Bishop Schnborn, the highly respected member of the International Theological Commission who is mainly responsible for editing and assembling the Catechism for the Universal Church, has written a very beautiful summary of the central mystery of our Faith, the Incarnation. Written with a simplicity of spirit, the Dominican friar's charming book provides a clear, reassuring presentation of the mysteries that surround the awesome reality of the Son of God becoming man.

Using beautiful icons to illustrate his meditations, Schnborn comments on the three articles of the Creed that relate to the Incarnation: the descent from Heaven of the Son of God, the Incarnation in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and his being made man for our salvation. The final meditation on the icon of Christ's birth, which can serve as an introduction to the book, sets the tone in completely accessible language and is most important since the splendor of the mystery shines from the pictures of artists directly upon the word of the theologian.

The icons are real introductions to the Mystery of the Incarnation as a mystery of light that enlightens the darkness. The combination of Schnborn's profound meditations with the icons illumines the unrepeatable and unique self-giving of God out of love for man all the way to death on a cross so that all of creation can bend in adoration of the Creator who had become His own creature.

"Readers at all stages of theological development will enjoy this little classic of spiritual theology, for the author breaks open the central truth of the Christian religion with both clarity and erudition. And by explaining the meaning of the Christmas icons, Bishop Schnborn makes his presentation a delightful one for us to follow."
- Romanus Cessario, O.P.
John Paul II Institute on Marriage and Family

"In the perspective of biblical and patristic theology the mystery of the virginal conception of Jesus and that of the Incarnation receive a new intelligibility for the contemporary reader. It provides fresh insights both for the searching layman and for the professional theologian. A theological meditation in the best sense of the word."
- Fr. Roch Kereszty, O.Cist.
University of Dallas

Christoph von Schnborn, formerly a professor of dogmatic theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, is presently an auxiliary bishop of Vienna.