Tag: jesus

A Look Behind the Books, Christian Children's Fiction, Christian fiction, Christian inspirational Fiction, On the Third Day, The Priest Behind the Book

Farewell to the Holy Priest Behind “On the Third Day”

Hilary Walker

Those of you who subscribe to my email list will already know that the brains behind the newly released Christian children’s book “On the Third Day” belonged to a wonderful Monsignor at my church. (You’ll find his full name in the book’s dedication!)

He commissioned it because he wanted children (and their families) to be more aware of the Resurrection of Jesus. It concerned him greatly that people don’t talk enough about it.

I had never written for children before, but you never said ‘No’ to Monsignor, because you just knew the Holy Spirit was talking through him! So I set about creating the little volume, constantly checking with my Word Editor that I was at the reading level of children ages 8 through 12.

Monsignor loved children and started not just one, but two Catholic schools here in the Low Country of South Carolina. So this project was very dear to him.

In August of 2024, he became seriously ill. He was 98 years young and we’d all so hoped he’d make it to the age of 100. But it was not to be. He had originally asked me to create a series of children’s books on the Seven Sacraments, but at the onset of his cancer he switched to the Resurrection.

He also requested that I write a book about a Catholic teen hero. I asked which he wanted first, and he chose what became On the Third Day. Once he’d approved the outline, I knew it was a race against time if he was to see the full manuscript.

I finished it with two weeks to spare. Monsignor’s joyful response to the final draft moved me to tears. I uploaded the book for its pre-set publication date of 18th March, but he died on the morning of Sunday, 9th March. The day of his funeral, it became the #1 Amazon Best Seller for Children’s Books About Jesus. He would have been so pleased!

Yet I am confident he is resting with all the angels and saints in Heaven and did know. 😉

Monsignor was very learned; his lessons at the seminary were all conducted in Latin!

As the bishop said at his funeral Mass, Monsignor could read souls, which made him such a wonderful confessor and spiritual director. A gentle man, he constantly exhorted us in his sermons to be kind to one another and to do little things with great love.

It is hard for me to believe he is gone. His impact on my spiritual life is impossible to measure, and his death has left a gaping hole in my heart that hurts dreadfully. It is the same for everyone who knew him. We all considered him to be a living saint.

I ask him daily to intercede for me and to continue guiding me with the help of the Holy Spirit in my work as a writer. May he rest in peace. Amen.

A Look Behind the Books, Children's Fiction on the Resurrection, Christian Children's Fiction, Christian inspirational Fiction

On the Third Day: Behind the Scenes

Hilary Walker

Who Wanted This Book to Be Written?

Monsignor, my spiritual director, asked me to write a children’s book on the Resurrection of Jesus, and there was no refusing him! But not being a children’s author, I didn’t feel up to the task.

However, Monsignor is known among us as a living saint (which embarrasses him no end) and I should have had faith that his prayers for inspiration to the Holy Spirit on my behalf would bear fruit.

The Mission

“Nobody talks about the Resurrection anymore,” he said, and wanted my help with cultivating faith in Jesus’ rising from the dead on Easter Sunday.

Monsignor especially wished children to feel profound awe for this glorious truth, so its impact would remain with them their whole lives.

Publication date: 18th March 2025 – Available for pre-order: AmazonUS iBooks Kobo B&N

A Lukewarm Attitude

It is a sad fact that most of us adults no longer marvel at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ; the event is too familiar.

We have ceased to reflect with amazement on the Love of Jesus, Who endured an unspeakably agonizing death to purchase for us the rewards of eternal life.

This tepidity hinders our ability to instill awe in our children over His selfless deed. It prevents us from inspiring in them a desire to love Him in return.

Leading Children through Wonder and Beauty

Children have a limitless capacity for wonder and a deep appreciation of beauty. Nurturing these gifts rouses their curiosity about the Creator of the world and all that is good in it.

Once their interest is piqued, we can guide them towards the Infinite Love of Jesus, and His victory over death at His Resurrection.

Making Jesus Come Alive

However, Christ rose from the dead two thousand years ago. How do we make this relevant to today’s youngsters?

By creating reverence and awe for Jesus’ sacrifice through a personal encounter with Him.

And thus, the storyline of On the Third Day draws two siblings, aged 10 and 12, into a series of adventures intertwining the New Testament with the present day.

During their exploits, they develop a close relationship with Jesus.  His Passion and Death are real for them, as they see first-hand the consequences of our sins throughout the ages, and hence our dire need for a Savior.

The book ends, of course, on a happy note with the rising of Jesus and the children’s joy at seeing Him alive again.

The Illustrations

Monsignor was keen that the book contain illustrations to help the young reader remain engaged in the story. The drawings and the cover were produced by means of AI, which in itself was an interesting exercise!

The theory is that you describe what you want, and hey presto! up comes the result you’re looking for. The reality was a little different, reminding me that AI is still in its infancy. I frequently got sheep with two heads or three legs, and human characters had more than the normal number of hands or arms. 

The sheep on the left has no head and two tails, and do we have two or three sheep on the right?

There was no way I could conjure up a Border Collie herding sheep; the sheep were always chasing the dog, no matter how I phrased my request.

Fly preferred leading by example!

As a result, a little ingenuity was needed.

In another example, the boy Tristan was supposed to end up face down on the ground during the narrative. But AI in its wisdom decided this was an ‘illicit’ image, so Tristan ends up lying on his back, as this was acceptable to the program.

Overall, I think I spent more time on the illustrations than on writing the story.

In Conclusion

It is my sincere wish that the children who read this book, and those who read it to them, will come to better understand Jesus’ great love for us – and feel inspired to repay His sacrifice through a life of Faith.

May the Holy Spirit also use this story to reignite belief in a loving God within any who feel abandoned by Him because of grief or other misfortune.

Whatever your age, have fun reading On the Third Day!