Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (meaning, "ad-venio in Latin or "to come to") is the season leading up to the celebration of Christmas. 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 also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas. Advent devotions remind us of the meaning of the season. Special Advent devotions include the lighting of the Advent wreath; the Advent calendar which helps remind us of the season with daily thoughts and activities; Advent prayers that prepare us spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Possibilities to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ and to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas:

1. Prepare and pray with Advent wreath at meals.

• Click here for prayers you can print out for praying with the Advent Wreath.
• Click here to read about the history of the Advent Wreath

2. Pray the Rosary each day, or
3. Pray a part of a mystery each day (1 Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s, 1 Glory Be).
4. Read a chapter from the Gospel of Luke each day, or
5. Read the readings for the day.
6. Go to a weekday Mass or several week day Masses.
7. Pray.
8. Other resources include a Advent activity calendar website where you may click on each day of the calendar for an activity.