Katy Carl contemplates each of these titles, drawing on art, literature, and Sacred Scripture to show how they tell the story of Jesus Christ, the Babe of Bethlehem. These meditations will help anyone who wants to pray the O Antiphons with greater devotion and to make space in the final busy days of Advent for spiritual preparation to welcome the infant Christ at Christmas.
Finding the perfect Advent read is essential for preparing for Christmas. The book you choose for Advent is the book that will guide you in preparing for the coming of Jesus. That’s a big responsibility for one book!
Thankfully, we’ve created this handy guide for you to help you determine which book is for you! From this year’s highlight Journey to the Crib, Advent meditations on the Hail Mary, and reflections on the O Antiphons to activities for children, blessings for your Advent wreath and Nativity set, and Marian-themed books to draw you closer to Jesus’ Mother during her final month of pregnancy, we’ve collected together all the Catholic Advent reads and prayer books you could possibly want. There’s something for everyone this Advent!
1. A Journey to the Crib by Fr Philip Caldwell
Through daily reflections across the four weeks of Advent, A Journey to the Crib accompanies you from the first steps of the season’s waiting and expectation to the joy of arrival at the stable. Along the way, you’ll meet the familiar figures of Christmas – shepherds and animals, kings and angels, midwives and saints – each revealing a more lively and profound response of faith in you. This beautifully written devotional from Fr Philip Caldwell, author of Friends of Jesus, will teach you to travel towards the manger more slowly, purposefully, and prayerfully, guided by Scripture, art, and the familiar figures of the Nativity.
Key points:
- Daily meditations throughout Advent
- Features well-known and beloved characters from the Nativity scene
- Includes beautiful art and draws inspiration at times from beloved saints
- Can be read in a group setting or by yourself
- Offers reflections themed around the angels, including St Michale, St Gabriel and our Guardian Angels
- Other beloved characters include Simeon and Anna
2. Prepare the Way of the Lord by Carl E. Olson
Prayerfully discover the meaning of Christmas with this collection of meditations on the Scriptures and prayers of the Advent season. Reflecting upon the Sunday Gospels, Carl E Olson highlights their depth and helps us to apply the Scriptures to our own lives.
Olson continues this Advent meditation by offering a line-by-line contemplation on the Hail Mary, illuminating the significance of each word so as to deepen our experience of this integral prayer. By praying the Hail Mary mindfully, we discover how to walk through Advent with Mary, ready to welcome her Son at Christmas.
Key Points:
- Line-by-line contemplations on the Hail Mary
- Meditations on the Sunday Mass readings throughout Advent
- Can be done weekly or twice a week if the Scripture meditations and Hail Mary contemplations are done at separate times
- Can be done as part of a group
- Suitable for each year of the Church’s cycle – Years A, B, and C
- Bible references for each week’s Sunday Mass readings are included
- Features beautiful art
3. Praying the Great O Antiphons by Katy Carl
In the final days of Advent, the Church recites the Great O Antiphons when the Magnificat is prayed at Vespers each evening. These antiphons refer to Christ under seven great titles: Wisdom (Sapientia), Lord Most High (Adonai), Root of Jesse (Radix Jesse), Key of David (Clavis David), Dayspring (Oriens), King of Nations (Rex Gentium), and God With Us (Emmanuel).
Key Points:
- A guided, day-by-day journey through all seven O Antiphons from 17–23 December, with each date clearly structured in the contents
- Combines the Gospel Acclamation and Magnificat Antiphon for each day, helping readers pray with the Church’s liturgy even if they are unfamiliar with the Liturgy of the Hours
- This in-depth guide can be read in advance of the O Antiphons beginning, to better appreciate them when they arrive.
- Alternatively, enrich your daily prayer by reading the corresponding chapter each day while the O Antiphons are prayed with.
- Visually rich with sacred art that supports meditation on the texts
- Written for ordinary Catholics, while offering solid explanations of what antiphons are and how to pray with them
- Draws upon a variety of themes, including art, literature, and Sacred Scripture
- Provides simple suggestions for using the O Antiphons in personal or family prayer, especially helpful for busy Advent schedules
- Each reflection lasts 4-10 pages, highlighting the depth and beauty of the O Antiphons
- A contemplative, literary style that invites slow, reverent reflection on the Incarnation and salvation history
4. The Star of Bethlehem by Fr Douglas McGonagle
The traditional imagery of the Christmas story paints a vivid scene: a bright star suspended above the Bethlehem stable, like a pinpoint on a vast map, orchestrating the path of the wise men as they journey to honour the newborn Christ. This star has been a source of fascination to many, evoking questions about its true nature. Was it simply a bright light in the sky? A planet or comet? How did it effectively guide the Magi to a humble village in Judea?
Before he became a priest, Fr Douglas McGonagle was an astronomer who wondered about the astral phenomenon described in the Gospel account of the Magi.
Starting with his knowledge of stars and the Gospels, Fr McGonagle follows a trail of clues through the history and politics of first-century Judea, the principles of ancient astronomy, and even the coinage that circulated in the Roman Empire at the time.
What ensues is a compelling account of what the Magi might have seen in the night sky, how it led them to discern the birth of the King of the Jews, and what this means for Christians today.
Key Points:
- Written by an astronomer-turned-Catholic priest
- Carries a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur
- Grounded directly in the biblical text of Matthew 2:1–12 (The Visit of the Wise Men)
- Engages closely with Pope Benedict XVI’s scholarship on the Infancy Narratives
- Draws from themes including history, Scripture, astronomy, philosophy, and ancient culture
- Includes star charts, diagrams, and computer-generated sky simulations
- Assesses and critiques common natural explanations (comets, supernovae, conjunctions, etc.)
- Written in an accessible, humble, and conversational style
- Strong theological focus on the Gentiles recognising Christ and the cosmic significance of the Incarnation
- Compact yet substantial booklet length (144 pages) – part of our Deeper Reads collection
5. The Church Year for Children by Pia Biehl, with illustrations by Katrina Lange
Every child knows what is celebrated at Christmas. But what about Pentecost and All Saints’ Day? Who were Saint Martin and Saint Nicholas? Why do we dye Easter eggs? With this book, children can actively discover the church year. Starting with Advent, there are child-friendly facts, explanatory illustrations, and creative suggestions on how to organise these special times for each festival and each year.
Key Points:
- Fully illustrated throughout with bright, child-friendly artwork, helping children visualise the feasts and seasons
- Covers the entire Church year from Advent to Christ the King with simple explanations children can grasp
- Includes hands-on activities for families, such as making an Advent wreath, baking a St Nicholas figures, dyeing Easter eggs, and crafting decorations
- Offers clear introductions to major feasts, devotions, and liturgical customs – including vestment colours, Marian devotions in May, Holy Week, and Easter symbols
- Provides a visual Church-year calendar to show children how the seasons fit together
6. Marian Prayer Book (Gift Edition)
A beautifully bound treasury of traditional prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. This collection brings together the most beloved and familiar Marian prayers, alongside those drawn from approved apparitions, the rich tradition of the Eastern Church, and well-known Marian hymns.
Elegantly presented in imitation leather with gold-embossed lettering and illustration, and complete with a ribbon marker, this edition is both dignified and practical. A fitting gift and a faithful companion for anyone devoted to Our Lady.
Key Points:
- Durable leatherette binding with a ribbon marker creates a traditional, elegant look and makes it a beatiful gift
- A wide range of Marian prayers drawn from Scripture, the liturgy, and Catholic tradition
- Includes litanies, novenas, and classic devotions for personal or communal prayer
- Compact format ideal for carrying to church or keeping in a handbag or pocket
- Fully ecclesiastically approved with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur
7. Mysteries Made Visible
Fr Lawrence Lew’s photographs of sacred art inspire his contemplations of each Mystery of the Rosary. Beginning with a foreword by the Master of the Order, Fr Gerard Francisco Timoner III, O.P., the words and images in this book make the Mysteries we contemplate vivid and real, helping all of us – those who pray the Rosary faithfully and those who struggle with the devotion – to pray with deeper reverence and greater understanding.
Key Points:
- Beautiful full-colour sacred art throughout, with each mystery paired to a carefully chosen photograph from churches around the world
- Substantial reflections on all twenty mysteries of the Rosary from Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P., drawing deeply on Scripture, theology, and Dominican spirituality
- Practical guidance on how to pray the Rosary, including tips for focus and devotion
- Includes additional Marian prayers and information on the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary
- Elegantly designed, with spacious layouts that invite slow, meditative reading
- An attractive coffee table book that can be displayed as a reminder to pray
8. The Sunday Missal 2026
CTS Missals beautifully present the new texts of the Lectionary helpfully presented in calendar order from the First Sunday of Advent 2025 to Christ the King 2026. This lightweight, paperback Sunday Missal contains everything you need for Sunday Mass and Solemnities all year.
Key Points:
- Masses and readings for all Sundays & Solemnities (UK & Ireland)
- All major feasts and seasons
- Inspiring introductions to major feasts and seasons by recent Popes
- Music for the Mass
- Side-by-side Latin and English
- Acts of Spiritual Communion
- Prayers before and after Holy Communion
- Prayers before and after Mass
- Rite of Eucharistic Exposition & Benediction