Waiting for the Lord: Advent Resources

Advent (which means "to come" in Latin) is the beginning of the Church's liturgical year and the season leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Advent is a season of preparation and penance that reminds us of Christ's birth as well as His second coming at the end of time. There are many resources to help you prepare your hearts and minds as a community, as a family, and as an individual. Check with your local parish for penance services or other special events. 

The final days of Advent, from Dec. 17 to Dec. 24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas). It is during those days that the Church sings the "O Antiphons," the antiphons that accompany the Magnificat canticle of Evening Prayer. Sung since the eighth century, they use imagery drawn from the messianic hopes of the Old Testament to proclaim the coming Christ.