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Let’s talk Advent. When does it start? This year, Advent begins Sunday, December 3rd.
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What should we be thinking about during Advent?
According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website:
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and to the anniversary of Our Lord’s birth on Christmas. From the earliest days of the Church, people have been fascinated by Jesus’ promise to come back. But the scripture readings during Advent tell us not to waste our time with predictions. Advent is not about speculation. Our Advent readings call us to be alert and ready, not weighted down and distracted by the cares of this world (Lk 21:34-36). Like Lent, the liturgical color for Advent is purple since both are seasons that prepare us for great feast days. Advent also includes an element of penance in the sense of preparing, quieting, and disciplining our hearts for the full joy of Christmas.
Advent 2023: What to do and how to feel at peace with it all!
If we want to experience the full joy of Christmas, we must honor Advent.
The reality of life in this busy culture, and possibly a busy season of life, can make that feel like quite the impossible task.
So, I gave this some thought.
How can I personally embrace Advent in the reality of my day to day life (which is chaotic, messy, disorganized and only gets more busy during December).
How to NOT be stressed out during Advent
This is what I came up with: 3 questions to ask myself – and questions you can ask yourself.
These questions should lower your anxiety and help us both realize that we can embrace Advent and still live in the modern world of 2023.
The three questions to ask yourself are:
- What am I already doing in my faith life?
- What do I know I am going to get caught up in this Advent?
- How can I approach decorating with an Advent mindset?
What am I already doing in regards to my faith life?
Think about the prayer life you already have. What do you do each week and each day in regards to prayer, Adoration, participating in the Sacraments, spiritual reading, works of mercy, etc. Could you continue to do those things but just focus them on Advent or Saints who have feast days in December?
I am already looking at my phone a lot (sometimes for prayer, often not so much).
I recently started using the Hallow App. The Hallow App will probably have something to listen to for Advent. I’ll make an effort to listen and pray with that App during Advent.
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Our family prays together before dinner.
If I’m being completely honest here, I can tell you I am much more consistent before dinner with praying than I am before bedtime. So my personal strength to daily prayer comes before our last meal of the day.
One action my husband and I can take is to take the opportunity of all of sitting around the dinner table and after dinner read a page from the new Jesse Tree Book written by Colleen Pressprich.
Another thing my kids would probably love is lighting the candles of an Advent Wreath. Our family is now ready to have a grown up wreath – I think (pray for us)! I do believe that my 11 year old would feel great being allowed to light the candle. I feel that giving our children opportunities to make the faith their own is very important. Small steps are still steps!
Sometimes I can be good with waking up early to do some kind of spiritual reading, prayer or journaling. If this is you, check out my blog post about Advent Prayer Journal Prompts!
Do you read to your children? Do you read for pleasure? If yes, prepare a stack of books about Advent or the Saints we celebrate during Advent! In our house, we still consistently read to our children.
My 6 year old daughter told me her FAVORITE Saint book is How the Saints Saved Christmas! This book is perfect for Advent! This same 6 year old daughter smuggled the brand new book I only read once to her so far in the car – this book, called Twas the Day Before Christmas in Bethlehem Town is a great addition to your families’ library (and your niece’s, Godson’s, Grandson’s too)!
Need an adult book suggestion? Try this one about Our Lady of Guadalupe!
What do I know I am going to get caught up in during Advent?
Christmas Shopping and All the Gatherings
For me, I know I will not be done my Christmas shopping before Advent. Bravo to those of you that will be, but I know me, and getting my Christmas shopping don early is not something I do.
Since I know I will be Christmas shopping, I can do several things while I shop. One, I can say a little prayer each time I buy a gift for the person who will be receiving that gift.
I can also make a true effort to give gifts that will inspire faith, prayer and a love for Our Lord. If you know me, you know this is already something I love to do!
Over at Catholics Online, we created an exclusive Catholic Christmas Gift Catalog! I highly recommend you download yours today!
Holiday get togethers! Chances are, there will be a few! I hear more and more of
“cookie baking gatherings”;
“cookie exchanges”;
“ornament exchanges”;
“holiday work parties”;
“ugly Christmas sweater parties” (I need an invite, I want a reason to buy this Advent sweater!!)
“secret Santa gift exchange” – what else? What else am I missing?
Birthday parties that are in December; weddings, showers, etc . . .
And of course there will be Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
We can approach shopping with a peaceful mindset by starting a little early, making a list and sticking to it, and bringing the idea that gifts can evangelize and nourish souls. We can also limit the number of events we say yes to, and bring our faith with us wherever we go!
Think faith-based hostess gifts
If I am heading to a holiday get together, I can bring the hostess a gift with a holy twist!
Maybe it will be something fairly light hearted in nature, like a bottle of wine and a Prayer Wine Chocolate Tumbler. Other ideas can be candy made by Trappistine nuns or a candle made by a Catholic company.
Are you a quilter? Check this out from Faith and Fabric!
Catholic cookies!
If it is a cookie exchange or cookie baking get together, Shining Light Dolls now has cookie cutters!
(use coupon code PRAYERWINECHOCOLATE to save!)
How do you approach decorating in December?
Some people already have their Christmas tree and outside lights up! Could you bring Advent into the decoration mix a little more this year?
Do you have an Advent wreath? Make sure you display it! If not, I found this one on Etsy!
If you have little ones and don’t feel comfortable with an open flame, Shining Light Dolls has a beautiful wooden Advent wreath meant for little hands!
The best idea to consider with this question is “less is more”. During Advent, we watch the world rush right into Christmas. The Christmas Season liturgically is after Advent. Ask yourself to hold off on some of the lights and Christmas decor for as long as you can . . . remember, to experience the full joy of Christmas, we must honor Advent.
THIS WEEK ONLY!!! GET THE CATHOLIC MOM ADVENT BUNDLE!!!
Did this article help you? If yes, please share it!
I love the idea of praying for the person you’re buying the gift for! Those cookie cutters look adorable. I’m definitely inspired to bring more Advent decor to our house instead of straight up Christmas all month. Thanks for all of these great ideas!
These are such great ideas! Thank you for this advice!