C.S. Lewis read a series of 12 “radio plays” called “The Man Born to be King” every year during Holy Week, said Kathryn Wehr, managing editor of Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, published by the University of St. Thomas’ Center for Catholic Studies in St. Paul. He was a friend of Dorothy Sayers, its author. The plays about the life and ministry of Jesus aired in the 1940s, including during World War II.  

“It’s a wonderful series of plays,” Wehr said. She recently joined “Practicing Catholic” radio show host Patrick Conley to discuss a new edition of “The Man Born to be King,” which she edited. 

Covering the life of Christ from his birth to his ascension, Wehr said the plays are “sort of like ‘The Chosen’ of the 1940s.” “There were people that loved them and people that took little issues with things here or there, … but very popular at the time and have continued to be in print.”  

Wehr said the new edition offers the full text of the 12 plays but with new features, including a short introduction to each one, excerpts from Sayers’ letters and footnotes within the plays that provide Scripture references, “something that’s never been available before,” she said.  

As a reader, Wehr said she always wanted to know, for example, “which Gospel is this story in?” Many Old Testament and Gospel references are included, she said.  

Short side notes help readers understand unfamiliar references from 80 years ago or ones that are “particularly British” and not immediately understood by Americans, Wehr said.  

C.S. Lewis was a fast reader, Wehr said, so she suggests readers may want to tackle plays eight (“the triumphal entry into Jerusalem”) through 12 (resurrection and ascension) during Holy Week, and later read the plays about Christ’s birth and ministry. Recordings are available on Audible, she said, “which would be a great way to get into the plays during Holy Week,” she said.  

To learn more about Wehr, visit kathrynwehr.com. To buy a copy of Wehr’s annotated edition of “The Man Born to be King,” visit https://www.ivpress.com/the-man-born-to-be-king. 

To hear the full interview, listen to this episode of “Practicing Catholic,” which debuts at 9 p.m. March 17 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM and repeats at 1 p.m. March 18 and 2 p.m. March 19.   

Produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, the latest show also includes an interview with David Rinaldi, president of West St. Paul-based NET Ministries, who describes the work of his organization going forward; and Bishop Joseph Williams, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, who discusses the importance of building and fostering community, especially as part of the archdiocese’s Synod evangelization process. 

Listen to interviews after they have aired at PracticingCatholicShow.com or choose a streaming platform at anchor.fm/practicing-catholic-show.