Three Magi

The Three Magi, Byzantine mosaic c. 565,
Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy;(restored during the 18th century).
As we see here Byzantine art usually depicts the Magi in Persian clothing
which includes breeches, capes, and Phrygian caps.

Christmas — The Bells!

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Best of 2025 — Books

  My top picks from the over 130 books I read last year.

You may find old books here but if they're on this list, then they were new to me! In no particular order.

Note: I've been doing this since 2008 — check the label cloud in the sidebar for "Best of" to see other lists.

2025 BEST BOOKS

All Flesh is Grass

by Clifford Simak

I didn't actually review this as it turns out so here's the synopsis of a book with a really unique take on aliens. "Nothing much ever happens in Millville, a small, secluded Middle-American community—until the day every resident is confined within the town’s boundaries by an invisible force field that cannot be breached."

Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man

by Jesse Q. Sutanto

The second in a cozy mystery series about a meddling Chinese grandmother. The first (Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers) was entertaining. This one took it to a more complex level and with Vera herself growing deeper as a character, showing tenderness and love when needed. And still cooking up a storm for everyone.

The Cartiers

by Francesca Cartier Brickell

Unexpectedly layered, this is a tale of marketing, design, loyal to customers, family dynamics, and world history. I gave this to a lot of people for Christmas.

(My review here.)

Complete Encyclicals of John Paul II

by Saint Pope John Paul II

I unexpectedly fell into this reading project which took me 9 months off and on. Totally worth it and I discovered that if we love JPII it's because we love Vatican II (whether we know it or not). My review looks at all the encyclicals briefly.

(My review here.)

The Lord's Prayer

by Romano Guardini

A short books of meditations where Guardini looks carefully for the riches of Christ in things we think we already understand. Like the Our Father. Superb.

(My review here.)

The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening
The Retired Assassin's Guide to Orchid Hunting

by Naomi Kuttner

If Don from The Rosie Project were a retired assassin and trying to solve a murder along with Elizabeth from The Thursday Murder Club, it might look like these two books.

Children of the Book

by Ilana Kurshan

Kurshan takes us through the Torah in a year, echoed by the children's books she is reading to her family. It links our journey of faith with our own journey as readers.

(My full review.)

Undaunted Joy

by Shemaiah Gonzalez

"Joy is transcendent. It is from God. It is Him, peeking from behind the curtain or veil to reach out to us."  This book led to me looking for — and finding — a spark of joy everyday, no matter how the day was going otherwise. My second favorite book of the year.

(My full review.)

Pollyanna

by Eleanor H. Parker

I read this because the author of Undaunted Joy recommended it so strongly. And she was right. It's a good book. A simpler version in many ways of books like A Little Princess and Anne of Green Gables, both of which I enjoy.

The Motor Maid

by A.M. and C.M. Williamson

More of a travelogue than mystery but light and fun. As Lys tries to escape a pre-arranged marriage, she's forced to become a lady's maid to the wife of a nouveau riche couple touring France. The benefit is that the motor-car is a new and trendy item and the chauffeur is a handsome and fun fellow. We can see where it's going but who cares? Light and fun.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

by Dr. Paul Brand, Philip Yancey

My favorite book of the year. Three in one — an inspiring science book, wide-ranging meditations on the body of Christ, and human stories that illuminate both. Ultimately a powerful experience of illuminating God's love and our role as part of his body. 

(My full review.)

24 Hours in Ancient Rome

by Philip Matyszak

Each hour of the day we see a different person who made up the bustling metropolis of Rome — from emperor to slave girl, gladiator to astrologer to clock maker. This was entertaining, enlightening and told with tongue-in-cheek jokes. 

(My full review.)

Never Split the Difference

by Chris Voss

A former FBI hostage negotiator gives guidelines to negotiating in all circumstances of your life — illustrated with real life hostage negotiation scenarios. I'd never normally read this sort of book but since a friend gave it to me, I read it. And it was really worth it.

(My full review.)

Adoration of the Magi

Gentile da Fabriano, Adoration of the Magi, 1423 (Uffizi Gallery, Florence)

Click on the link to go to the original and then click again on the photo to enlarge it. You can see a fascinating amount of detail. And in this painting, detail matters!

I was made aware of this magnificent piece by my friend Patsy. It is just the sort of thing I love, with tons of details and other small related paintings to enrich the story and our inspiration. She points out a deep meaning in the portrayal of the kings.

My favorite detail is the "magi" themselves.

The old one is first, on his knees, his gift already in the hands of the maids, and his crown forgotten on the ground, out of the way. Most precious of all--the old king is kissing the foot of Baby Jesus, while Jesus' tiny hand is on his bare head.

The second king, a mature man, is beginning to kneel to present his gift, and is ready to take off his crown. His eyes are on the Baby Jesus.

Now the third king, a young man, maybe not yet so wise, is still standing fully upright, his elaborate crown firmly on his head. One of this man's feet is, of all places, on the hem of the old king's robe. A valet is removing, after the long journey, his golden riding spurs. The young king's gift for the King of Kings, is proffered delicately, almost impersonally. He is still very young and independent.

Easy to see the artist is depicting stages in a spiritual life, growth in seeing, understanding, familiarity with our loving Lord (playful, as one writer sees him) who lets us feel his touch as we humbly reverence his tiny feet. We take off our shoes in his holy presence, lay our triumphs at his feet, and return to him our most precious treasures to use as he wishes.

Flooded with details, the painting boasts of a rich narrative as well. Notice the attendants behind Mary as they curiously examine the first gift. Or in the right foreground, observe the royal dog that looks precariously up at the horse who is about to carelessly step onto him. Indeed intriguing are the gold anklet spurs of the third king being taken off by a squire as the Magus prepares to approach the Christ Child.

Aletia

Be sure to go to the Aletia article for lots more good insight into this work.

I also found an article from Khan Academy looking at this work, and the many details, from a different angle. It too is well worth reading.

In the middle predella panel, the new family flees to Egypt against a landscape bathed in the blazing midday sun – a raised golden orb amid a blue sky showering the nearest hillsides in gold. ...

Gentile used real gold to achieve many of these subtle lighting effects, demonstrating his ability to combine intricate manipulation of precious materials with an interest in naturalism. Perfecting a technique that would be copied by many other artists, he layered gold leaf underneath layers of paint to lend brightly lit surfaces an added glow—an effect that would be more readily apparent in candlelight. This means precious metals are woven underneath the surface, on the surface, and protruding from the surface, like a tapestry made of paint and gold.

Christmas Spirit

Because, yes, it is STILL Christmas! We're in this mighty celebration until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord which isn't until January 11.

For the spirit of Christmas fulfils the greatest hunger of mankind.

Loring A. Schuler

Solemnity of Epiphany

Giotto, Adoration of the Magi
via Wikipedia

We are perhaps in danger of not realizing fully how close Our Lord is to our lives because God presents himself to us under the insignificant appearance of a piece of bread, because he does not reveal himself in his glory, because he does not impose himself irresistibly, because he slips into our life like a shadow, instead of making his power resound at the summit of all things ... How many souls are troubled because God does not show himself in the way they expected! (J. Leclerq, A Year with the Liturgy)

In Conversation with God: Advent and Christmastide

The Solemnity of the Epiphany is celebrated either on January 6 or, according to the decision of the episcopal conference, on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8. Epiphany celebrates the visit of the three kings or wise men to the Christ Child, signifying salvation for the Gentiles. Read more at Catholic Culture.

Christmas - Mirth is also of Heaven's Making

Fail not to call to mind, in the course of the twenty-fifth of this month, that the Divinest Heart that ever walked the earth was born on that day; and then smile and enjoy yourselves for the rest of it; for mirth is also of Heaven's making.

Leigh Hunt

Pralinen

Pralinen
by Edward B. Gordon

Here's a look at delicious indulgence as we continue the Christmas season.

The Adoration of the Magi

The Adoration of the Magi by Edward Burne-Jones

Christmas Isn't Over Yet!

Christmas, my child, is love in action.

Dale Evans

New Year's Day Postcard

New Year's Day postcard circa 1900

Twain on New Year's Day

Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever.

Mark Twain

Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God

Image from Chant Art

All the feasts of Our Lady are great events, because they are opportunities the church gives us to show with deeds that we love Mary. But if I had to choose one from among all her feasts, I would choose today's, the feast of the Divine Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin ...

When the Blessed Virgin said Yes, freely, to the plans revealed to her by the Creator, the divine Word assumed a human nature, with a rational soul and a body, formed in the most pure womb of Mary. The divine nature and the human were united in a single Person: Jesus Christ, true God and, thenceforth, true man: the only-begotten and Eternal Son of the Father and, from that moment on, as Man, the true son of Mary. This is why Our Lady is the Mother of the Incarnate Word, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, who has united our human nature to himself forever, without any confusion of the two natures. The greatest praise we can give to the Blessed Virgin is to address her loud and clear by the name that expresses her highest dignity: Mother of God.

St. Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God

The Christian prism and our books

I'm a theological novice, but I simply assume that the Christian prism tends to inform Christians, whatever they are reading.

William F. Buckley, 1977 interview

Books and Culture

Amen, amen. It's why I recently found support for my faith in a couple of parts of a space opera I was reading. I don't think that Sharon Lee and Steve Miller put those bits into Carpe Diem and Plan B in order to inspire but it worked out that way anyhow. Because the prism focused on those bits.

Fiesta in Figueres

Salvador Dali, 1916, Fiesta in Figueres
via WikiPaintings

Doesn't this capture a feeling of movement and the excitement of fireworks? I love this! It seems just perfect for New Year's Eve.

1907 Christmas Card

A 1907 Christmas card with Santa and some of his reindeer

Christmas with Charles Dickens

The best sitting room at Manor Farm was a good, long, dark-paneled room with a high chimney-piece, and a capacious chimney, up which you could have driven one of the new patent cabs, wheels and all. At the upper end of the room, seated in a shady bower of holly and evergreens, were the two best fiddlers, and the only harp, in all Muggleton. In all sorts of recesses, and on all kinds of brackets, stood massive old silver candlesticks with four branches each. The carpet was up, the candles burnt bright, the fire blazed and crackled on the hearth, and merry voices and light-hearted laughter range through the room.

Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers

Fifth Day of Christmas: Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket

The Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr. He was born in London and after studying in Paris, he first became chancellor to the king and then in 1162 was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury. He went from being "a patron of play-actors and a follower of hounds" to being a "shepherd of souls." He absorbed himself in the duties of his new office, defending the rights of the Church against Henry II. This prompted the king to exile him to France for six years. After returning to his homeland he endured many trials and was murdered by agents of the king.

Source: Catholic Culture

See also this entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia.

Noel by J. R. R. Tolkien

Grim was the world and grey last night:
The moon and stars were fled,
The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.
The wind in the trees was like to the sea,
And over the mountains’ teeth
It whistled bitter-cold and free,
As a sword leapt from its sheath.

The lord of snows upreared his head;
His mantle long and pale
Upon the bitter blast was spread
And hung o’er hill and dale.
The world was blind, the boughs were bent,
All ways and paths were wild:
Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,
And here was born a Child.

The ancient dome of heaven sheer
Was pricked with distant light;
A star came shining white and clear
Alone above the night.
In the dale of dark in that hour of birth
One voice on a sudden sang:
Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth
Together at midnight rang.

Mary sang in this world below:
They heard her song arise
O’er mist and over mountain snow
To the walls of Paradise,
And the tongue of many bells was stirred
in Heaven’s towers to ring
When the voice of mortal maid was heard,
That was mother of Heaven’s King.

Glad is the world and fair this night
With stars about its head,
And the hall is filled with laughter and light,
And fires are burning red.
The bells of Paradise now ring
With bells of Christendom,
And Gloria, Gloria we will sing
That God on earth is come.

The Nativity, 1858, Arthur Hughes

 This poem was published in the 1936 Annual of Our Lady’s School, Abingdon, Tolkien’s “Noel” was unknown and unrecorded until scholars Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull discovered it while searching for another poem in June 2013.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Holy Family, Albrecht Durer

Between Joseph and Mary there existed a holy affection, a spirit of service, and a mutual desire for each others' happiness. This is Jesus' family: sacred, holy, exemplary, a model of human virtues, ready to carry out God's will exactly. A Christian home must be an imitation of the house of Nazareth; a place where there is plenty of room for God so that He can be right at the centre of the love that members of the family have for one another.

In Conversation with God: Advent and Christmastide

This feast day falls on the first Sunday after Christmas. When a Sunday does not occur between December 25 and January 1, this feast is celebrated on December 30. (The Church — they understand schedule conflicts!)

I have a special fondness for this feast, engendered largely because of my fervent prayers to the Holy Family in a very trying time, after which Tom and I were given a miraculous sign. Life in the Holy Family is one of my favorite subjects of contemplation, whether when formally in prayer or in little flashes as our family goes through the weeks and years with good and bad times alike.