A celibate spiritual leader who is not a priest, a philosopher with a doctoral degree who is not a professor, Vanier is not easily categorized.

Third in a series for Advent and Christmas

Christmas Poems New Directions. 96p $11.95 A wonderful stocking stuffer, this collection of Christmas poems, carols and ballads (assembled by the publisher) draws from the literature of many places and times—spanning, in fact, almost 2,000 years. Its contents of 84 entries very tidily provide

The second in a series for Advent and Christmas

The first in a series for Advent

Seventy years ago this November, a synagogue was burning in a little German village of Christians and Jews. Many smelled smoke wafting through the windows. Someone heard Mrs. Lowenstein shouting, “Our synagogue is burning. Please, help!” But the street remained silent. The only other voi