Bob Cratchit was the ill-treated employee of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge in Dickens's beloved classic, A Christmas Carol. A Cratchit Family Christmas, which chronicles his family's story, opens with the carefully arranged funeral of Ebenezer Scrooge twenty years after his dramatic conversion.
Scrooge's nephew, Fred, and the members of the Cratchit family speak at the service. With affection colored by respect, each recalls stories of the new Scrooge and his amazing change two decades ago on Christmas Eve.
The story traces the lives of Bob; his wife, Alice; and his children, Peter, Martha, and Tim, to the point of Scrooge's conversion and beyond. The family's compassion toward others testifies to the impact of Scrooge's benevolence in their lives and, more importantly, the way his newfound wisdom guides them. But Scrooge's generosity and wisdom extend long beyond the years of his life.
As the book closes, the family is gathered for Christmas, as is their custom each year. Tiny Tim, now grown into a man, leads them in words of farewell for those who have passed on and thankfulness for those who remain around the table.
About the Author: Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wilmington in 1972, Paul Mast has postgraduate degrees from Fordham University and the Catholic University of America and a doctorate from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. In 2000, he was awarded a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Neumann University.
From 2008-2010, Paul wrote and published four articles on his experience as a spiritual director for survivors of sexual abuse. This experience formed the backdrop in the writing of his first novel, Fatal Absolution. Paul's book Street Sabbatical-Life Lessons for a Contemplative Beggar chronicles how compassion toward the homeless changes hearts and helps everyone find a home with the God of mercy.
Currently, Paul Mast is coauthoring a murder mystery about baseball with Hal Bodley, a senior journalist for Major League Baseball. Learn more at www.paulmast.com.
