Camp Bookstore

BOOK STORE

The following book series by Fr Lucio Boccacci is available for sale through Amazon. The royalties of the book goes towards supporting the mission of Camp River Ridge. Consider purchasing them as a way to support us...Thank you!

THE FATHER'S ADOLESCENT SERIES

These books are for adults and high school students! They dive into the (surprising) life of the adolescent Jesus in a way that is easy to follow, deep, and conversational (not textbook!). Try one that appeals to you...you do not have to read these in order.

1. Magnifying Glass
2. Boy Jesus
3. Passover
4. Searching for Jesus
5. Teacher of Israel
(... more to come!)

(see below for details & click on image for purchase link)

Magnifying Glass

This “quickbook” is titled “Magnifying Glass” because it’s an analysis of the text in Lk 2:40-52: authorship, source, context, structure, literary genre, historicity, and realism of the passage. This is a challenge for the average reader. But it’s necessary. It provides a foundation for subsequent reflections. It answers these questions:

Are we sure Luke wrote these verses?
Where did he get this information from?
How did he structure this passage?
What was he trying to communicate?
Do we have other episodes from Jesus’ youth?
Why did he choose this passage over others?
Did this episode really happen? Is it historical?
How much do we really understand what actually happened?
…and more.

Boy Jesus

This “quickbook” is titled “Boy Jesus” because it’s a commentary of verse 40 in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel: Lk 2:40. In view of The Father’s Adolescent series, the purpose of this quickbook is to describe the boy Jesus’ life in Nazareth the years prior to the episode in the Temple. It sets the stage for Jesus’ first Passover pilgrimage at age 12. Scriptural, archeological, and historical research back up my study of the text, as well as common sense.
This quickbook answers these questions:

Why is the holy family so unique?
What was life like in Nazareth?
What were the feasts like?
What was his mother Mary like? How did women live?
Who taught the boy Jesus? Where did he learn?
What was Jesus like as a boy?
Why didn’t people realize he was the Son of God?
What clues does Jesus give us about his youth?
What does the boy Jesus have to do with the boy Moses?
…and more…

Passover

This “quickbook” is titled “Passover” because it’s a commentary of verses 41-42 of the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel: Lk 2:41-42. In view of The Father’s Adolescent series, the purpose of this quickbook is twofold:

To describe the boy Jesus’ first pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover when he was 12 years old.
To describe the boy Jesus’ experience of the Passover, up to an entire week of celebrations and rituals.

These two parts of the narration set the stage for Jesus’ remaining behind in Jerusalem. Scriptural, archeological, and historical research continue to back up my study of the text, as well as common sense.
So this quickbook seeks to answer these questions:

What does the Law say about Passover?
Why did Jesus first celebrate it at 12?
How did this feast shape the culture of Israel?
What was the pilgrimage like?
Why was it obligatory?
What was Jerusalem like during the feast?
What did Jesus do once in Jerusalem?
What’s the Passover about?
How was it celebrated?
What was the meaning behind the rituals?
How did Christ fulfill the Passover with his own death and resurrection?
…and more…

Searching for Jesus

This “quickbook” is titled “Searching for Jesus” because it’s a commentary of verses 43-46a of the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Lk 2:40-52. It’s the fourth quickbook in the series, after a presentation of the text itself in Magnifying Glass, the life of the boy Jesus in Nazareth in Boy Jesus, and the story of Jesus’ first Passover pilgrimage and celebration in Passover. This quickbook covers from the holy family’s completion of their Passover duties to the instant just before finding Jesus in the Temple. As such, it answers the questions:

How long was their stay in Jerusalem?
What did Jesus see in Jerusalem? What was it about Jerusalem that attracted Jesus?
Did Jesus choose to remain in Jerusalem? Why would he do this to his parents?
What was it about his humanity that sought independence?
How could Mary and Joseph lose their only son?
What was it like to search for Jesus? Where did they look?
What does their search tell us about following Jesus?
Why did they find him after three days?
…and more!

Teacher of Israel

This “quickbook” is titled “Teacher of Israel” because it’s a commentary of verses 46 and 47 in the second chapter of Luke’s Gospel: Lk 2:40. In view of The Father’s Adolescent series, the purpose of this quickbook is to describe what the boy Jesus did those three days spent in the Temple by himself. His interaction with the teachers of the law reveals many of the characteristics Jesus would later exhibit as an adult. Scriptural, archeological, and historical research back up my study of the text, as well as common sense. This quickbook answers these questions:
• How do we know what Jesus did in the Temple?
• Where was he in the Temple?
• Who were the teachers of the law?
• What does Jesus’ encounter with the teachers reveal about his identity and mission?
• What details stand out about these two verses?
• What did Jesus talk about with the teachers?
• What does this passage reveal about his wisdom?
• Does the Passover feast reveal anything about these discussions?
• How was Luke’s passage influenced by the Old Testament, and also pagan sources?
• …and more…