THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE Resources for Liturgy and Prayer
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Advent is the liturgical season that precedes and prepares for Christmas. It is a season of hope and of longing, of joyful expectation and of peaceful preparation. Many symbols and traditions are associated with Advent, especially the Advent Wreath with its four colored candles (three purple and one pink), but also Advent calendars, special Advent music, food, processions, and other traditions that may vary from one culture or region to the next. Here are a few interesting things to know about Advent:
In addition to the countless songs, carols, and hymns for Christmas (see for example "Christmas Songs and Hymns"), there is also much good, thematically appropriate music for Advent,
not just "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" (which really ought to be saved for the last eight days of Advent - click here to learn why).
Traditional Hymns and Chants | Contemporary Songs and Albums |
Click the above titles for lyrics and/or tunes, |
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Full Albums of Advent Music | |
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Christmas is the annual feast commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, a little over 2000 years ago. For Christians, it is not just a single day (Dec. 25), but an extended liturgical season of joy and celebration, involving many different symbols and traditions, special music and activities, which vary significantly among different countries and cultures. Here are a few interesting things to know about Christmas:
Readings for the Sundays and Major Feasts of the Christmas Season
Readings from the Letters of John (esp. during Christmas Season)
The Proclamation of the Birth of Christ - a.k.a. the Christmas Proclamation, used at Masses on Christmas Eve
2023 Daily Advent Calendar - downloadable PDF from the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Advent and Christmas Resources - various booklets for adults, youth, children, families; from The Pastoral Center, Alameda, CA
Give Us This Day - Advent-Christmas issue of the monthly publication, from The Liturgical Press
Advent 2024 Issue (coming soon) - December 2024 issue of The Word Among Us,
También en Español: La palabra entre nosotros
The Magnificat Advent Companion 2024 - from the publishers of Magnificat
Radicalizing Tenderness: Reflections for Advent & Christmas 2023 - also other resources from Pax Christi USA
Prepare Your Heart - in English and Spanish; and other resources from Ave Maria Press
Waiting in Joyful Hope 2024-2025: Daily Reflections for Advent & Christmas, by Jessica L. Bazan; and many other Advent/Christmas resources from The Liturgical Press
Also available in Spanish: Esperando con alegre esperanza: Reflexiones diarias para Adviento y Navidad 2024-2025
Advent Season and Christmas Season - explanations and resources from the website of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Advent Expectation - by Henri Nouwen; and many other Advent/Christmas resources from All Saints Press
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen - from Ligouri Publications, 2004
Advent: A Family Celebration - by Julie Walters; Word Among Us Press, 2004
Advent Arts and Christmas Crafts: With Prayers and Rituals for Family, School and Church - by Jeanne Heiberg, from Paulist Press, 1995
Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Stories and Reflections on the Sunday Readings - vol. 2 "...on the Daily Readings"; by Megan McKenna; New City Press, 2008
Advent Gospel Reflections - by Bishop Robert Barron; Word on Fire Ministries, 2023
& in Spanish: Reflexiones del Evangelio de Adviento, 2023
Advent Light - by Stephen J. Binz, 2004; part of the "Threshold Bible Study" series
The Advent of Christ: Scripture Reflections to Prepare for Christmas - by Edward Sri, 2013
Advent of the Savior: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives of Jesus - by Stephen J. Binz; The Liturgical Press, 1996
Advent Sourcebook - by Thomas O'Gorman, 1990; first volume of the excellent "Sourcebook Series" from Liturgy Training Publications (LTP)
& Christmas Sourcebook - by Mary Ann Simcoe, 1984; and many other resources in English or Spanish from LTP
Advent: Season of Divine Encounter - by Amy Ekeh; "Alive in the Word" series from Little Rock Scripture Study, 2018
& Christmas: Season of Wonder and Hope - by Catherine Upchurch; "Alive in the Word" series from Little Rock Scripture Study, 2018
The Advent Wreath: Blessings and Prayers for Families and Households - by Jay Cormier, 2020
A Coming Christ in Advent - by Raymond E. Brown, SS, 1988
& An Adult Christ at Christmas - by Raymond E. Brown, SS, 1978
Biblical Meditations for Advent and the Christmas Season - by Carroll Stuhlmueller, C.P., 1980; and other resources from Paulist Press
The Birth of the Messiah - the most extensive scholarly commentary, by Raymond E. Brown, updated 1999
Come, Lord Jesus: Timeless Homilies for Advent and Christmas - by Bishop Robert Barron; Word on Fire, 2023
Daybreaks- and many other Advent/Christmas resources from Ligouri Publications
Fathoming Bethlehem: Advent Meditations - by Robert F. Morneau, 1997; Crossroad Publishing
God Is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas - by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 2010
Hallelujah: Cultivating Advent Traditions With Handel's Messiah - by Cindy Rollins (pub. 2020)
The Joy of Advent: Daily Reflections with Pope Francis - by Diane Houdek, 2015
& The Peace of Christmas: Quiet Reflections with Pope Francis - by Diane Houdek, 2017
Light in the Darkness: Music and Meditation - audio CD, by Paul Tate & Deanna Light; World Library Publications, 2008
Living Faith: Daily Catholic Devotions - quarterly publication, también en Español: La Fe Viva
The Origins of Christmas - by Joseph F. Kelly, 2014; The Liturgical Press
Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr: Daily Reflections for Advent, from Franciscan Media, 2012 (formerly St. Anthony Messenger Press)
The Promise of Christmas: 25 Reflections for Advent - by John Greco, 2022
A Season of Little Sacraments: Christmas Commotion and Advent Grace- by Susan H. Swetnam, 2016
Seeing Haloes: Christmas Poems to Open the Heart - by John Shea, 2017
Waiting in Hope: Praying and Living Advent - by Tony Alonso, 2006; and other youth-oriented resources from St. Mary's Press
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas - anthology of great spiritual writers, 2014; Orbis Books
The Word Became Flesh: Reflections for Advent and Christmas - from Bishop Robert Barron's "Word on Fire Catholic Ministries," 2022
Advent Books - dozens of titles, from Franciscan Media
Advent Resources - wide variety, from Loyola Press
Advent Resources - esp. for children, from Bayard Faith Resources
Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers - from the USCCB "Bishop's Committee on the Liturgy" (1988; rev. ed. 2007); contains blessings for an Advent Wreath, a Christmas Tree, a Manger Scene, etc.
Celebrate Advent Like Never Before - various publications from Ave Maria Press
Liturgy Planning Resources - various online planning tools, from GIA Publications
25 Days of Ignatian Spiritual Gifts - from Jesuits in the USA
Advent - various resources from Pax Christi USA
Advent: LACatholics - from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (2021)
Advent Calendar 2023 - from the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference
Advent Reflections with Sr. Mary McGlone - from NCR Online
Prepare for Christmas Like Never Before - online and emailed daily reflections; from Matthew Kelly and Dynamic Catholic
Online Resources for the Advent Season and Online Resources for the Christmas Season - from The Text This Week liturgical website
Sacred Space: Daily Prayer Online - from the Jesuit Communication Centre, Ireland
"Advent in 2 Minutes" - Don't miss this great short video on YouTube, by "Busted Halo"!
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August 5, 2024
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