Eric and Suzan Sammons. The Jesse Tree: An Advent Devotion. Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute Press, 2022. Paperback. $17.95. 160 pages. Available from the publisher.
Eric and Suzan Sammons’ fascinating book, The Jesse Tree: An Advent Devotion renews Faith and teaches families about the reasons for our beliefs. The Sammons shared, “As the days of Advent pass, the Jesse Tree helps us follow the course of salvation history from the creation of the first man and woman, to the great flood, to the patriarchs of the Jewish faith, to the prophets, to the immediate forerunners of Christ. As we trace God’s plan for the salvation of the world, we see revealed in deeper and deeper ways the mystery of His great love for man.”
In these precious pages, readers will find:
- An introduction and explanation of the Jesse Tree devotion.
- A chart to show exactly what day to pray each reflection, based on the current year.
- Beautiful images of each day’s ornament.
- Scripture references for each day.
- A daily reflection.
- Prayers from the saints, the liturgy, and the O Antiphons.
- References to the Catechism of the Catholic Church for further study and reflection.
Reviewers noted that:
This book is “A wonderful resource that fits easily into the busy Advent season. Although I am familiar with the Jesse Tree, I have never used one for prayer. I love that this Jesse Tree book is grounded in Scripture, the Liturgy, traditions, and teachings of the Catholic Church. After reading this book, I am excited to add it to my family’s Advent devotions!”
“This is exactly what we were looking for! This is the best book we have found for Advent!”
“I am pleased to have this book on Jesse Tree devotions as part of my Catholic library. The book is well written and beautifully printed. This book would make a fine addition to any Catholic’s home library/bookshelf. I am looking forward to reading/praying with this book during Advent.”
The Jesse Tree isn’t just a gift for our families, it also prepares our hearts for the coming of the newborn king. As the Sammons wrote in one of the reflections, “We too can give these gifts to Our Lord. We can give Him gold when we ask Him to rule in our hearts, making Him king of our lives. We give Him frankincense when we worship Him with pure hearts. We offer Him myrrh when we love our crucified Lord and adore Him at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”
Members of the media may send an email to Sophia Institute Press’ Director of Publicity, Sarah Lemieux at slemieux@SophiaInstitute.com to receive a physical or digital copy of The Jesse Tree: An Advent Devotion, and/or to schedule an interview.
