERE.
- Make your gift list!
I recommend keeping the gift list simple and meaningful to avoid over-commercializing Christmas. I also recommend books! And not just because I’m an author who’s about to recommend her Catholic fiction for kids, teens, and adults!
So why does faith-filled fiction make the perfect gift? Even though it’s not electronic, books entertain and they do it in a long-lasting way. A faith-filled story can move hearts and inspire readers. A powerful story can change someone’s understanding of a moral issue or deepen their empathy for others. It can even motivate one to overcome fear and step out in faith.
I became a Catholic writer because I believe in the power of faith-filled fiction in a person’s life. And I’ve received feedback from readers that has further convinced me that God continues to use stories to touch hearts, just as Jesus did 2000 years ago.
contemporary teen fiction West Brothers series
Teen and adult readers have told me how Battle for His Soul has made them more aware of the spiritual battle and of their own guardian angel. One teen regained her faith after reading Roland West, Loner, and she deepened her understanding of God’s love for her after reading Life-Changing Love.
A man told me how purgatory soul story Tortured Soul helped him find forgiveness and offer prayers for someone that he’d had a hard time forgiving. This award-winning book, written for adults, is endorsed by Susan Tassone, the Purgatory Lady, and many have told me how it’s inspired them to pray more for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.
You can learn more about my books on MY WEBSITE and go HERE to get the books at a 10% discount from November 20 to December 20. Use promo code: THANKSGIVING 2020 for 10% off your purchase.
In addition to recommending my books, I have discovered several Catholic fiction authors over the years: TM Gaouette, Susan Peek, Cynthia Toney, Leslea Wahl, Carolyn Astfalk, Corinna Turner . . . . The list of incredible Catholic authors goes on. I encourage you to visit CatholicTeenBooks.com where you will discover Catholic teen fiction in a variety of genres by those authors and more. CatholicTeenBooks offers themed book packs that would make for great gifts for the teen readers in your life.
And they now have book-club-in-a-box selections that include books and swag! Even if you don’t belong to a book club, you can get a “gift set”–a single copy of the book and swag.
In addition to recommending teen fiction, I have a few children’s books to suggest. I love how children appreciate books, reading their favorites over and over. It makes my heart happy to see young ones fall in love with books.
The first two in my Armor of God series are out now: Belt of Truth and Breastplate of Righteousness. These fantasy adventure chapter books are geared toward children preparing for or who’ve recently received the sacrament of Confession and have made/are preparing to make their First Holy Communion. Check the books out HERE.
For younger children, I recommend Saint Clare and Her Cat by Catholic author Dessi Jackson. Dessi writes the sweetest saint stories so be sure to hunt down more of her books where ever you buy books.
Visit Susan Peek’s website and Martina Parnelli for more Catholic children’s books. Check out my post about Catholic Stories for Children and Christmas Gift List: Catholic Children’s Books for more.
For Christmas themed books, please also watch Catholic Mom and Daughter on Youtube. They review books, so you can “see” the books and hear what these two love about each one. I just love to watch these two review books and they’ve even reviewed some of mine in the past!
So while the culture seems to get darker and darker, don’t get down. Don’t get depressed. No, bah, humbug. We are called to be light!
I pray that you are filled with joy this Advent season and that you let your light shine in the darkness. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and never forget: you were made for these days!
Meet Saint Anastasia, one of the greatest Christmas saints and the Patroness of Martyrs. Take her hand and let her lead you to the Crib! For centuries, this humble and unassuming martyr has remained hidden in the shadows of the stable. Yet of all the saints in Heaven, she is the only one whose feast day falls on Christmas itself! It’s about time she stepped forward and made some new friends! Join Saint Anastasia and her best friend, Saint Theodota, as they bravely prove their love for God and neighbor, even unto the sacrifice of their own lives.
Children’s Stories of Animals Who Encountered Saints . . . Told from the Animals’ Points of View! Three delightful stories for young Catholics, beautifully illustrated with black and white drawings. Includes Bonus Reproducible Coloring Book in the back! Stories in Volume One: “The Little Lamb’s Wish” “The Hungry Gray Mule” and “The Loyal Friend”
Two more stories of animals that encountered saints…told by the animals’ points of view! Stories include: “The Lion Who Lost His Appetite” Rex the Lion has it made. A delightful tale of a saint’s unwavering trust and God’s infinite power, told from the lion’s point of view! “Cuthbert for Breakfast” An endearing story of brotherly love and God’s unfailing mercy, told by the little goose’s point of view!
GOD and learned to love Him enormously! Being different from others is never easy. Saint John the Dwarf, of all people, could tell you that! Forever standing on chairs to reach things, unable to play games with other children because of his size, and being teased by the village bullies were all hard things to bear, and could have made John bitter and full of self-pity. But John discovered a secret – a great BIG secret – which changed his life and turned him into a giant of a saint. Join Little John on his adventures – from his home to a desert cave, to the altar and beyond – and let him teach you his secret of holiness too!
Meet Saint William, a young French nobleman who could have had it all . . . and gave it all up!Riches, fame, knighthood, an easy life in a grand castle. These were the things that rightly belonged to William by his noble birth. Instead he chose to leave it all behind and give himself completely to God. Building a hut in the quiet woods, he planned to live out his days there in prayer and solitude. But God had other plans for William . . . plans that ensured his suitcase would never stay unpacked!Join William as God sends him one surprise after another, until William finally receives the biggest surprise of all!
A fresh telling – based on actual events! – of the trip taken by the donkey that went to Bethlehem, and all the wondrous things that he saw on the way and there at the cave. Full color illustrations bring to life more vividly this charming account of the classic Christmas story.
In this exciting adventure, we join the donkey that was present at the crib of Bethlehem. Follow him as he accompanies the Holy Family through the events that occurred on their way to their new home in Egypt. Wondrous miracles, joyful happenings, visits from angels, or great hardships, Little Runty was there and saw it all!
Angels, miracles and adventures await Little Runty in this last of the Little Runty trilogy. The little donkey who went to Bethlehem and Egypt with the Holy family now rejoins them for the trip home. The trek is full of surprises and hardships and at its end there is the question of Runty’s return to the farmer from whom he was borrowed. Follow Runty through his journey and its happy conclusion in this last of the Little Runty series.
Things Visible & Invisible 