Grace Thompson
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas, and there are many ways to celebrate it at home as a Catholic. The liturgical season of Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and ends on December 24. One popular way to celebrate is with an Advent wreath or candleholders, using four candles (three purple and one pink) to count down the weeks until Christmas. Another way to celebrate is by displaying a nativity scene in your home, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas. For those with children, Jesus stockings and baby Jesus crèches are also popular, with small sacrifices and good deeds represented by pieces of paper or straw. Other ideas include praying the Angelus three times a day, celebrating Advent Saint Feast Days, and participating in acts of almsgiving and mercy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advent wreath | Use an Advent wreath or candleholders with four candles (three purple and one pink) to count down the weeks until Christmas. Bless the wreath on the first Sunday of Advent. |
| Anticipation of Christ's arrival | Advent is a time to anticipate and prepare for the coming of Christ, both spiritually and through acts of mercy. |
| Prayer | Pray the Angelus in the morning, at noon, and in the evening, or before dinner. Pray a special Christmas Novena beginning nine days before Christmas. |
| Visual aids | Use a Jesus stocking or a Baby Jesus crèche as a visual aid, adding small sacrifices or a piece of straw for each good deed. |
| Almsgiving | Practice good deeds and generosity, such as volunteering or inviting people without family to celebrate the holidays with you. |
| Saint Feast Days | Celebrate the saints of the Advent and Christmas season, such as St. Andrew's feast day on November 30th. |
| Nativity scene | Display a nativity scene in your home, adding the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. |
| Advent calendars | Use an Advent calendar with spiritual activities or a decorative paper chain that children can add to each day. |
| Las Posadas | Participate in this nine-day celebration originating from Spain, re-enacting Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. |
| O Antiphons | Sing or recite these hymns during the last seven days of Advent, from December 17 to 23. |
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What You'll Learn
- Light candles: three purple, one pink, and optionally one white
- Pray the Angelus in the morning, at noon, and in the evening
- Make a nativity scene, but don't add baby Jesus until Christmas Eve or morning
- Create a Jesse Tree with paper ornaments and Scripture readings
- Practice almsgiving: acts of mercy like gifts for disadvantaged children
Light candles: three purple, one pink, and optionally one white
One of the most popular ways to celebrate Advent is with an Advent wreath or candle holders. Four candles—three purple, one pink, and optionally one white—are used to count down the weeks until Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent, be sure to bless your Advent wreath. You can use the blessing provided by the U.S. Catholic bishops at their Advent website. The Advent wreath becomes a fixture on the dining room table and in our evening devotions. The wreath in the home makes present a visible connection to the liturgy, as most Catholic churches feature the Advent wreath in a place of prominence during the season.
The three purple candles represent the penitential nature of the season, with each candle representing a different aspect of penance: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The pink candle, lit on the third Sunday of Advent, represents rejoicing, as it is the midpoint of the season and the point at which the season begins to focus more on the celebration of Christmas. The optional white candle, known as the Christ candle, is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and represents the birth of Jesus.
In addition to the Advent wreath, there are other ways to incorporate candles into your Advent celebrations. One idea is to use a Jesus stocking, where small sacrifices are written on slips of paper and placed into the stocking, and a candle is lit each time a sacrifice is made. Another idea is to use a Baby Jesus crèche, where a piece of straw is added, along with a lit candle, for each good deed. These practices help to create a beautiful visual representation of the prayers and sacrifices made during Advent.
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Pray the Angelus in the morning, at noon, and in the evening
Praying the Angelus is a traditional Catholic devotion honouring the Incarnation, repeated three times a day: in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. The Angelus is a way to meditate on the coming of Jesus through the Annunciation, when Gabriel told Mary she would conceive.
The Angelus is often said at the sound of a bell. While it was originally necessary to say the Angelus while kneeling, this is no longer required. The prayer should be said approximately at the proper hours, and those who do not know the prayers by heart may say five Hail Marys instead.
The Angelus begins with the following:
> The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary, and she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, etc... Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Your Word. Hail Mary... And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us. Hail Mary... Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
The closing prayer of the Angelus is as follows:
> Pour forth, we beseech You, O Lord, Your Grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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Make a nativity scene, but don't add baby Jesus until Christmas Eve or morning
The liturgical season of Advent is celebrated as the precursor to Christmas. It is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas, a time to "let every heart prepare Him room".
One way to celebrate Advent at home is to create a nativity scene. St. Francis had the idea to create a scene depicting the nativity of Jesus as a way of teaching people about the meaning of the Incarnation. A nativity scene is a great way to remind everyone about the true meaning of Christmas: the Creator of the universe entering into creation to save it.
You can set up the nativity scene in your home during Advent, but don't place the baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. This tradition reflects the symbolism of waiting for the coming of Christ. The baby Jesus figure is kept in a drawer and only placed in the nativity scene on Christmas Day, representing the birth of Jesus.
In addition to the nativity scene, you can incorporate other elements to enhance the symbolism of your Advent celebration. For example, you can place the wise men figures on the other side of the room or in a different part of the house, symbolizing their long journey to the manger. Each week, you can move them closer to the nativity scene, finally placing them in their positions on Epiphany, also known as "Little Christmas". This tradition emphasizes the anticipation and journey towards the birth of Christ.
Advent is a time to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. By creating a nativity scene and incorporating symbolic traditions, we can make Advent a meaningful and spiritual journey for ourselves and our families.
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Create a Jesse Tree with paper ornaments and Scripture readings
The Jesse Tree is a way of preparing for Advent by journeying through the stories of Jesus's family tree. The tradition is rooted in Isaiah 11:1: "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots." Jesse was the father of David, Israel's greatest king, and Jesus is descended from the line of David.
To create a Jesse Tree with paper ornaments and Scripture readings, you will need:
- Paper
- Glue
- Ribbon or yarn (preferably purple)
- Crayons, markers, paints, or coloured pencils
- A Bible
- Optional: bits and pieces of bright-coloured paper, cloth, wood, plastic, etc.
- Optional: a small artificial tree, a tree branch anchored in a bucket or large can of sand or gravel, or a large drawing of a tree on cardboard or poster board
First, read the Scripture verses for the day. Pick out one or two short verses that give the main idea. Copy these verses onto the back of your paper ornament. Then, illustrate your Scripture verses using your chosen art supplies. You can also use pictures from magazines or old greeting cards.
- December 17: Jesus is Wisdom (Sirach or Ecclesiasticus 24:2; Wisdom 8:1). Symbols: oil lamp, open book.
- December 18: Jesus is Lord (Exodus 3:2; 20:1). Symbols: burning bush, stone tablets.
- December 19: Jesus is the Flower of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1-3). Symbol: flower.
- December 20: Jesus is the Key of David (Isaiah 22:22). Symbol: key.
- December 21: Jesus is the Radiant Dawn (Psalm 19:6-7 or 18). Symbol: sun.
- December 22: Jesus is the King of the Gentiles (Psalm 2:7-8; Ephesians 2:14-20). Symbols: crown, sceptre.
- December 23: Jesus is Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14; 33:22). Symbols: tablets of stone, chalice and host.
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Practice almsgiving: acts of mercy like gifts for disadvantaged children
Advent is a Catholic liturgical season that precedes the Christmas season, starting on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and ending on December 24. It is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas, a time to "let every heart prepare Him room".
One way to celebrate Advent at home as a Catholic is through "Jesus Stockings" and a "Baby Jesus Crèche". Small sacrifices are written on slips of paper and placed in the stocking, and a piece of straw is added to the crèche for each good deed. These accumulate during Advent as birthday presents for the newborn king.
Another way to celebrate Advent at home is through almsgiving and acts of mercy. The Corporal Works of Mercy are acts of love and kindness that address the physical and material needs of others, and they are rooted in the teachings of Jesus. These include:
- Feeding the hungry: organizing a canned food drive for a local food pantry, encouraging donations of non-perishable food items, and delivering them to those in need.
- Giving drink to the thirsty: ensuring that those who are thirsty have access to drinks, especially during hot weather or in areas with limited access to water.
- Clothing the naked: donating clothes to those who need them, especially in areas with cold climates or where individuals may not have the means to purchase clothing.
- Sheltering the homeless: providing temporary or permanent housing for those without a home, such as through homeless shelters or by offering a room in your home.
- Visiting the sick: spending time with those who are ill, offering comfort and support, and helping with any tasks or errands they may need assistance with.
- Visiting those in prison: offering companionship and support to those who are incarcerated, as well as providing any necessary supplies or items that may not be readily available to them.
- Burying the dead: assisting with funeral arrangements and providing support to the bereaved, as well as offering prayers and comfort during this difficult time.
These acts of mercy can be extended to disadvantaged children as well. Here are some ideas for acts of mercy specifically for them:
- Donating gifts: Many charities collect gifts for disadvantaged children during the holiday season. You can participate by purchasing and wrapping gifts, such as toys, books, or clothing, and donating them to these organizations.
- Sponsoring a child: You can sponsor a disadvantaged child by providing financial support for their education, healthcare, and basic needs. This can be done through organizations such as Compassion International or World Vision.
- Mentoring or tutoring: Offer your time and knowledge by mentoring or tutoring a disadvantaged child. You can help with homework, teach them new skills, or simply offer a listening ear and guidance.
- Organizing a fun outing: Plan a fun outing or activity for disadvantaged children in your community. It could be a trip to the park, a movie day, or a special holiday event.
- Supporting foster care: If you are able, consider becoming a foster parent to a disadvantaged child. You can provide a stable and loving home, offering them the support and care they need.
- Advocating for their rights: Use your voice and platform to advocate for the rights and well-being of disadvantaged children. This can include raising awareness about issues such as child poverty, education inequality, and the importance of access to healthcare.
By practicing almsgiving and performing acts of mercy, Catholics can embody the love and compassion of Christ, especially during the Advent season.
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Frequently asked questions
A popular way to celebrate Advent is with an Advent wreath or candleholders. Four candles—three purple and one pink—are used to count down the weeks until Christmas. On the first Sunday of Advent, bless your Advent wreath using the blessing provided by the U.S. Catholic bishops.
Adults can use Jesus stockings or a Baby Jesus crèche as a visual aid. For the stocking, write small sacrifices on pieces of paper and place them inside; for the crèche, add a piece of straw for each good deed. You can also display a nativity scene in your home during Advent, but don't place the baby Jesus in the manger until Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
You can craft or purchase a Jesse Tree, which is a tabletop artificial tree. Print out paper ornaments for children to colour, cut out, and place on the tree each day after reading the matching Scripture passages. You can also make a decorative paper chain, with children adding a single link to the chain each day.
The Angelus is traditionally prayed in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. You can also pray a special Christmas Novena beginning nine days before Christmas. The O Antiphons are sung or recited during the last seven days of Advent (from 17 to 23 December) as part of the Liturgy of Hours.
