Sister Wendy fans nevertheless may want to pass up this book in favor of two heftier volumes--Sister Wendy's American Collection and an expanded edition of The Story of Painting--which give the most famous member of the Notre Dame order of nuns considerably more artistic substance to muse upon. --Cathy Curtis

Sister Wendy begins the story by looking at the events that proceeded the birth of Christ--the Creation, the Garden of Eden, the Annunciation, the Visitation leading us to the Nativity story itself--the birth in the stable, the shepherds, the magi. The story continues with much-loved episodes from Christ's time on earth--the Feeding of the five thousand, Peter walking on the water. The last Supper. Finally, she reflects upon the meaning of the crucifixion, resurrection and Christ's eventual ascension into heaven to embrace eternal life.

The charming, provocative and often humorous illustrations in this book are the testament of artists who dedicated their lives to producing paintings in praise of God. Sister Wendy blends her artistic knowledge with her spiritual insight in order to help us understand the meaning contained for all of us in their exquisite pictures.