A Christmas Tale: Infant Jesus and the Tabby Cat
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The most common object featured in Catholic-Christian iconography and sacred art is the book. Countless paintings have shown Mary or Jesus the Teacher holding or reading a book. Actually, Jesus read from scrolls (the forerunner to books) written on parchment over countless hours by the ancient scribes. Later medieval monks toiled day and night handwriting manuscripts/books mostly scripture but the ancient classics as well. Unlike the internet which has no hierarchy of value, only the most important quality books were passed down by due to cost.
The art and craft of bookmaking has been honed to the point where these medieval manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells are considered a cultural treasure. The ornate, oversized and highly decorated book of the Gospels is processed in the Mass at the beginning of Mass and featured prominently at the Alleluia (Gospel Acclamation) where it is held up to be venerated by the Body of Christ assembled. After the Gospel reading it is placed in or close to the sanctuary, visible to all. A book can be blessed and become a sacramental, not just for its message but for its matter, its weight and its beauty. "When we pray we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us." - St. Jerome
We can see, touch, taste, smell and handle matter in the sacraments. Water, oil, bread and wine, candles, incense, and holy vessels and vestments. It’s part of the Catholic thing to want to experience the sacred with our senses. This is how we love our books. When we read scripture, we are reading about God eventually becoming matter so that matter can eventually become holy. How sad and regressive to read the prologue of John, ‘The Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ on a digital platform which, when done reading, vanishes at the click of a button.
Books bring together a community in schools, study groups, book clubs and libraries. We live in one shared story among individual stories. Each story is rooted in the ultimate story which is told in the bible, the story of God and his people. The Church is the guardian and teacher of the story that she herself, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit put down in writing. The Church preceded the book (bible) but the book perpetuates the story within the Church. We gather every Sunday to hear the story of our Catholic family read aloud from a book. Books can be lent or given away to others as a means to evangelize.
Most scholars annotate as they read. When they study they write notes in the margins of their books. It is an educational interaction where the book becomes a dialogue between the reader and the author of text. There are some apps and digital platforms that allow for note taking but it’s really not the same. Books have always provided a sense of escape. Not negative escapism but a real recharge of the spirit. Usually leisure involves being unplugged and low-tech. Real hard copy books are perfect for this. "I do not believe I was ever happy if I had not a new book…What still gave me most pleasure was the reading of good books, which was my only recreation." -Saint Theresa of Avila.
Saint Padre Pio recommended spiritual reading too. "Help yourself during this troubled period by reading holy books. This reading provides excellent food for the soul and conduces to great progress along the path of perfection. By no means is it inferior to what we obtain through prayer and holy meditation." - St. Padre Pio
I am a life-long Catholic, husband, dad, teacher and former football coach. I've been teaching the Catholic Faith to young men, religious educators and catechists since 1998. My academic background, MA is in Theology and Catechetics. Email: gary@apexcatechetics.com
