Pope Francis visits the Porziuncola

Today (August 4), Pope Francis will visit Umbria, with the particular destination of the Porziuncola (or Portiuncula), a small chapel standing within a huge church, Santa Maria degli Angeli, which in turns stands at the base of the hill on which Assisi is built.

The Porziuncola plays a part, naturally, in Adventures in Assisi.  It provides a climax of sorts, in the story in which the two children have walked in the footsteps of St. Francis, both literally and spiritually, having learned some lessons about humility and poverty of spirit. 

Ann found it a challenge to do a painting in which the scale of the small chapel in the huge basilica was evident, but still include the children. But I think she did a great job!

Remember, if you would like to order this book from me - you can go here. Perhaps it would be a good gift for you local Catholic classroom??

Adventures in Assisi is the fruit of my interest in St. Francis as well as trips both Ann and I have taken to the town.  Ann has been twice, and I traveled there two years ago with my two youngest, on our epic 3-month stay in Europe.

  

There are, of course, many books on St. Francis for children, but ours is different in several ways:

(Click for full size)

1) It's set in the present. There are regular allusions to and illustrations from St. Francis' life, but the children at the center of the story are contemporary children, interacting with St. Francis, his life and his message, in the context of their own lives.

2) It's not about the wolf of Gubbio or the creche or St. Francis and creation - as great as those are, those stories are the subjects of most of the books about Francis out there, and really, do we need one more?

3) The children, we hope, are physically more representative of most children you see in picture books in general, and in picture books for Catholic in general, who tend to be pretty much all Caucasian.  This was quite important to me.  Given the makeup of the Catholic Church, even just in the US, it's ridiculous that the demographics of children's book illustrations don't reflect that.  The models for these children, incidentally, are Ann's family members.

A Pope's book for Children

Perhaps you still need a First Communion gift...or would simply like to help your child understand the Eucharist.  Friendship With Jesus might be a helpful resource.

Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI Speaks to Children on Their First Holy Communion

Friendship With Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI Talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion is based on a dialogue in St. Peter's Square that took place in 2006

Artist Ann Engelhart thought the dialogue would make a wonderful children's book and asked me to help edit it and get it published. It was first published in England by the Catholic Truth Society in 2010 and then picked up by Ignatius Press in 2011.

Here's an interview with Ann about the book on the Ignatius Press site.

Another interview with her at the Patheos site.

Buy Friendship With Jesus at Aquinas and More Catholic Goods

Buy it at Amazon

or at Barnes and Noble

Pope Francis blesses the Bambinelli

Today, in Rome:

 Pope Francis on Sunday blessed the figures of the Christ Child, which shall be placed in the mangers of Christmas crèches in and around Rome and throughout Italy this Christmas season.
The Pope gave the traditional blessing on the day of the “children’s Jubilee” – a Year of Mercy celebration devoted especially to children and young adolescents.
“Dear children,” said Pope Francis in greetings following the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, “listen carefully: when you pray before your Nativity Scene, remember to pray also for me, as I shall remember you.” The Holy Father concluded his greeting, saying, “I thank you heartily – and have a Merry Christmas!”

Another Bambinelli story here:

Here is a link to the new book by Amy Welborn, Bambinelli Sunday, published by Franciscan Media.

It's a Christmas book. From the publisher:

Alessandro is staying with his grandparents, who run a small shop that sells figures for the presepe (Nativity scene), while his parents look for work in another country. To help with the boy’s loneliness, his grandfather encourages Alessandro to make his own figure of the baby Jesus. They will bring that figure to Rome in two weeks to have it blessed by the Holy Father on Bambinelli Sunday. Through the events that occur in the time leading up to receiving the blessing in St. Peter's Square, Alessandro comes to see his world in a new way, and receives the best surprise of all in the end. 

  This book for children ages 7-10 tells a wonderful story about sharing, comfort, generosity, and forgiveness through the lens of a long-standing Italian tradition. The beautiful illustrations and timeless story make this a treasure Advent and Christmas resource for generations to come.

Buy the book on Amazon