Advent questions

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Teresara

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I’m a newly returning cradle Catholic - reading through this site it seems I only remember the things of a child. So please forgive me if I word things wrong in my ignorance.

Can some of you explain how you honor God, Jesus, & Holy Spirit daily during Advent?

It is the celebration of the coming of the Baby Jesus – and then what? Where is your heart when you light the candle? Do you pray while it burns or read the bible?

ty
 
We certainly look forward to celebrating the birth of Our Lord, his first Advent (first coming) but you will find the sermons in the Masses and the readings in the Liturgy of the Hours, for instance, focus on us looking forward to the second Advent (second coming) of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Advent can be regarded as a little Lent. You can honour God by giving up something you enjoy (foods, drinks) or maybe actually doing something extra in order to please God (for example; good works, extra prayers such as the rosary, read the Gospels). In the past the fasts and sacrifices during Advent could be quite a trial.

We only have the Advent candles on at Church during Mass.

Do any of you burn Advent candles at your homes?

Come Lord Jesus!
 
Yes, I bought little Advent Wreath and candles – it was so small that the first candle burned down in an hour! Now the wreath looks like it has and empty hole in it. 😦 But thank you for the info. I’m going to be taking a Catechism class in Jan for returning Catholics – and I spoke with the Father of my parish once. Still have to track down my Baptismal Certificate to officially join.

Small steps; hope and faith. 🙂
 
Advent is a time for preparation of the coming of Christ and His eventual Second Coming.

What many do during this time is they increase their prayer life, fast, go to confession and meditate on God becoming human for our salvation and to restore humanity.
 
a good way to make an advent wreath is to buy a real or artificial evergreen wreath, with the candles that come in glass jars, one pink, 3 purple. Or you can use white pillar candles in jars, and make bows for them in the appropriate color. The candles burn slower and safer, and can be reused year after year until they are gone. I like the smell of real, but you can keep and reuse an artificial wreath also. If the wreath has holly sprigs that is good, as they represent the crown of thorns and blood Christ shed for us. Some people add a white or gold “Christ candle” on Christmas eve and use it during the rest of the Christmas season.

google “Advent Wreath Prayers Catholic”, or download free prayers from Catholic textbook publishers such as www.loyolapress.com or www.sadlier.com.

you can also find a devotional such as Word Among Us www.wau.org that has a meditation on the readings for each day of Advent

meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary, especially the joyful mysteries, including re-reading the scriptures associated with them, is another great way to pray.
 
Where is your heart when you light the candle? Do you pray while it burns or read the bible?
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I have a small book of Advent meditations written by a Jesuit priest (my parish offered them for free a couple of weeks ago), and I use the daily Advent wreath prayers here. Basically, my husband and I take turns—one of us will light the candle while saying the daily prayer, and then the other will read the meditation while the candle burns.

I love my Advent wreath. It’s a wonderful way to keep the true meaning of Christmas at the front of our minds and hearts amid the craziness of the season.
 
Great thread and answers some of my own questions. Thank you guys.

:grouphug:
 
Teresara said:
I’m a newly returning cradle Catholic - reading through this site it seems I only remember the things of a child. So please forgive me if I word things wrong in my ignorance.

Can some of you explain how you honor God, Jesus, & Holy Spirit daily during Advent?

It is the celebration of the coming of the Baby Jesus – and then what? Where is your heart when you light the candle? Do you pray while it burns or read the bible?

ty
Click to expand...
We have an Advent wreath and read devotions in the morning from Advent and Christmas Wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi.
aquinasandmore.com/catholic-books/advent-and-christmas-wisdom-from-st.-francis-of-assisi/sku/62299/imagesize/lg

Also, one year when my son was younger we did a Jesse tree.
catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/activities/view.cfm?id=545

He is older now. A teen and so doing an Jesse Tree would be a little young for him but we do read the Bible verses that go along with the tree, every afternoon.

For myself, and I am not doing a very good job, I am reading Imitation of Christ.
 
WE’ve added a few new traditions over the years and are always looking for new! Our two newest are the Jesus Manger and the Jesse Tree … check out our blog for how we’ve incorporated them into our family … kelloggshow.com/2011/12/the-jesse-tree/
😃
Susie
 
Great ideas here. I can remember a time when I didn’t know many traditions for Advent, but home schooling and reading good books has helped me to learn so much to treasure. We have some Christmas traditions on our website that have been submitted by visitors from around the world. We also have a free printable Advent calendar if you have little ones or would like to share with family and friends who have little ones. Our family dearly loves saying the Saint Andrew Prayer. There are printable holy cards at the middle of our Saint Andrew page.

A happy and holy Advent to all,

Mary
 
For my family and me this is our second year of truly observing Advent. It is the 14th of December, and we have not put up our Christmas tree yet. I have a brass Advent candle ring for taper candles, and have added greenery and corresponding colored ribbons. The candles only last for one season, but that’s okay. We use a small Advent book that guides us through the candle lighting and prayers. We light appropriate candles only at night, and keep them burning just during our readings, songs and prayers. It takes about 20 minutes total. We have the beginning of our manger scene set up, with only Mary and Joseph. On Christmas Eve we’ll add the baby Jesus, and the animals and the shepherd, and finally adding the 3 wise men on the Ephiphany. In our Advent guide it explains traditional ways to celebrate the season. It suggests setting up the wreath where the Christmas tree will be. We have had such a WONDERFUL Advent season these past two years. It’s really drawn us into the season, and helped us not get caught up in all of the commericalism of excessive gift giving.

Also; to the poster who is trying to read “Imitation of Christ”. Take your time and truly enjoy it. It’s one of my absolute favorites!! I actually keep it with me all the time. Don’t rush through it. It’s very contemplative.

God Bless.
 
Our household fasts for Advent. I believe many Eastern rites still observe Advent fasts also.

🙂
 
I have a Christmas tree, lights in the windows, a Nativity scene & an Advent wreath. I use the “Magnificat Advent Companion” & prayers from the Franciscan Mission Associates. I light the candles weekly, saying prayers in front of them, then letting them burn for a while.
 
Teresara said:
I’m a newly returning cradle Catholic - reading through this site it seems I only remember the things of a child. So please forgive me if I word things wrong in my ignorance.

Can some of you explain how you honor God, Jesus, & Holy Spirit daily during Advent?

It is the celebration of the coming of the Baby Jesus – and then what? Where is your heart when you light the candle? Do you pray while it burns or read the bible?

ty
Click to expand...
Advent is not the celebration of the coming of the Baby Jesus. Advent is the four weeks of penance before we celebrate Christ’s coming during the Christmas season.

The readings and proper prayers of the Mass focus on the prophecies of the coming Messias in the Old Testament (especially in Isaias) and the preaching of St. John the Baptist.

One thing I personally like to do is focus spiritually on the stories and people of the Old Testament.

My favorite Advent devotion is the Advent Wreath, a wreath on which is four candles which are light during the Advent season. I like to pray my evening prayers by the candle light of the wreath.

One thing my grandparents put out during Advent was a calendar with each saint’s feast day from December 1-24. If I remember correctly, you’d open the little door for each day on the calendar and you’d get a piece of chocolate.

Anyway, it’s not too late to start some of these Advent devotions to prepare yourself for Christmas.

Have a blessed Advent and a merry Christmas season!
 
Paxvobis said:
Advent is not the celebration of the coming of the Baby Jesus. Advent is the four weeks of penance before we celebrate Christ’s coming during the Christmas season.

The readings and proper prayers of the Mass focus on the prophecies of the coming Messias in the Old Testament (especially in Isaias) and the preaching of St. John the Baptist.

One thing I personally like to do is focus spiritually on the stories and people of the Old Testament.

My favorite Advent devotion is the Advent Wreath, a wreath on which is four candles which are light during the Advent season. I like to pray my evening prayers by the candle light of the wreath.

One thing my grandparents put out during Advent was a calendar with each saint’s feast day from December 1-24. If I remember correctly, you’d open the little door for each day on the calendar and you’d get a piece of chocolate.

Anyway, it’s not too late to start some of these Advent devotions to prepare yourself for Christmas.

Have a blessed Advent and a merry Christmas season!
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Thank you for answering, but I do understand Advent to be a preparing for the arrival of Christ - pardon me for using the word celebration – but I do understand Advent to be a mini-lent as such, and penance only being a “part” of - not the totality of the 4 weeks.
 
I personally say a prayer after I light the advent wreath and then read a verse from the bible. I am always thinking about the coming of our lord Jesus Christ. Advent isn’t only about the coming of our lord through his birth during Christmas. When you read the book of Isaiah which is where the verses come from that you read during Advent it talks about the second coming of our lord.
 
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