The Road to Bethlehem: Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas

by Alfonso María de Liguori

This Advent Season, let the great and prolific Doctor of the Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori, guide you on a daily prayerful pilgrimage from the start of Advent through the birth of our Lord to the Epiphany. Drawing on Sacred Scripture and his profound saintly counsel, St. Alphonsus takes you into the details of Christ’s birth for prayerful reflection that will have your imagination placing you at the feet of our infant Lord. With meditations on the poverty of our Lord becoming man to Jesus weeping as a baby and lying on straw, St. Alphonsus will bring a humble intensity to your Advent prayer life. The contents of these meditations are marked by both joy for the birth of our Lord and sorrow for what we know He will suffer for our salvation.

Few saints have written with such passion, depth, and simplicity on the incarnation and nativity of Christ as Saint Alphonsus Liguori. TAN Books is pleased to present this little work for the first time to join several other TAN works by St. Alphonsus, such as The Glories of Mary, Preparation for Death, and Visits to the Blessed Sacrament. This book, The Road to Daily Meditations for Advent and Christmas, is taken from the original book entitled The Incarnation, Birth, and Infancy or the Mysteries of the Faith.

Genres: Nonfiction, Catholic

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2023

About the author

Saint Alfonso María de Liguori, CSsR (1696–1787), was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian.

He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). In 1762 he was appointed Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti. A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his "Moral Theology" in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional and ascetic works and letters. Among his best known works are "The Glories of Mary" and "The Way of the Cross", the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions.

He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871. One of the most widely read Catholic authors, he is the patron saint of confessors.

Reviews

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

(not actually finished, just hate to carry books over to the next year on here). Merry Christmas!

[Nicole Fernyc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read, in language that is simple and understandable yet also incredibly moving. St Alphonsus Liguori and this synthesis of his writing do an excellent job guiding readers during Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany to reflect on our own nature as created mortals and the nature of Jesus’ birth. Reading these reflections will surely help readers humble themselves before the Child Jesus and draw them deeper into the many mysteries surrounding the Christmas season.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful meditation through Advent and Christmas. I hadn't read St. Alphonsus before, and was taken by the depth of his writing. It borders on prose, the way it places you in the scene, as if witnesses the birth and childhood of Jesus firsthand.

Each day has a short meditation followed by a prayer, with a common theme. Throughout Advent is the preparation for Jesus's arrival, and Christmas brings vivid descriptions of how Mary and Joseph could have raised Him and how He grew into the Savior we know personally. This inspires me to read more of St. Alphonsus and the works that inspired this meditation. Merry Christmas!

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great addition to my Advent preparation. I love that it had meditations through Epiphany. St. Alphonsus Liguori took so many small details and really brought them to life for me and helped me to dive deeper into the Christmas scene at Bethlehem; I saw and experienced it all in a deeper light. I'm looking forward to "The Road to Calvary" for Lent!

[Audie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Advent/Christmas devotional! Short enough to keep up on through both seasons, but deep enough to REALLY make you think.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and very reflective. Enjoyed having advent and Christmas reflections all in one book.

[Dan Kinsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful collection of daily meditations for Catholics/Christians. Liturgical seasons bring about a new way of mediating on our Lord - and St. Alphonsus Liguori does well in reminding us just how unique Jesus’ sacrifice for us was in his arrival and nativity. Highly recommend for those who need a reminder to slow down during the hectic secular time of Christmas and spend time in prayer and gratitude.