Celebrate Advent

 What IS Advent?

According to the Catholic Almanac, "The liturgical year begins with the first Sunday of Advent, which introduces a season of four weeks or slightly less duration with the theme of expectation of the coming of Christ. During the first two weeks, the final coming of Christ as Lord and Judge at the end of the world is the focus of attention. From Dec. 17 to 24, the emphasis shifts to anticipation of the celebration of his Nativity on the solemnity of Christmas.

"Advent has four Sundays. Since the 10th century, the first Sunday has marked the beginning of the liturgical year in the Western Church. In the Middle Ages, a kind of pre-Christmas fast was in vogue during the season.

In addition, we learn "The Christmas season begins with the vigil of Christmas and lasts until the Sunday after Jan. 6, inclusive.

"The period between the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of Lent belongs to the Ordinary Time of the year. Of variable length, the pre-Lenten phase of this season includes what were formerly called the Sundays after Epiphany and the suppressed Sundays of Septuagesima, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima."

Even as Catholics honor the season through liturgy and worship, Christians the world around celebrate Advent and honor Jesus Christ in many ways: good works and generosity to those less fortunate, gift-giving, family get-togethers, and beautiful decorations.

Our Sunday Visitor has gathered a Christmas-basket full of ideas, information, and resources to help make your Advent more reverent, more meaningful, and perhaps even more enjoyable. Don't miss a special excerpt from our Christmas pamphlet,How to Celebrate Christmas as a Catholic.

 On this web site, you can:

• View the liturgical calendar for December

• An excerpt from Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan's Advent Reflections: Come, Lord Jesus!

• Read an excerpt from our Christmas pamphlet, "Celebrate Christmas as a Catholic"

• Teaching Catholic Kids Advent issue

• Download a PDF file of Advent Prayers here.

• Read Pope John Paul II's Message for Children

• Read the Christmas story

• Discover Advent ideas from A Catholic Parent Book of Feasts (PDF file)

• Try out some great Christmas recipes

• Check out some Christmas gift ideas from http://catalog.osv.com/

• Get "crafty" with your kids. Download a Christmas craft(PDF file) here.

• Make Your Own Advent Wreath

• Have  a "green" Christmas from Grace in Action.

• Learn about the real Santa Claus--Saint Nicholas

• Share the Christmas memories of OSV newspaper readers

• Visit our TeachingCatholicKids site for PDF downloads of kids' activities.

• Surf Advent links from other Catholic sites

• Advent books and more from Our Sunday Visitor

• Contact us with questions or comments by clicking here