The Advent Season

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. which helps remind us of the season with daily thoughts and activities; Advent prayers that prepare us spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ. (Source:USCCB)

The Advent Novena

You should begin your Novena* on December 17th, starting with Track 2.  The next day, you should continue with Track 3, and so on, listening to the next track in sequence every day.  With each new day, Fr. Thomas Acklin will give a meditation and lead you in prayer.  In the meditations, Father Acklin will unpack the richness of the traditional "O" Antiphons, taken from the Church's daily prayers during the days leading up to Christmas.

Thank you for your support of Relevant Radio.  We pray that this Novena may enrich your prayer life and that you may grow closer to Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.  May God bless you!

* A novena consists of nine consecutive days of prayer for a special intention.

History, Purpose & Meaning

• http://www.teachingmom.com/features/adventhistory.html
• http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01165a.htm
• http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=2785

Liturgical

• 1^stSunday of Advent – Purple
• 2^ndSunday of Advent – Purple
• 3^rdSunday of Advent – Rose
  Gaudate Sunday
• 4^thSunday of Advent – Purple

Prayers

Pope Benedict's Prayer for Strength During Advent
Prayed by Pope Benedict during his General Audience on December 3, 2008
Come Jesus; come, give strength to the light and to the good; come where dishonesty, ignorance of God, violence and injustice dominate; come, Lord Jesus, give strength to the good in the world and help us to be bearers of your light, workers of peace, witnesses of truth. Come Lord Jesus!

• Advent Calendar with daily prayers
  
• Advent Prayer
• Daily Prayers and Reflections
• Prayers for the Advent Wreath
• O Antiphons
• Christmas Novena (December 16-24)
• Practical Prayers During Advent

Customs

• Advent Wreath
• Nativity Scene (Creche)
• Advent Calendar

Ideas for Kids

• http://www.teachingmom.com/features/adventhistory.html
• dinner
  marriage