Getting Ready for Advent & Christmas 2016

Now is the time to begin thinking about how we can better keep the reason for the season, in the season.

(Courtesy of the Daughters of St. Paul)

God bless...


Here’s the problem: we all know that Advent is the beginning of the Church year, a time of hushed anticipation and spiritual reflection. But more often than not, it gets lost in the shuffle of Christmas planning and Christmas shopping and Christmas anxiety… in fact, sometimes it feels like this holy penitential season gets lost altogether!

It doesn’t have to be that way. With a little thoughtfulness and preplanning, you can create the space and mood that you need to fully anticipate the coming of Our Lord.

Perhaps, this Advent, you can take a look at how you invest time. That's right, time. Do we just spend it, mark it, kill it, endure it, run through it without thinking? Or is time a precious commodity, something we treasure and use to the fullest? Honestly, since our time is about human life, love, and choices, it can be considered an investment that we make. When we stop and think about it, we want to be fully conscious about how we use this gift from God.

For example, you might think about the way you invest your time and change the way you take on so much. So many parties. So much food. So many gifts. If you can be more thoughtful in your planning, then you’ll discover the ultimate secret of the season: that when it comes to material things, less is more.

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Then there are the simple liturgical celebrations where time (chronos) stops and we enter God's time (kairos). It's mystical and yet very down-to-earth as we join with brothers and sisters all over the world to bring our hopes, fears, and joys to God along with the infinite self-giving of Christ in the holy sacrifice of the Mass.

So an easy yet powerful way you can stay connected to the season’s meaning is by celebrating the feasts of Advent:

 Dec. 6 is the feast of St. Nicholas, a third-century bishop, known as a miracle worker and a giver of secret gifts. Celebrate with surprise candies for people you love, a surprise gift for someone who is lonely, or a surprise donation to a favorite charity.  On Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we honor Our Lady who was conceived without sin. It’s a holy day of obligation, so plan to attend Mass!   On Dec. 12, we commemorate Our Lady of Guadalupe. It’s a great day to join any Mexican neighbors who may be hosting a procession for this event. When Mary appeared at Tepeyac, she had the same features as those native to that area. We can take a cue from Mary and show compassion concretely for the poor in our midst.   On Dec. 13, we celebrate the feast of St. Lucy, a fourth-century martyr, whose name and feast day are associated with light. It’s a great day to light candles and ask St. Lucy to pray for your special intentions.

Note that most of the activities in this guide are designed for families, but can easily be adapted for a couple or a single individual. We just know how chaotic it can feel to try and get families organized for the holidays, so we’ve included a lot of ideas for ways to simplify your life.

Here’s another idea: use the hashtag #PutJesusFirst on social media throughout the Advent season. We’ll be posting, too. With a little effort, we can all recover the joy and meaning of the season!

With our prayers and best wishes for a beautiful Advent and Christmas,

— The Daughters of St. Paul