Advent Resources

Take a break from online shopping and make a stop at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Advent calendar web page. Starting today, it offers recommendations for activities, Scripture readings and giving aimed at deepening followers’ connections with Christ.

See also many other spiritually enriching Advent Links on our website!

Advent Links

Our church calendar begins each year on the first Sunday of Advent.
In 2012, that date is December 2, 2012.

Advent Readings for Year “C”

Advent Workshop

Advent / Christmas Links

Advent Definition

The word ”advent” means “coming”. Jesus’ birth was prophesied many years before he was born and many people waited with great anticipation the coming of their promised Savior. Today, the four weeks prior to Christmas is our “Advent” season. It is a season for preparing our hearts and minds for Christmas Day, when we celebrate the birth of Christ. We have many books, devotionals, and family activities which can assist you in your season preparations.

Advent History

Christians have been counting the days before Christmas since the sixth century A.D. In that century, a church council established the season of Advent - the four weeks before Christmas – and invited Christians to fast and pray during those weeks. Today, many Christians use the four weeks of Advent to remind themselves of the story of Jesus’ coming (the word Advent means “coming”). You can calculate exactly when Advent begins by finding the Sunday nearest November 30. Depending on what day Christmas is, the Advent season can last anywhere from twenty-two to twenty-eight days.

 
SMMP’s Advent Calendar
Blessing of the Family Advent Wreath Prayers and Customs of Advent
Praying Advent Minute Meditation Celebrating Advent
Advent Wreath Prayers I EWTN’s Advent Reflections Domestic Church Advent
Advent Wreath Prayers II Online Advent Calendar Celebrating Advent to Epiphany
Family Advent Activities Advent and Christmas Reflections
A Holy Christmas – Part I Advent: Open Wide the Doors to Christ USCCB Advent Resources
A Holy Christmas Part II USCCB Advent Calendar
Jesse Tree Advent: Season of Unreasonable Stress? Candy Cane Message

Teach the Children
Christmas Music


Christmas in Cyberspace Four Ways to Pray the Wait

Simbang Gabi Novena Masses

” Simbang Gabi” ( Advent Evening Mass) a Filipino tradition of over 400 years, is a festive Eucharistic Celebration held at dawn; an expression of joyful gratitude and waiting for the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of nine Advent Masses, starting on December 15th and ending with a midnight Mass on December 23rd.

The second of the nine evenings of the “ Simbang Gabi“ has been set for St. Elizabeth Seton Church on Friday, December 16, 2011.

Click for more details and links to nine parishes

Preparing for Sunday

The Christian Formation Commission would like to share with you some wonderful online resources for preparing for the Sunday Liturgy.  Going Deeper into the Mass

Sunday Readings

USCCB

 

Mass Readings The USCCB provides both text and podcasts of each week’s Scripture readings.

Sunday Readings and Homiliy Podcast from EWTN

blue_logo1EWTN

EWTN podcast Scripture readings and homily from daily Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale Alabama   Read more
Activities with Childrensunday
Sunday Readings from   CatholicMom Great activities and worksheets to give to children in preparation for Sunday
Teens & Young Adults

sunday-150x150

 

Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday Sunday
The Bible Geek, Mark Hart, prepares you for the upcoming Sunday Catholic Mass readings. Don’t show up to Mass unprepared! Pray through the readings, listen to this podcast, pay attention at Mass, and get ready to grow that much closer to Christ. The Sunday Sunday Sunday podcast is brought to you by your friends at LifeTeen.com.

Adults

sunday_link_button

Preparing for Sunday The St. Louis University Liturgy department produces a very thorough look at each Sunday’s liturgy.  There are links to the Sunday Readings, several commentaries, guided prayers and discussion questions.

General
WordOnFire

Word on Fire Fr. Robert Barron presents his Sunday homilies in a podcast format (posted a few days before Sunday).  These homilies are also broadcast on Relevant Radio each week.  Excellent and insightful!! Scroll down to Sermons.
General Audience

Abbot Austin

Abbot Austin Murphy’s Sunday homilies Abbot Austin Murphy, OSB has a FaceBook page (that can be accessed by non-FaceBook members).  Father Austin was our weekend assistant for a few years.  He posts his Sunday Homily a day or so after the weekend and always has some insightful and inspiring comments.  He often does a Podcast of the homily as well.