Of all the seasons in he Church's year advent is in many was the most beautiful and rich in meaning. and yet it passes most of us by.This is mainly due to the fact that is falls in the weeks coming up to Christmas. While written for Catholics, 'whether they be church-going or not', everyone open to god will enjoy these thoughts. Advent's themes of expectancy (the hope of a Saviour, which requires us to recognise our need for someone to fill in our inadequacy) and waiting (that we need patience for God to do His work in us) are explained and illustrated through scripture (especially Isaiah) and other Christian writings. After two introductory sections, thirteen others of three to four A5 pages, lead us gently into a deeper appreciation of Advent. It is a book, we are reassured, to be dipped into and pondered at leisure; in other words, to be prayed. Highly recommended.- Rev. J.Nicholas Latham