"Advent, the first Sunday of the new liturgical year and the season of waiting in hopefulness for the coming of Christ, begins on November 30"
Advent begins November 30th. Do you have your Advent reading and resources?
Jesus said to his disciples, "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"
"In Advent, the Church turns our attention to the two comings of Christ. Both were unexpected. No one expected God to take on flesh and become human; and Jesus warns us that the second coming will be at a time we do not expect. The Church also considers the coming of Christ that exists between the two comings, His coming to us in the present through sacraments, persons and circumstances of our lives... May our faith and our reason lead us to be especially awake to Christ's presence this advent season, and may our hearts be humble and desirous enough to welcome His presence in the yet unimagined ways He will reveal himself. May He grow in our lives as He grew in the life of Mary."
Jesus said to his disciples, "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come. It is like a man traveling abroad. He leaves home and places his servants in charge, each with his work, and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch. Watch, therefore; you do not know when the lord of the house is coming, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or in the morning. May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: 'Watch!'"
-The above is a reading for the first Sunday of Advent, from the Gospel of Mark 13: 32-37
"In Advent, the Church turns our attention to the two comings of Christ. Both were unexpected. No one expected God to take on flesh and become human; and Jesus warns us that the second coming will be at a time we do not expect. The Church also considers the coming of Christ that exists between the two comings, His coming to us in the present through sacraments, persons and circumstances of our lives... May our faith and our reason lead us to be especially awake to Christ's presence this advent season, and may our hearts be humble and desirous enough to welcome His presence in the yet unimagined ways He will reveal himself. May He grow in our lives as He grew in the life of Mary."
-A reflection by Fr. Richard Veras, excerpted from The Magnificat Advent Companion, a wonderful daily prayer and reflection guide for the Advent season.
Get your 2008 Magnificat Advent Companion today!
This resource will help enrich your experience of Advent. They sell out every year, so be sure to order yours now.
Other Advent and Christmas devotional reading we offer includes Waiting in Joyful Hope, 2008-2009: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas, and a beautiful Christmas Novena by St. Alphonsus Liguori to help prepare for the coming of the Messiah on Christmas.
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Author: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen |
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 The Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath Only $8.95 Author: Jay Cormier |
View all of our Advent and Christmas books at our Advent and Christmas specialty store.
We have some lovely nativity sets on our site. Because we don't carry anything made in China, we've had to look elsewhere for our nativity sets, and are proud to offer sets made in the USA, Russia, and Italy.
Our CD recommendation this week is a beautiful new CD sung by the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey:
In this first record by the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael's Abbey, the chants of the three Masses of Christmas (Midnight Mass, Mass at dawn, and the Mass of the day) are beautifully presented, perfect for contemplating the mystery of the Incarnation.
For the rest of our selection of music for the Advent and Christmas seasons, please visit the CD section at our Advent and Christmas page. From chant to collections of sacred and traditional hymns to popular artists including Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, and John Michael Talbot, we have a great selection of Advent and Christmas music for everyone.
The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries. He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the "First Covenant". He announces him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, he awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming.
St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last. He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom", whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah", John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.
When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease."
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- Catechism of the Catholic Church 522-524
Still need to buy Christmas cards? We have an extensive selection of beautifully designed cards with a variety of religious greetings inside.
Ideas to celebrate the season with the whole family
 A Treasure Chest of Traditions for Catholic Families Only $22.50
Author: Monica McConkey |
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 The Christmas Story Book Only $19.95 Authors: Various |
Coloring Book About Advent
Only $2.00 |
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For more activities, browse our Children's Activities section. For more books on traditions and customs for Catholic families, visit our Traditions/Customs book section.
We are proud to be now carrying these unique gift sets:
These Three Kings Gifts sets come either in individual boxes, as shown above, or in one single box set, and both options have both large, above, and small sizes (small single box set, small 3 box set). They will make wonderful decorations for your home, as well as great gifts. The Three Kings Gifts sets and other Christmas items can be found here.
Let Us Pray
An Advent Prayer for Hope
O God our Savior,
You are the hope of all the earth.
O God, when hope flickers and faints,
Rekindle us within the fire of your Spirit,
That we may burn with desire for
Your promised Salvation.
You are the hope of all the earth.
O God, when hope flickers and faints,
Rekindle us within the fire of your Spirit,
That we may burn with desire for
Your promised Salvation.
Amen.
Shop online at www.catholicchurchsupply.com for all your parish's church supply needs, including vestments, altar linens, censers and boats, incense, candles, chalices, sanctuary lamps, altar breads, lavabo sets, altar bells, and plenty more!
Click here to learn more about the custom parish website design service we now offer. If you're a Catholic parish in the United States and are looking to improve or set up your website, this service was made for you!
Catholic Church Supply's collection of clergy shirts is one of the largest you can find, including shirts from a variety of brands. We also carry a lovely selection of sacramental certificates for baptisms, weddings, first communion, RCIA, confirmation, and reconciliation.
If you're looking for communion hosts, liturgical books, or a variety of church furniture, Catholic Church Supply is the place to go.
It's time to start thinking about Advent! Catholic Church Supply has Advent wreaths and candles and now is the perfect time to get them. Check your Advent candle supply today to make sure you're stocked up for the season!
If you would like to receive our monthly Magnificat reminder, please click here to visit the page with all our reminder options - blog update notifications, calendar and Christmas card reminders, church supply reminders, and more.
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