Advent Catechesis Reading Plan 2010

I mentioned in my long Advent pondering post from last year that our main Advent catechesis will be using three key books by Inos Biffi and illustrated by Franco Vignazia: Introduction to the Liturgical Year, The Way to Bethlehem and The Life of Mary.

These books are golden, and worth repeating every year. They explain so clearly the Liturgical Year and the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas; they are the perfect catechesis for both children and adults. The text is wonderfully supported by the rich flowing illustrations

I’m crazy about the illustrations by Franco Vignazia. The images themselves are catechetical in nature — just like the old illuminated manuscripts and stained glass windows that even young children and illiterate faithful could learn and contemplate great mysteries of the faith. Vignazia’s is reminiscent of various methods, like religious icons and illuminated manuscripts. My sons have loved just to gaze at the beautiful illustrations for long periods at a time.

We will begin with Introduction to the Liturgical YearAn Introduction to the Liturgical Year by Inos Biffi, as this is the beginning of the new Liturgical Year. We will read the Part One: Advent and Christmas seasons during the first two weeks of Advent.

advent-reading-2010 is a Word document, so you can tweak to what works for you.

I decided to break the books down so that they would last through Advent. I know there will be days we’ll add and subtract. The sections are short, but meaty. I’d like to keep them smaller for the most part to leave time to soak in the richness. We’ll begin on the First Sunday of Advent, November 28. I’ve broken down our reading into small chunks, skipping Saturdays, but including Sundays. Looking ahead to the Christmas season, I know we won’t be doing much formal studying, so I’m going to include reading about the Christmas season in Advent.

For a few years now we have hung a round liturgical calendar in our kitchen, discussed, and tried living the liturgical year in various ways. Every liturgical year cycle we are called to go in deeper into the Paschal Mystery, to understand more so that we can love and serve God even more. An Introduction to the Liturgical Year is the next step in understanding the symbolism and meaning of the various liturgical seasons and feasts.

On the Third Sunday of Advent we will begin The Way to Bethlehem by Inos Biffi which covers similar items as the first book, but a little more detailed at the Nativity story. On December 8, we take a break to view The Life of Mary.

I’ve added a few readings from Ethel Marbach Pochocki’s Saints of the Season for Children (or Saints in Waiting, both out of print) and her Around the Year Once Upon a Time Saints. We will use these as extra reading on the saints’ days in Advent, and reading for the key Advent figures (Isaiah, John the Baptist, and St. Joseph).

If there’s interest for fun reading, we’ll read along daily Destination Bethlehem by Sharon Altman and Christine Winkelman.