Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming" .
A few years ago on December 19, 2007, at the General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Auditorium, the Holy Father reflected on the Season of Advent and the justice we await. Check HERE for more. I found it to be very inspiring and uplifting and perfect time to read it as we enter into this Advent season.
I don't know about you but for me, I always want to have all my Christmas shopping done prior to Advent. This year, that is half way fulfilled! I also aim to declutter my house of unnecessary bothers and distractions from what Advent is really all about. For the last few years, I kept trying to remember to buy purple cloth to hang over our statues and holy images/pictures...but I usually forget and this year is no different! Oh well, there is always next Advent or Lent! ;)
During Advent, I try to refocus and create a season for prayer and reformation of my heart and soul. I look at it as the perfect time to examine myself...to dive deep into my soul and clear out all that holds me back from the joyful anticipation of remembering and celebrating Jesus' birth. How am I getting ready for Him? What can I improve on? What can I do better? What needs to change?
We do have a little Advent calender, that hopefully we will remember to open up daily. I taped it to our refrigerator as a helpful reminder!
We also have our Advent wreath out, which is sooooooooooo much better than last year! I think I remembered the last few days of Advent to actually get it out! heeee heee! :)
HERE is a link for a bunch of great ideas for Advent.
Have you signed up for THIS yet? "Fun, free and easy for your Mom"!
Last year, we worked on an 'Advent Penance Jar'. Did you know that Advent is a lot like Lent, in that it is a penitential season full of hope and great anticipation? In our jar, we had a bunch of folded up little pieces of paper in the jar and on them were daily extra duties (little sacrifices) that each of us chose to do, and we tried to do them joyfully too. As much as it was fun and encouraging to do last year, I don't think it will work for our family this year.
So...I am thinking of some other ways to make Advent really powerful but it has to be really simple too! Do you have any ideas to share? Please leave a comment, it'd be great to find new ideas-thanks!
The Gospel passage from today's Mass was so very fitting, I had to include it with this post: It is from Luke 21: 25 - 28, 34 - 36
25
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
26
men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27
And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28
Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
34
"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare;
35
for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
36
But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."
25
"And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves,
26
men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27
And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28
Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
34
"But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare;
35
for it will come upon all who dwell upon the face of the whole earth.
36
But watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man."
God bless,
Mary
2 comments:
Ha ha Mary, we must be on the same spiritual wave-length. I posted something similar today on my blog before seeing your ideas here. Our family just exchanged names for our Advent buddies this morning--We try to do special things for our buddy throughout Advent as well as say special prayers for our buddy.
I'm a bit behind. We'll be digging out our Advent Wreath and Jesse Tree today.
Have a Holy Advent!
How about that? Tis the season! Your post is great too, I love the idea of Advent buddies! I iwll have to think about that one-did you do it when they were young too or a bit older??
God bless, Mary @ Cheerios
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