Sunday Afternoon Stories for the Whole Family

Rebecca W. Martin shares selections for read-alouds the whole family can enjoy together, and good books for Mom and Dad, too.

Keeping the Sabbath looks different for every family. For many of us, it’s a struggle to balance the things that need to be done with the rest we know God desires for us. But if you have some spare quiet time in the day, family reading time is a great way to lift the mind and heart. And whether you have little ones or teenagers, I got you with some classic reads. I’m hoping all these can be found at your local library, as some are out of print, but used bookstores (both brick-and-mortar and online) are your friends!

For the Littles

Cathedral Mouse by Kay Chorao, Dutton Books, 1988. Full of soaring gothic arches and stained glass, the sheer beauty of this book makes it an absolute delight. There’s a good story, too: a little mouse escapes a pet store and finds himself inside a lofty cathedral. There, a stonecarver befriends him with cheese and crumbs, and makes a special home for the new Cathedral Mouse. It’s a peaceful read, and good for starting conversations about why and how we build beautiful churches.

For middle-grade and teens

Cathedral by David McCaulay, Clarion Books, 1981 (Caldecott Award Winner). All of McCaulay’s excellent books are filled with pen drawings, intricately sketched. Here, he tells the story of the building of a medieval cathedral. Intriguing illustrations paired with easily understandable prose make this the perfect blend of education and story. This one is especially good for your math- and science-minded kiddos, because McCaulay doesn’t stint on the details even while he explains all of them.

(Side note: McCaulay’s first few paragraphs display something of a lack of understanding of the deep medieval faith that led to the building of cathedrals. I suggest supplementing with an excerpt from a good Catholic historian, such as Anne W. Carroll’s Christ the King, Lord of History.)

Outlaws of Ravenhurst by Sister M. Imelda Wallace, S.L. (republished in 2013 by Neumann Press). Yes, if you homeschool and use Seton, you’ve probably encountered this one, so share the book with your friends. 17th-century Scotland is the backdrop for this at times intense story of a faith lived out amid persecution. Intrigue, sword fights, hidden passageways, mysterious strangers, narrow escapes—what more could you ask for?

There’s a reason this one is a classic. It’s a darn good read, and proves the adventure of virtue.

For young adults or family read-aloud

The Mass of Brother Michel by Michael Kent (republished in 2017 by Angelico Press). That’s it, I’m grabbing this one off my shelf so I can read it again. If your teen struggles with going to Mass, read this. You have to understand why not just the Eucharist, but the Eucharistic liturgy, is worth giving up everything for.

This is where I confess: I am horrible at writing plot summaries. And this one defies plot summaries but it’s so dang good I have to recommend it. So I’m going to rely on the back cover copy to sell it for me:

The Mass of Brother Michel, set in the tranquil countryside of southern France during the Reformation, is the story of a young man who “has it all”—until a fateful series of events leads him to a monastery. As Huguenot violence mounts, the characters of the story are pushed to extremes of hatred and love. The reader is swept along by a narrative as twisting and turbulent as a mountain stream, which culminates in a sovereign sacrifice as unforgettable as it was unforeseen. This is a story that shows with utter vividness the power of romantic love to cripple and deform, the power of suffering to undermine illusions and induce the labor of self-discovery, the power of prayer to reassemble the shards of the shattered image of God in the soul, and the power of the priest as the divine Physician’s privileged instrument.

At the center of the novel is the awesome mystery, scandal, consolation, and provocation of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. To it some of the characters are irresistibly drawn; against it, others are violently arrayed. Here is a passionately told tale of their inner struggle and outward confrontation. The Mass of Brother Michel is a gripping story of adventure, renunciation, redemption, and ultimate victory. No reader will fail to be astonished at its outcome and touched by its inspiring and miraculous climax.

And last but not least …

For adults

Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos. Especially today, when our priests are on the front lines of spiritual and cultural warfare and temptation is everywhere, this book is an essential read for the thoughtful adult Catholic. The unnamed narrator, a young priest in a country parish, journals his inward spiritual life and emotions, while discovering the needs and challenges of his parishioners.

Be warned, this is a challenging read: it is one of those books that dives deep into the ugly reality of human nature. Ultimately, it is a story of grace at work, and well worth a second read.

Bonus classic for adults: The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene.

Copyright 2023 Rebecca W. Martin
Images: Canva