The Catholic Christmas season is filled with joyful preparation. We wrap presents for our loved ones, decorate cookies with care and adorn our homes with twinkling lights. While these festive activities are beautiful, the most important preparation happens in our hearts. Advent, a sacred season in the Catholic Church, invites us to pause, reflect and prepare for the coming of Christ.
But what is Advent, and how can we make this season truly prayerful? Let’s explore the proper meaning of Advent and discover three practical tips for a more prayerful Advent and how you can grow closer to Christ during this sacred time.
In This Blog:
What is the Meaning of Advent and What Are We Preparing For?
Advent season in the Catholic Church is not merely a countdown to Christmas; it is a liturgical season that calls us to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity. It is a time of reflection, pondering the great mystery of Christ’s birth as a human being. Throughout Advent, God invites us to marvel at this event, drawing us closer to his heart and inviting us to know and experience his love.
Similarly to Lent, the Church encourages us to partake in prayer, fasting and almsgiving during Advent—practices that help us approach this season of anticipation prayerfully and arrive at Christmas morning with hearts prepared to receive the Christ Child.
FAQ About the Catholic Advent Season
Read more: 4 Catholic Christmas Traditions to Implement This Advent
3 Practical Tips For a More Prayerful Advent Season
While there are many ways to enter more fully into this sacred time, these three practical steps can help you grow closer to Christ and make your Advent truly prayerful.
Tip 1: Establish a Daily Advent Prayer Routine
A prayerful Advent begins with intentional time with God. Set aside a specific time each day for prayer and reflection—whether over your morning coffee, at dinnertime with your family or in the quiet of the night. Setting aside a few moments in your busy schedule creates space for a meaningful encounter with God through prayer.
Consider incorporating Catholic Advent prayers, scripture reflections, devotions or meditations around an Advent wreath. Even a few minutes of focused prayer can help you encounter God more deeply during this busy season.
For a guided experience, explore the Christmas novena—designed to enrich your daily Advent prayers and draw you closer to Christ.
Tip 2: Engage in Acts of Service and Giving Alms
Advent is not only a time for personal reflection but also a season of service. By engaging in acts of service and giving to those in need, we serve God by answering his call to care for the least among us.
Read more: Why the True Meaning of Christmas is About Giving
Volunteer at a local shelter, donate to a food drive, provide gifts to children in need or support a specific charitable organization close to your heart. Organizations such as Divine Word Missionaries provide opportunities to give your time, resources or prayers to those who need it most. Through almsgiving, your Advent preparation becomes an expression of Christ’s love.
During Advent and all year long, the true gift our missionaries give is the gift of their presence and their service. Divine Word Missionaries are committed to improving the lives of the less fortunate worldwide, providing food, housing, education and healthcare—all the while spreading the Good News of the Gospel and the Christmas message of the new life promised by the child in the manger.
Tip 3: Open Your Heart Through Penance
Advent is the season to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas. By recognizing our shortcomings and confessing them through the sacrament of penance, we create room for Jesus to dwell in our hearts.
Advent presents an opportune time for the sacrament of confession, allowing us to experience God’s mercy tangibly.
Prepare For the Roman Catholic Advent Season—Prayerfully and Purposefully—With Divine Word Missionaries
As we enter the Advent season, let us remember that prayer, reflection and service ensure that our hearts are ready to welcome Christ on Christmas Day.
Join the Divine Word Missionaries’ Christmas novena, starting December 17 and ending on Christmas Day, for thoughtful reflections that illuminate the true meaning of Christ’s birth.
If you’d like to help share Christ’s love and service with communities worldwide this Advent season, consider supporting the work of Divine Word Missionaries.
