During an age when Christmas “has been secularized beyond recognition,” children’s author Anthony DeStefano remains committed to pouring his energy and considerable talents into promoting the real reason for the season.

His latest contribution is Christmas in Heaven, which tells the tale of a little boy in mourning because his grandmother recently passed away. At Christmastime, the child asks his grandfather where his grandma might be, and the grandfather gladdens him by describing the joyous Christmas she will experience in Heaven: a festive party in Jesus’ honour with all the saints and angels.

DeStefano, a New Jersey native, told The Catholic Register that in addition to depicting the true spirit of Christmas, Christmas in Heaven serves as an introduction to the angels and saints. It also promulgates a message about “grieving in hope — hope in the Resurrection and in life everlasting in Heaven.”

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Each saint is devoted two pages in the book and their essence as presented in Biblical Scriptures or Catholic tradition is typified by their actions. For example, Martha is cleaning the house, Thomas Aquinas is reading a book, St. Valentine is passing out chocolate hearts and Francis of Assisi is accompanied by kittens, puppies, donkeys and sheep.

A balance was sought between ensuring the instantly recognizable saints and angels were paid their due, while also wanting to profile lesser-known names if their background was organically cohesive with the narrative of Christmas in Heaven.

It made sense to feature St. Honoré (also known as Honoratus of Amiens) because he is the patron saint of baking (an actual St. Honoré puff pastry cake was invented in his honour during the 1840s), “and you need a birthday cake at a birthday party.” St. Gregory is another name with whom most Catholics are not intimately familiar. The patron saint of musicians and singers is illustrated by singing a duet with St. Cecilia.

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There are brief biographical descriptions written for each of the saints in the glossary section of DeStefano’s book.

Regarding the illustrations, all were rendered by prominent Catholic artist Bernadette Carson. Hailing Carson for doing “a fantastic job,” DeStefano explained the visual hopes he had for Christmas in Heaven.

“I wanted an artist for this book who could create a happy book, a bright book, an inspiring, colourful book with vintage-style illustrations, almost like Norman Rockwell paintings,” said DeStefano. “I also wanted someone who could be a little whimsical, who loves our Catholic faith, but who also wasn't afraid to be a little playful and show a sense of humour.”

Contrasting the buoyancy and fanciful nature contained throughout most of the book is a thoughtful and delicate author’s note about purgatory, the Catholic doctrine declaring that those who are saved experience an intermediate state after death where they undergo the necessary purification from past sins to enter Heaven.

Addressing the “little ones and their parents,” DeStefano says that while his book does not deal with purgatory, it is important to be mindful of this “waiting room or a cleanup spot.” He added that “just like we need to clean up before attending a party, purgatory is a place where our souls get ‘cleaned up’ for the most special party of all — the heavenly banquet with God.”

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DeStefano said he wanted to implore readers that “we never want to deprive the person who has died the benefit of our prayers because they may very well need those prayers if they're still in purgatory.”

Visit https://sophiainstitute.com/ for more on Christmas in Heaven.