Seeing Haloes: Christmas Poems to Open the Heart

by John Shea

Overview

Christmas is unavoidable. But if it is going to happen for us, we need to take time. We need to slow down and do something out of the ordinary, something that has to do with the spiritual meaning of the feast and the season. Reading the Christmas poems of Seeing Haloes is one way of doing this. John Shea hopes that each poem strikes a chord and brings us into memories we may have forgotten and present experiences we may have overlooked. When this happens, the Spirit arrives to illumine our minds, inspire our wills, and gladden our hearts. Christmas happens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814645840
Publisher:	Liturgical Press
Publication date:	07/27/2017
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	96
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

John (Jack) Shea is a consultant with decades of experience in providing theological and formation services to parishes and faith-based organizations. He has published over twenty books of theology and spirituality (including Liturgical Press’s popular Spiritual Wisdom of the Gospels series), three novels, and three books of poetry. He lectures nationally and internationally on storytelling in world religions, faith-based health care, contemporary spirituality, and the spirit work movement. Visit jackshea.org to learn more.

Mark McMahon has been documenting people and their environments nationally and internationally for more than forty years. His on-location works are included in museums, exhibitions, private and corporate collections. He is a second-generation Chicago artist.

Table of Contents

Contents
 
Introduction
Christmas Poems to Open the Heart ix
Poems
Seeing Haloes
How the Word Made Flesh Seeks the Salvation of All
Christmas Coffee
Christmas Time
Spirits at Christmas
Green River Christmas
My Father’s Shoulder
A Christmas Touch
Open Invitation
Christmas Tooth
Christmas Shopping
Christmas Remembered
Sharon’s Christmas Prayer
Crèche Characters Ask Questions
The Angel
The Shepherds
The Sheep
The Wise Men
Joseph
Mary
The Child in the Manger
The Light Shines in the Darkness
Christmas Carolers
The Song of Zachary
The Song of Simeon
The Song of Mary
Beloved Child
 

Editorial Reviews

"Shea's gift within these pages allows each of the many characters in the birth narratives in the gospels of Matthew and Luke to fascinate our imaginations and sooth our faith. Find your most comfortable chair, allow the music of the season to play in the background, pour yourself some warm apple cider, and allow Shea's work to speak to your mind and heart, revealing the joyful message of Emmanuel, God-with-us."
Fr. John Cusick, Archdiocese of Chicago


"These wonder-filled poems dance in my soul, a reminder that the Christmas story always has more to tell us."
Sr. Joyce Rupp, OSM, author of Prayer Seeds


"These poems speak through their characters. A poem on Anna and Simeon encourages readers to ‘sip the epiphany of the eggnog' and ends with eucharistic imagery, skillfully interviewing the earthly with the sublime."
Christian Century


"A nice little book of poems for Advent and Christmas that takes some unusual twists. One can truly feel and see with his specifics. They raise Shea's poetry into a higher sphere that leaves an image stamped in your brain."
Catholic Press Association award, first place

From the Publisher