Advent and the Advent wreath

Today we celebrate the beginning of Advent and many have already brought out their Advent Wreath.  Here is a site I have shared with you before that explains Advent and shares some lovely prayers to be said daily throughout this time of preparation for Christ's birth ... http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adwreath.html 

Visit it for interesting and useful information or better still print out the page to have the short but meaningful prayers ready to be read before your evening meal.

Blessings to all.

Picture from shared files

4th Sunday in Advent

Today we light the 4th and last candle on our Advent wreath as we celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent.  Our preparation for Christmas is almost finished...THE BIRTH OF JESUS is now imminent. Very soon we will be celebrating the memory of that great event. Today’s Mass prepares us for the Christmas celebration. It is appropriate that the readings for this Sunday are so pregnant with hope and anticipation; they mirror and magnify the excitement that comes with true waiting, knowing we are on the cusp of experiencing God's unlimited love made manifest to us once again.
Today the Pope in his Sunday Angelus spoke of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin, Elisabeth – the episode narrated during the Gospel reading for the day. 
The Holy Father focused on hospitality as he said, " Wherever there are those who welcome one another, where there is careful attention, wherever there are people who make room for another,” he said, “there is God – and the joy that comes from Him."  
“Let us imitate Mary in the Christmas season, visiting to those who are experiencing difficulty, especially the sick, the imprisoned, the elderly and little children,” prayed Pope Benedict, “and let us also imitate Elisabeth, who received her guest as God, Himself.” The Pope concluded by asking the faithful to pray that all men might seek God earnestly, and find that it is God Himself who comes first to visit us.” 
 

Pope Benedict XVI on Gaudete Sunday

This third Sunday of Advent is called "Gaudete Sunday" -- "Rejoice," we are called to rejoice because the Lord is near. . . the "nearness" of God is not a question of space and time, but rather a question of love: Love is near! Christmas will come to remind us of this fundamental truth of our faith and, before the crèche, taste Christian joy, contemplating in the face of the newborn Jesus the God who drew near to us for love. As we renew our hope in Jesus and look forward to His coming, may we experience in our lives the deep joy of His salvation . . . who in His birth brings God's benediction to men.
Pope Benedict XVI

3rd Sunday of Advent ~ Gaudete Sunday ~

Today we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent, also known as "Gaudete" Sunday, which means "Rejoice!" Today also the 3rd candle on the Advent wreath is lit, it is usually a pink candle different from the other purple ones, a little lighter as we are now more than half way this Advent towards Christmas which makes us rejoice. Let us continue to prepare ourselves with prayer and repentance for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2nd Sunday in Advent

“As the journey of Advent continues, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity of Christ, John the Baptist's call to conversion sounds out in our communities. It is a pressing invitation to open our hearts and to welcome the Son of God ... (read more... http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2012-12-09

"...The 'voice' of the great prophet asks us to prepare the way for the coming Lord in the deserts of today, internal and external deserts, thirsting for the water of life which is Christ.” — Benedict XVI

Advent and the Advent Wreath

This coming Sunday is the start of Advent and I'd like to share with all my followers this special page that explains this tradition.  Read this page for lots of interesting information as well as prayers that can be said during this special time.  I suggest you print out this page and have it handy to read out from just before every evening meal. Towards the end of the page is a link for prayers for very young children.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/adwreath.html

ENJOY!