Behold the Wonder: The Coming of Christ Through Mary's Eyes

 Karen Estep reviews a new Advent and Christmas devotional from Ave Maria Press.

Behold the Wonder: The Coming of Christ Through Mary's Eyes

By Catherine Cavadini and Anastassia Cassady

Published by Ave Maria Press

Something Special 

From the moment Behold the Wonder by Catherine Cavadini and Anastassia Cassady arrives at your door, you will know that there is something special about this book. The cover art itself is stunning featuring a peacefully sleeping newborn Jesus. Each subsequent picture used for visio divina is equally as beautiful. My favorite picture is the one of Mary holding infant Jesus, because the joy that radiates from the picture is almost tangible.

The whole book is about experiencing the lead-up to Jesus’s birth, the Nativity, and Epiphany through the eyes of Mary. Mary always leads us home to her Son, and this gorgeous book is a great way to do that during the Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seasons.  

How Is This Book Set Up?

There are eight mediations in the book, enough to get you through Advent and to Epiphany. There are six parts to each of the eight meditations, so it would be possible to chunk each meditation into daily habits in our busy lives. 

 You will start with “Prepare the Way” which is an overview of what the mediation will be about. It is cleverly called in the book, “your itinerary”. Next, you will go to the section called, “Behold the Word” which is the Scripture that inspires the lectio divina (divine reading) and visio divina (divine seeing). Lectio divina and visio divina are just simple ways to pray that help us put ourselves in the story.

Then, you will go to “Consider the Scene,” which in my opinion, is one of the sections that sets this apart from other meditation books. “Consider the Scene” is written in such a way that Catherine Cavadini is truly setting the scene for what it might have been like for Mary. Cavadini’s imagery and descriptions are so beautiful that I could almost smell the flowers from one of the scenes she wrote. After the scene is set, you are invited into prayer with lectio divina.

Next, you are invited to pray with visio divina. As well written as Cavadini’s scenes are, Cassady also creates stunning visual works of art! I am pretty sure I let out an audible gasp and said, “Wow!” at each picture! The final section of the meditation is called, “Follow Mary Today,” which gives readers saintly examples of how we can also follow Mary.  

The Importance of Advent 

Advent for me is incredibly important because I actually almost chose not to finish my journey home into the Catholic Church because of Advent. I had become very prideful in knowing the order of the Mass during my OCIA journey from August until December of 2021. I wanted everyone to think I was already Catholic, but no one had told me that Advent is the start of the new liturgical year. So, there I was during the first Sunday in Advent of 2021 thinking I had finally learned the Mass and everything changed! I was so disheartened that I almost ended my entire OCIA journey right then and there!  

Because of my first Catholic Advent experience and mishaps, I now try to make Advent a special time for my family and I to grow deeper in our faith and become closer to Jesus. I know that I will be using this beautiful book of meditations to help me with that this year.  

Advent is our time to slow down and use the Holy Family as our examples of how to live our lives. Where I live, even the weather begs us to slow down, find light in the dark, and huddle up with the people we love. Behold the Wonder is a beautiful guide for us to see Jesus through the eyes of Mary.  

Who Is This Book For? 

As a busy mom I would 100% buy this book for myself. If you do one of the six parts of the meditation per day, it would only take someone about 10 to 15 minutes a day to complete. With the busy schedule my family has, that is the perfect amount of time for me to focus and really take in each part of the meditation. 

I would use this book as a family too! The pictures are visually appealing to people of all ages, and the way Cavadini vividly writes would be great for children of all ages as well. My family loves to light the Advent candle on our wreath each night during Advent, and this would be an easy reflection or prayer time to do during or after. I would love to read the “Consider the Scene” out loud to my children and have them tell me what they see as they imagine being with Mary.  

This book could also easily be done with a women’s Church group as well. How fun would it be to meet once a week to do the meditations together? You could also make it a fun time to try new cookie recipes or even throw a Baby Shower for Mary and donate supplies to a local women’s shelter.  

Advent is meant to be our start to the new liturgical year. It is a time to huddle in, pray, and reflect on the miracles that surround Jesus’s birth. With the help of Behold the Wonder, readers will be able to do all of that through Mary’s eyes and move through Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with new love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Karen Estep
Images: (top) Ave Maria Press