This gem of a book is best described in the words of Peter Kwasniewski, who has written the Foreword for our newly reprinted edition:
“Quite simply, it’s the loveliest, most charming, and in many ways most clever introduction to the liturgical calendar I’ve ever come across. It is informed by a deep Catholic love for the seasons of the year, the feasting and fasting, the great holy days, the pageantry of the saints and their stories, the underlying rhythm that connects nature, culture, and sanctity.”
And that is precisely what Enid Chadwick manages to capture: not simply the feasts of the Church's year, but its rhythm and pattern. With remarkably little text, her captivating artwork leads children from Advent through Corpus Christi, while the saints fill the months in between. The result is a parade of Catholic life in which the mysteries of Our Lord, the seasons of the Church, and the lives of the saints all belong together.
Chadwick herself was a High Church Anglican, but the calendar she depicts corresponds remarkably closely to the traditional Catholic calendar. In his foreword, Kwasniewski explains the few differences for Catholic readers, while also drawing attention to the rich liturgical heritage the two traditions share.
Chadwick's illustrations are simple and immediately appealing to young children, yet packed with delightful details and surprisingly rich teaching for those who look more closely—making My Book of the Church's Year a book to pore over again and again.
See photos comparing our newly reprinted edition with the original book here on our blog!
6" x 9.5" Hardcover 52 pages
Customer Reviews
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My Book of the Church's Year
Thank you for reprinting this book!
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Great!
Beautiful little book-so glad to have this!
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Phenomenal
My husband said, “Wow” when he flipped through it. We love it so much we will wait to let our 15 month old handle it as we don’t want him to rip the pages. Us adults love flipping through it. The illustrations are really phenomenal.
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Wonderful book
Wonderful book
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Gorgeous and Charming Volume
I really, really love this book. I use it to walk through the church year week to week with my daughters (ages 5 and 9), and they are always fascinated with the simple yet compelling illustrations. I enjoy regularly looking through it myself. I was so excited when Saint Augustine Academy Press at long last reissued this book. And it is a beautiful production too. Couldn’t be happier with it! Pro Tip: Make a cup a tea, put on “Christ is My Hope” by Innocence Mission, and leaf leisurely through this little book in a comfy chair by an open window. Simply wonderful.
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Glad they brought it back.
Nice little book for kids about the story of God's love told through the calendar. Chadwick is high church anglican, but anyone can learn from this book, even adults. Can you find the cat?
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The book was perfect. I
The book was perfect. I didn’t think I’d find it because all of my searches said it was out of print.
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Great book
Fast shipping, too.
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Wonderful Addition to Our Library
The book is sturdy, well-made, and just as advertised with clear pictures and printing, which is not always a given with a reprint of a long-unavailable book. Although originally written for an Anglo-Catholic audience, it's perfectly suitable for a Catholic family, even if you don't use the old calendar.
