The Advent season marks the start of a new liturgical year in the Church. Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas (the Sunday nearest November 30) and ends on Christmas Eve. This liturgical season isn’t just a countdown to Christmas Day but a time of waiting, anticipation, and preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
The weeks leading up to Christmas tend to be full of holiday preparations, from shopping and sending cards to attending parties and concerts. But the Church invites us into a different season of preparation.
Every Sunday of Advent, a candle is lit on the Advent wreath. Each of the Advent candles represents a different virtue: hope, peace, joy, and love. Devoting time to prayer during the weeks of Advent is a common practice, and these virtues help provide a focus for that prayer.
Below, you’ll find Scriptures and prayer practices based on these virtues that you can use in your own prayer this Advent season, to help you focus on each of these weekly themes throughout Advent.
Your gift helps CatholicTV deliver the Good News into millions of homes across the nation. We need your support to continue connecting people with Christ and the Church.
