Bringing the story of Christmas to Life with Sonnets How did Joseph find the courage to believe his dream, the dream that assured him that he should accept Mary? How did Simeon feel realizing the full truth of Jesus' life and Mary's eventual sorrow? Was Mary stunned when she first heard God's call? This book, through lyrical sonnets and glorious art, brings to life the experiences of the actors in the Nativity, in beautiful and accessible ways, giving meaning and focus to events we do not often ponder. You will read these again and again, finding new meaning every time, finding comfort and joy. This book is filled devotions and meditations on the events of Advent and Christmas, with lovely text, and gorgeous, evocative, brilliant pictures. The sonnets are presented in a rare and challenging poetic form know as a Heroic Crown of Sonnets. Here is a video of the author reading the sonnets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1-sU_DOME (A Heroic Crown of Sonnets is a series of fifteen sonnets interlocked: the last line of each sonnet is the first line of the sonnet that immediately follows it. The fifteenth sonnet is the first line of each of the preceding fourteen sonnets.) These Sonnets employ a Shakespearean rhyme scheme. "You will read this lovely sonnets over and over." This is a lovely, joyous reflection for those who have ever been pregnant, those who have ever loved the Christmas season, those who have welcomed life after infertility, those who want to contemplate the deep beauty of the love of God, the love of Mary, the love of Mary and Joseph for each other, and the loving welcome which greeted Jesus at His birth. McDonough ties current progressive Catholic themes into the fabric of the sonnets, subtly linking the plight of migrants to the plight of Mary & Joseph. And he also calls upon us to joyously welcome life when it happens, thus supporting a broad circle of traditional Catholic teachings. In addition, much like in his other heroic crowns, McDonough remembers and gently alludes to the others we sometimes forget, calling us out to find compassion for "those we have left cold outside our door, spinning in the spectrum of our scorn" in honor of past students who have faced autism, physical challenges, ostracism, and mental illness. This book will bring comfort and joy to those who live with challenges to faith, older pregnancy, teen pregnancy, and loneliness. The sonnets and art evoke a loving, giving God, who graces us with joy and empathy. This Christmas Book remembers the Virgin Mary, Joseph, the nativity, the three kings (Magi) , the shepherds, Simeon, Bethlehem, John the Baptist, Elizabeth, and Zechariah. About the Creators John McDonough teaches theology teacher at De La Salle high school, in Concord, CA. This is his fourth heroic crown. Gregory Walsh is an artist, filmmaker, and story-maker in the greater Seattle area. His one-of-a-kind style is renowned. A native of the Pacific Northwest, John McDonough holds an M.A. in Theology and a Masters of Divinity from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He teaches Religious Studies at De La Salle High School in Northern California (home of the famous Bob Ladouceur-led De La Salle Spartans!) Coming Soon John has recently completed a collection of 211 sonnets -- fourteen heroic crowns -- featuring figures from both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures.Thank you for reading this. If you'd like to obtain multiple copies at a discount for a class, or if you'd like to arrange a reading by author McDonough, please contact him via his Amazon author page or his De La Salle email.