Mouth-watering recipes, gorgeous photography, and heart-warming Swiss guard anecdotes come together in a merry and bright Christmas cookbook! The Vatican Christmas Cookbook combines the history of Christmas at the Vatican with David Geisser’s sumptuous recipes in a delectable melding of art, culture, and fine cooking.
Recipes Swiss Guard turned professional Chef
David Geisser’s unique career path from Swiss Guard to professional chef makes him the perfect guide to a Vatican-inspired Christmas. He brings you over 70 special recipes for Advent, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and beyond into the Christmas Season. You won’t want to miss his sections on authentic Swiss Fondue and Italian Christmas cookies! I’m excited to try out the Vaud Fondue, Papalin Fettuccine, and Amaretti recipes.
Catholic History and Culture
Interspersed with the delectable food pictures are superb photographs of Rome, the Swiss Guard, and Roman Catholic artwork from the Eternal City. There are also short stories on notable Christmases at the Vatican with Pope Saint Leo the Great, Pope Gregory, and others. There’s history about the Swiss Guard and anecdotes from Swiss Guards who served under Pope John Paul II.
An Impressive Gift
With its glossy, thick, colorful pages, The Vatican Christmas Cookbook makes a splendid Christmas Gift. Anyone who loves cooking, Catholic culture, or just the Catholic faith in general will appreciate this high-quality book!
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of “The Vatican Christmas Cookbook” from Sophia Institute Press in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
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, which has over 200 book suggestions and even study guides for featured picture books.
has a gentle, rhythmic text which details the animals preparing their barn for Christ’s coming.
is a simple retelling of the Christmas story which I particularly like because of its emphasis on Jesus’ birthday as the reason for Christmas and a short explanation of why we give gifts at Christmas: “to show our love.”
is a very simple rhyming version of the Christmas story.
is a whimsical story about a baker who learns that sometimes a dozen is really 13, thanks to St. Nicholas’ intervention. This book is perfect for reading on St. Nicholas’ Day prior to decorating gingerbread St. Nicholas cookies!
is my favorite version of the true story of St. Nicholas. This book’s iconography is a fitting visual companion to the story’s focus on Nicholas’ desire to be an icon of Christ, imitating his Lord in word and deed.
is a unique Christmas story about a tiny spider who helps save the Christ Child from Herod’s soldiers. The theme of the littlest helping and a fun connection to tinsel make this one worth buying.
is another fun explanation of a favorite Christmas tradition: candy canes. Very young children can understand this simple story with its explanation of the Christian symbolism of candy canes.
is another story to explain a Christmas symbol. This legend offers one explanation of the poinsettia: how little Lucida’s selfless, humble gift of weeds to the Christ Child is miraculously transformed to bright red star flowers.
is a sweet lullaby sung by the Blessed Virgin to Jesus, describing how all of nature is rejoicing at His coming.
is a favorite of mine. This adorable, wee little mouse named Mortimer hears the Christmas story read and decides to give up his bed for the baby Jesus in the family nativity scene.
combines the Nativity story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke with beautiful, illuminated manuscript style illustrations.
uses the story of a little boy who makes his own infant Jesus statue to introduce your child to an Italian tradition in which the Pope offers a special blessing on the third Sunday of advent to all the infant Jesus figures in St. Peter’s Square.
is the story of how only the humblest, small star can see past the newborn king’s humble surroundings and recognize his kingship.
is a fanciful take on what might happen if a candle gave one Christ’s eyes, and made one see each stranger as a loved family member.
takes a fresh look at this favorite Christmas carol, offering Scripture verses and interpretive pictures to accompany the verses.
is a story of how a small boy and his mother’s kindness helps a “scrooge” to recover and bring about a Christmas miracle.
is a Max Lucado story about a young carpenter’s apprentice who learns to see Christ in those he meets.
is a wonderful imaginative story about three animals, a horse, an elephant, and a camel who must work together using their unique skills to bring the Wise Men to the infant Jesus.
is a morality story in which a spoiled princess is guided by her wise parents to learn lessons about selflessness, sympathy, and the joy of giving.
is a touching story about God’s special plan for even the littlest and weakest creatures.
is the Christmas story retold from an angel’s perspective with beautiful, light-filled illustrations.
chronicles the dreams the donkey who carried a pregnant Mary dreamed, while exploring some of Mary’s titles. Beautiful illustrations again!
is a powerful story which stars Saint Boniface smiting down the oak tree the pagans worship, and explains the miraculous origins of the linking of evergreen trees with Christ’s birth.
is a beautifully illustrated retelling of the legend of Saint Lucia and how her feast is celebrated in Sweden.
is a simple Christmas story young children will love about the kind animals making room for smaller and smaller animals, and eventually the Christ Child.
is a feel-good inspirational story of a young boy who chooses to use his hard-earned savings to bring joy to poor children at Christmas.
is a beautifully illustrated story about young Jack learning from his gentle mother the true meaning of Christmas as they bake Christmas cookies to give to the poor.
is the story of Hoshmakaka the camel (kids love this story just for that name) who must learn humility to see the Christ Child.
is Tomie de Paola’s beloved story of a village coming together to make Christmas special for an old woman.
is a very simple story for preschoolers as the animals determine by process of elimination that it is the Christ Child who was born on Christmas day.
is an inspiring true story about a World War II Pilot who dropped candy to the German children as a sign of hope and good will.
offers a possible explanation of how the tradition of Nativity scenes came to be: through the collaboration of Saint Francis of Assisi and a simple shepherd boy.
is the story of a miraculous Christmas in war-torn Russia brought about by the faith of a small boy, the intercession of St. Nicholas, and a community coming together.
can be enjoyed by even very young children, who will love its message that even the littlest can have an important task.
is a charming story about a family who lives above a barn and practices the true spirit of Christmas.
is for an older reader. This beloved story by Henry Van Dyke is about a fourth wise man who never does get to see baby Jesus, but instead beautifully illustrates the Bible message of seeing and serving Christ in those one meets on one’s journey.
is a specifically Catholic resource focused on various ways of celebrating Advent: stories, songs, poems, and activities.
is, as the name implies, a story a day until Christmas collection. The stories range from the various gospel accounts of the Nativity to Christmas stories and traditions from around the world.
are old stories from the beginning of the twentieth century which illustrate the true spirit of Christmas.
is an advent book with twenty four chapters, one to read each evening in December, as you accompany the characters through Palestine on a journey to Bethlehem, meeting many Bible characters along the way. Perfect for a family read-aloud!
is by Hilda Van Stockum, one of my very favorite children’s authors, and therefore simply a joy to read. Four-year-old Kersti knows she falls into the naughty category, but her appeal to the good bishop on behalf of all the little ones who struggle to be good is a wonderful illustration of mercy versus strict judgment.
is a famous O. Henry short story about sacrifice, true love, and the true meaning of Christmas.