Stations of the Nativity

Stations of the Nativity is an interesting attempt to create for Advent/Christmas season an equivalent to the Lenten Way of the Cross. The 14 stations use are: Zechariah, Annunciation, Visitation, Birth of John the Baptist, Joseph's Dream, Birth of Jesus, Shepherds and Angels, Shepherds at the Manger, Circumcision, Magi, Presentation, Flight to Egypt, Massacre of the Innocents and the Return to Nazareth.The book sets out a ritual beginning and ending with prayer and hymn. For each station there is a short responsory, a scriptural reading from the nativity accounts, a short meditation, a prayer, a second responsory and a poetic reflection. The black and white illustrations for this book are excellent - included are: a 1923 wood engraving by Eric Gill, a drawing from an Ethiopian Book of the Gospels, a piece by Lorenzo Lono (Italy 1480-1556) etc. There is a short collection of poems and readings relating to the Nativity.While there are a few "kinks" to work out to make it work well as ritual, this book is an excellent source to adapt for personal or communal Advent/Christmas prayer.