What is Advent? Preparing for the new Liturgical Year

Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, "ad-venire" in Latin or "to come to") is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) 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. The final days of Advent, from December 17 to December 24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).

Advent devotions including the Advent wreath, remind us of the meaning of the season. Our Advent calendar above can help you fully enter in to the season with daily activity and prayer suggestions to prepare you spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ. More Advent resources are listed below.

Advent Resources from the USCCB

• About Advent Wreaths
• Blessing of an Advent Wreath
• Blessing of a Christmas Tree
• Commentary on the Proper Prayers of Advent from the Roman Missal
• Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene
• Excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI's Spiritual Thoughts Series: Christmas
• Festival of Lessons & Carols
• Liturgical Notes for Advent
• The "O Antiphons" of Advent
• 2013 Family Calendar (English)
• Twenty Christmas Movies - The following movies have been evaluated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops according to artistic merit and moral suitability

Resources for Catechists

• Resource Guide for December (PDF)
• December: Intercultural Month of Feast Days (PowerPoint)
• Fiestas de Diciembre (PowerPoint)
• Adviento (PowerPoint)

Advent Crafts for Children

• Mary Word Search [English] [Español]
• Hail Mary Door Hanger

Free App for Mobile Devices (iOS and Android)

• Advent and Christmas Mobile App from FamilyRosary.org