Generally, this time of year may be a bit late to recommend an Advent book—but not this one. Without exaggeration, The Beatitudes of Advent by Anna Portillo is one of the best resources I have read for the Advent season.
At 175 pages, the book is accessible, engaging, and easily readable—one could comfortably read it in four to five hours, or use it devotionally across the weeks of Advent. More importantly, it is richly shaped by biblical theology and filled with careful scriptural connections that many readers will not have noticed before. The volume is also notably affordable: at present, the Kindle edition is discounted by nearly 40%, and both the softcover and hardcover editions are priced accessibly, making it an easy recommendation for individuals, small groups, or church-wide use.
Anna Portillo brings together two of the most theologically significant moments in the biblical narrative—the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount and the Advent story—creating a genuinely distinctive resource. The book offers faithful exegesis of Scripture and thoughtful application to daily life, often addressing seasons of difficulty and waiting. Each chapter is framed through four women in Jesus’s story or genealogy—Mary, Anna, Rachel, and Elizabeth. Yet it would be a mistake to think of this as an Advent book “for women.” Rather, it is a book for all who look to the promises of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and who recognise that these promises belong to Christ alone to fulfil. That, ultimately, is what we celebrate at Christmas.
If something were to be improved, that would be a more descriptive index—which mostly provides dates at the present—and perhaps a suggestions of prayer at the end of each day thinking ahead for those who want to use the book devotionally. Having said this, one is thankful for the numerous references to Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs throughout the book. All in all, this will be a resource I will be not only suggesting, but giving away during advent in the years to come. Plus, there’s a Spanish version for Hispanic or bilingual settings! This makes it one of the few resources that can be studied by a full English-Spanish Bilingual congregation; a highly valued extra!
Check out Anna’s many other resources here.
