I began reading Candles in the Darkness AFTER the Christmas season had passed, but I went ahead with it knowing that anything new I learn from this does not apply only to Advent but to the entire church year.

This daily devotional begins on the first day of the first week of Advent and crosses into what is called Christmastide (or the Twelve Days of Christmas, starting with Christmas Day until January 5).

Each day is divided into four short sections:

Bible Reading - any part of Scripture relevant to today’s topic

Historical Quotation - These are writings from past believers covering as early as the first century into the 1200s. They come from all walks of life: clergy, mothers, noblewomen, and even those whose names are unknown.

Reflection - A modern take on the insights of the historical figure of the day

Prayer - This could be taken from historical liturgy or a prayer in response to today’s reading, insights, and reflection.

Unlike usual daily devotionals, what intrigued me most about Candles of the Darkness was the insights from believers of the past. I am used to reading about the thoughts of modern-day saints and holy men and women. It was a breath of fresh air to be reading what people who lived much closer to the time of Christ on earth thought about Advent and Christmas during the early days of the Church. In one reflection by Ambrose from the fourth century, I learned that even the swaddling clothes, the manger, and the full inn could be seen in light of the salvific work and connection between heaven and earth that Christ brought with Him when He, who is of divine nature, was born through a woman of human nature.

I must confess, though, that I often had to slow down my reading for the second section as the language of these medieval believers was not readily comprehensible, and I found myself sometimes reading the paragraph twice.

While it is ideal for the reader to begin reading this devotional right before Advent, anyone who wants to deepen their faith can actually read this year-round. My appreciation of the meaning of Advent (waiting) and the coming of the infant Jesus and its role in mankind’s salvation has deepened with the help of those who came before us many centuries ago.

My thanks and appreciation go to the authors and publisher of Candles in the Darkness, as well as to Netgalley, from where I received this copy for review.