Contents Preface Part One: Prepare December One -- A Teaching: Four Questions for the Final Advent Part Two: Zechariah December Two -- A Consolation: You Are Not Little in the Universe December Three -- O Zechariah: How Did It Feel Meeting Glory Face to Face? December Four -- A Teaching: How God Enlarges Little Prayers December Five -- An Exhortation: Trust God, and His Signs Will Delight You December Six -- Ah, Zechariah, You Who Doubted: What a Model of Obedience You've Become Part Three: Mary December Seven -- An Exhortation: Daily to Join the Sisterhood of Mary December Eight -- A Call: To Self-Examination, and to Fear! December Nine -- A Teaching: What Sort of King Will the Son of David Be? December Ten -- A Teaching: What Sort of Child Is Born of Holiness and Humanity? December Eleven -- O Mary: How Blessed Is Your Yes! Part Four: Elizabeth December Twelve -- The Story: Two Mothers Meet December Thirteen -- Elizabeth's Blessing: Makes Mary a Model for the Faithful December Fourteen -- An Effusion: What Singing at the Advent of Our King! December Fifteen -- Mary's Song: Echoing the Songs of Prophets and Angels December Sixteen -- A Teaching: How Mercy Comes, What Mercy Is Part Five: John December Seventeen -- A Teaching: What John Becomes for Every Advent December Eighteen -- An Exhortation: Serve as Zechariah Defines Service Part Six: Joseph December Nineteen -- Learn of Joseph: The Character of Righteousness December Twenty -- Learn of God: Four Gifts of Christmas December Twenty-One -- An Exaltation: The Fourth Gift, Goodness! Part Seven: Jesus December Twenty-Two -- The Story: Going Up to Bethlehem December Twenty-Three -- O Mary, Virgin Mother: May I Walk with You a While? Christmas Eve -- The Story: The Holy, Human Birth Christmas Day -- Christmas Day: Our Door to the Nativity The First Day of Christmas -- An Exaltation: Jesus, Here We Come! The Second Day of Christmas -- Learn of the Shepherds: Five Stages of Faith The Third Day of Christmas -- O My Lord, I Love the Names by Which We Know You Part Eight: Simeon and Anna The Fourth Day of Christmas -- The Story: Ascending to the Temple The Fifth Day of Christmas -- The Story: The Prophets Prove Him the Messiah The Sixth Day of Christmas -- Lord, I Am at Peace: This Christmas Too, Mine Eyes Have Seen You The Seventh Day of Christmas -- The Story: The Sorrow of Mary, His Mother Part Nine: The Two Kings The Eighth Day of Christmas --- The First of the Calendar Year -- The Story: Herod the Great and Greatness The Ninth Day of Christmas -- An Exhortation to Christians: Do Not Blame the World (The Magi), But Follow! The Tenth Day of Christmas -- O Little King: Receive the Best I Have to Offer You The Eleventh Day of Christmas -- A Teaching: As We Return to a Warring World The Twelfth Day of Christmas --- The Epiphany A Benediction: Christ Is in Us Now