What are the Scripture Readings for the First Week of Advent?
Explore Advent’s Scripture readings for the First Week, kindling hope and anticipation in the season of joyous expectation.
Explore Advent’s Scripture readings for the First Week, kindling hope and anticipation in the season of joyous expectation.
Embrace hope and anticipation in Advent’s first week. Discover spiritual preparation and Advent traditions with the Catholic Faith Store.
The Advent Season starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day or the Sunday that is closest to November 30 and it ends on Christmas Eve or December 24th. If Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, it is considered the fourth Sunday of Advent and the time after sundown is considered to be Christmas Eve. To prepare for the beautiful celebration of Advent, let’s look into its meaning and reflect its importance in our lives as Christians.
The fourth candle is also called the “Angel’s candle” as we are reminded of the angel of the Lord appearing before a group of shepherds, proclaiming, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, […]
The third week of Advent, also known as “Gaudete Sunday,” means we have passed the half-way point and Christmas is drawing near. The word gaudete means “rejoice,” and at this point in our Advent journey our hearts should be filled with joy as we ponder the magnitude of Christ’s birth. We mark this joyful time […]
This candle is also called the “Bethlehem candle” and reminds us of Blessed Mary and St. Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem to give birth to our Savior. We recall with awe the words of the Virgin Mary when she learned she would carry the Son of the Most High, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be […]
What are you doing this November 30 to December 24? Will you be shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, and trying to squeeze in some time sitting by a crackling fire? Like many, you probably have a long list of what needs to get done in time for Christmas Day. The race is on and every minute […]
To me, Advent is a time of Love, Joy, Family, Friends, and Jesus. It is more than just purple candles and flip-open paper calendars. This Catholic celebration is more than 2000 years old and is filled with tradition and spiritual meaning for all of us to partake in. But why is it so special? The […]
A long time ago a poor family prepared to celebrate Christmas. There was no money for a Christmas tree or special decorations because the father of the house was out of work. There wasn’t even enough money to pay the heat bills and it was a cold winter that year. Still the mother said, “Children […]