Advent

For Catholics, the liturgical year begins with the First Sunday of Advent. The Church calendar is a sequence of seasons and feasts celebrated in the liturgy during a year’s time. It uses terms and measurements similar to a typical calendar. However, the liturgical calendar’s purpose is to celebrate and understand the mystery of Jesus Christ and the expectation of his return in glory. In each liturgical year, we celebrate the entire life and paschal mystery of Jesus Christ. Liturgies celebrated during different seasons have distinctive music and specific readings, prayers, rituals, and colors. The liturgical year of the Roman Catholic church is often referred to as the Year of Grace, meaning that people should celebrate their unbounded love of God at all times in all places.

The new liturgical year begins December 1, with the First Sunday of Advent —are you ready?

The word Advent comes from the Latin adventus, which simply means coming, approach, or arrival. Advent as a liturgical season is a time of preparation, anticipating the great Church feast celebrating the Birth of Christ – Christmas. As such, it is a time of penance, of turning away from sin and of hopeful and joyous preparation as we make room of the coming of the Savior.

Here are some practical ways that you can prepare to fully celebrate Advent with your family and friends of all ages. Remember, you don’t have to do it all—just choose a few practices to focus on and see whether they work for your family.

We will be adding to our list of resources throughout the season of Advent, so be sure to check back often.

The Advent Wreath

One of the most familiar and beloved symbols of Advent, children love lighting the candles, one each week, as a way of counting down until Christmas. Advent wreaths are usually made of evergreen branches (a sign of eternal life) and four candles (3 violet and 1 rose). The violet candles (lit on the 1^st, 2^nd & 4^th Sundays) represent the penitential nature of the season which helps us to prepare for the Lord’s coming at Christmas; the rose candle represents our rejoicing at the Lord’s coming.

How to make your own Advent wreath

Blessing an Advent Wreath

My Advent Wreath

The Nativity Scene

St. Francis had the brilliant idea to create a scene depicting the nativity of Jesus as a way of teaching people about the Incarnation. Displaying a nativity scene (or manger set) in your home during Advent is a great way to remind everyone (not just little kids) about the true meaning of Christmas: The Creator of the universe entering into creation in order to save it. Once you have set up your Nativity scene, gather the family together for a time of prayer and blessing of the scene.

Blessing for a Nativity Scene

Nativity Colour and Cut outs

Christmas Story Figure Recipe

The Jesse Tree

A Jesse tree, which is decorated with ornaments based on symbols of Old Testament events preparing for the coming of Christ. We adorn a Jesse tree with illustrated ornaments that represent the people, prophesies, and events leading up to the birth of Jesus. It might include an ark or rainbow to depict Noah’s ark, a lamb and a lion lying together, a crown, representing King David, etc. Like an advent calendar, one ornament decorates or builds the tree each day, helping to increase our sense of expectation and anticipation for the birth of Jesus. Jesse trees do not have to be elaborate – they can easily be made of paper or felt. It’s a wonderful way of involving young children in the preparation for Christmas.

Jesse Tree: Week One of Advent

Jesse Tree: Week Two of Advent

Jesse Tree: Week Three of Advent

Jesse Tree: Week Four of Advent

Advent Calendar

An Advent calendar, as the name implies, marks the days of Advent until Christmas. Some elaborate calendars have a door to be opened each day with candy or a prize inside. But the calendar may be simple and spiritually focused.

2024 Advent Calendar