Grace Thompson
Advent is a four-week spiritual preparation for celebrating Jesus' birth. It is a time of preparation and conversion, where Catholics prepare their hearts and minds for Christ's second coming and the anniversary of his birth on Christmas. The liturgical colour for Advent is purple, symbolising prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and good works. Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass more often, participate in Advent penance services, and perform small sacrifices for the Christ Child. Many families also have Advent wreaths with four candles, three purple and one pink, and light a new candle each Sunday in Advent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Advent Wreath | A wreath with four candles, three purple and one pink, to count down the weeks until Christmas. |
| Advent Calendar | To acknowledge the yearning desire for knowledge and the spirit of waiting and preparing. |
| Advent Devotional Reading | Advent books that take you deeper into the theology of Advent and spiritually prepare yourself for Christmas. |
| Christmas Novena | A set of prayers and readings for nine days consecutively, ending on the vigil of a feast day. |
| Special Prayers | Advent season prayers found in devotional books. |
| Advent Penance Services | A time for penitential practices and confession to prepare for the coming of Christ. |
| Small Sacrifices for the Christ Child | Giving up small sacrifices during the Advent season, such as Jesus Stockings or a Baby Jesus creche. |
| Seasonal Food | Preparing food that goes with the liturgical seasons, especially Advent and Christmas. |
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What You'll Learn
Attend Mass more often and participate in penance services
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas in the Catholic Church. It is a four-week period that begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and ends on December 24, with Christmas starting at midnight. During this time, Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass more frequently and participate in penance services to prepare their hearts for the coming of Christ.
Attending Mass more often during Advent is a way for Catholics to keep their focus on God and the true meaning of Christmas. It is a time to reflect on Jesus and his teachings and to prepare for his second coming. By going to Mass more regularly, Catholics can take part in the special prayers and readings that are unique to this liturgical season. The Advent wreath, a circle of evergreen branches with four candles, is often used during Mass to symbolize the four weeks of Advent and the expectation and hope surrounding the Lord's coming.
The purple candles of the Advent wreath represent prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices, while the lighting of the rose candle on the third Sunday, or Gaudete Sunday, signifies the midpoint of Advent and the approaching Christmas celebration. This period is also marked by the singing of the "O Antiphons," a tradition dating back to at least the eighth century, which uses ancient biblical imagery to proclaim the coming of Christ.
Participating in penance services during Advent is another important aspect for Catholics. Confession, or reconciliation, plays a significant role in preparing for the coming of Christ by allowing individuals to examine their conscience and seek forgiveness for their sins. This act of penance aligns with the liturgical colour for Advent, which is purple, symbolizing preparation and a call to conversion.
Advent is a time for Catholics to deepen their spiritual connection with God and to refocus their hearts and minds on Christ's teachings. By attending Mass more frequently and engaging in penance services, individuals can fully embrace the true meaning of Advent and prepare for the joyous celebration of Christmas.
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Make an Advent wreath with four candles
Advent is a four-week spiritual preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, and ends at sunset on Christmas Eve. During this time, Christians engage in reflection, prayer, and spiritual preparation, often observing traditions like lighting an Advent wreath with four candles.
The Advent wreath is one of the most symbolic traditions for the season of Advent. The circular shape of the wreath symbolises God's infinite love and the eternity of God, with no beginning or end. The wreath is traditionally made of evergreen branches, which signify continuous life. The individual evergreens that make up the wreath also have their own meanings: laurel symbolises victory over persecution and suffering, and pine cones symbolise life and resurrection. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, with each candle lit on one of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The candles also represent the light of Christ entering the world, with the light getting brighter as Christmas day approaches.
To make an Advent wreath with four candles, you can purchase one from a local religious store, or a major shopping outlet. Alternatively, you can make your own by following these steps:
- Create a wreath out of natural materials such as evergreen branches, or other greenery.
- Add purple and pink ribbons around plain white candles to represent the specialty and sacredness of the four Sundays of Advent.
- Place the candles in the wreath, either directly into the wreath itself, or in candle holders.
- Light the first candle on the first Sunday of Advent, the second candle on the second Sunday, and so on.
- Some people also say a prayer for the blessing of the Advent wreath when Advent begins.
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Pray the St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Advent is a four-week spiritual preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth. It begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (November 30) and ends on December 24.
The St. Andrew Christmas Novena is a prayer that is traditionally prayed 15 times each day for 25 days, starting on St. Andrew's feast day and ending on Christmas Eve. The prayer is as follows:
> In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, (here mention your request), through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.
After praying the above prayer 15 times, conclude with the Sign of the Cross:
> In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
You can pray this novena in a way that works best for you. For example, you can pray it once a day or use an app to help you keep track.
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Read Advent devotionals and the Mass readings each day
Advent is a four-week spiritual preparation for celebrating Jesus' birth and his Incarnation. It is a time of preparation and conversion, a time to make oneself ready for the coming of Christ. One way Catholics can prepare for Advent is by reading Advent devotionals and the Mass readings each day.
The USCCB's website offers an extensive list of Advent prayers and a downloadable Advent calendar PDF. The USCCB also has the daily Mass readings available online and can be requested to be emailed to you each day. Reading these Advent prayers and Mass readings is a great way to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ and to focus on Jesus and what He has done for us.
Advent devotional books are another great resource for spiritual preparation during Advent. These books often include special prayers and readings that can enhance your devotional time. For example, the St. Andrew Christmas Novena is traditionally prayed from the feast of St. Andrew, which falls around the beginning of Advent. This novena consists of a set of prayers and readings composed by an Italian priest in 1721. By praying this novena, you can unite with billions of Catholics who have prayed these same prayers over the centuries.
In addition to devotional reading, you can also create a visual aid to enhance your Advent experience. For example, you can create an Advent wreath with four candles, usually three purple and one pink, to represent the four weeks of Advent. Each Sunday, light one new candle, and continue lighting the same candle(s) each day during the week. You can also say a prayer for the blessing of the Advent wreath when Advent begins. This visual reminder will help you keep your focus on God during the busy holiday season.
By reading Advent devotionals and the Mass readings each day, Catholics can deepen their understanding of the profound theology of Advent and spiritually prepare themselves for the birth of Jesus, the King of Kings.
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Prepare seasonal food
Preparing and sharing seasonal food is an important part of Advent for many Catholics. Historically, Advent was a time of fasting and abstinence from meat and animal products, with a focus on penitence and spiritual preparation for Christmas.
Today, the emphasis has shifted towards joyful anticipation and celebration, with Advent seen as a time to come together as a family and share meals. This can be an opportunity to develop recipes, add variety, and serve delicious, beautifully presented dishes as an expression of love and care for one another.
During Advent, Catholics may choose to simplify their diets, reflecting on the deeper meaning of the season and creating space for reflection and gratitude. This might involve fasting from specific foods or habits, or even taking a break from the busyness of the season, with a focus on restraint and making room for something deeper.
In many historically Catholic countries, there are traditions of preparing food that aligns with the liturgical seasons, especially Advent and Christmas. These traditions are often shared by Catholic bloggers, who offer creative ideas for meals and dishes that reflect the spirit of Advent.
So, for Catholics, preparing seasonal food during Advent is about more than just the food itself. It's about community, reflection, and spiritual preparation, creating a meaningful and intentional way of living during this special time of year.
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Frequently asked questions
Advent is a four-week spiritual preparation for celebrating Jesus’ birth and his Incarnation, with the four weeks alluding to the four thousand years between the fall of Adam and the birth of Jesus Christ. It is derived from the Latin 'adventus' meaning 'arrival' or 'coming'.
Some traditions Catholics can follow during Advent include:
- Advent wreaths with three purple and one pink candle, to count down the weeks until Christmas.
- Advent calendars, to acknowledge the yearning desire for knowledge.
- Christmas Novena, a nine-day set of prayers and readings.
- Preparing seasonal food.
- Special prayers and devotional reading.
- Advent Penance Services.
- Small sacrifices for the Christ Child.
Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas, to fill up your soul with love for Christ. It is also a time of penance and conversion, to prepare, quieten, and discipline our hearts for the joy of Christmas.
