There is a tradition in Advent to prepare for Christmas started by my parents years ago, and now I continue it on. Every year, I read this beautiful little book called Love Does Such Things by Reverand Mary Raymond, O.C.S.O, published in Milwaukee in 1955. It is a real treasure, and a book I highly recommend picking up if you can find it.
Fr. Raymond walks through the Christmas story, from the Annunciation through the return to Nazareth after Egypt. Each chapter represents a different letter, to spell out the ultimate word of Christmas: “SAVIOUR.” So the chapters are: Shepherds and Sheep, Angels, a Virgin, Nativity and Name (J=I), Offerings, Urgency, and Return and Retirement. In the end, he sums it all up that God does all of this for you, for whom Love Does Such Things.
I love this book. Each time I read it, something else jumps out at me. I can’t tell you how many times little tidbits have made their way into my homilies during the Christmas season. It also has beautiful paintings recreated in it. I think it would be awesome if someone like TAN reprinted it to make it more available, because right now the only way to get it is to find it second hand (apparently there was a recent reprint, but it also is not available and it looks like it’s missing the original images). Again, if you can, get a copy and enjoy it for years.
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