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Definition of Advent
Advent comes from the Latin word meaning "coming." Jesus is coming, and Advent is intended to be a season of preparation for His arrival. While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.
Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple color associated with Advent is also the color of penance. The faithful should fast during the first two weeks in particular and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The color of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose. This color symbolizes joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again. The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration. It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin.
Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration because we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord every Sunday. It is important to remember, however, there are no particular rules for how the laity should observe Advent.
More Advent & Christmas
Advent & Christmas 2024
Begins Sunday, December 1, 2024
Ends on Sunday, December 24, 2024
"And the angel answered her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.'"
Christ the King
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Christ the King Day is a Catholic celebration that takes place on the last Sunday of the liturgical year in the Catholic faith. continue reading
Advent 2024 starts on Sunday, December 1, 2024
Advent starts four Sundays before Christmas every year.Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary
[holy day of obligation]
Monday, December 9, 2024
![Image of Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary[holy day of obligation]](https://www.catholic.org/files/images/media//14812140994558_150.jpg "Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary[holy day of obligation]")
Blessed Virgin Mary in the first instance of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, ... continue reading
Advent 2025 ends on Sunday December 24, 2025
Advent ends on Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, every year.Christmas
Birth of Our Lord Jesus
[holy day of obligation]
Monday, December 25, 2024
![Image of ChristmasBirth of Our Lord Jesus[holy day of obligation]](https://www.catholic.org/files/images/media//15226932365_150.jpg "ChristmasBirth of Our Lord Jesus[holy day of obligation]")
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ. continue reading
The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
[holy day of obligation]
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
![Image of The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[holy day of obligation]](https://www.catholic.org/files/images/media/2022/16665677875_150.jpg "The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God[holy day of obligation]")
The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ. continue reading
Epiphany
Monday, January 6, 2025
The Epiphany signifies the visitation of the Biblical Magi to the Baby Jesus. continue reading
Advent Reflections
Reflection for every day of Advent
Advent is a period of waiting, like Lent. We are called to obtain the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to pray and fast, as we await the arrival of our ... continue reading
Advent Calendar
Every day of Advent
An Advent calendar has become a tradition for many families when celebrating Advent and the Christmas season. continue reading
Advent Candle
24 Days of December
An Advent candle is a neat way to mark off the days until Christmas. Such candles are commonly found in churches and sometimes in homes. continue reading
Advent Wreath
Each Sunday of Advent
The wreath's symbolism of the advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the ... continue reading
Advent & Christmas Classes
14 Free Classes - Mobile Friendly
You’re joining our global classroom. Thousands of students from all over the world, each with their own unique story, learn at their own pace on ... continue reading
Advent & Christmas PDFs
FREE - Printable - Catholic
Free Advent & Christmas PDFs for anyone, anywhere; Use in your Parish Church - School - Bulletin Inserts. continue reading
Christmas Gifts
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Make This Christmas Special with Gifts from Catholic Online Shopping. continue reading
Nativity Scene
Holy Family
The Nativity Scene is a meaningful expression for our religious faith. With it, we provide a captivating visual focus during the Christmas season. continue reading
St. Nicholas
December 6th
The true story of Santa Claus begins with Saint Nicholas. continue reading
Advent? What is it all about
The word Advent derives from the Latin word meaning coming. The Lord is coming. We may reflect that every year at this time we celebrate his coming... continue readingThe Christmas Story
To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role." The angel Gabriel at the moment of... continue readingAdvent Daily Readings
The weeks of Advent remind us to set aside some of the hectic business of the holiday season, and to quietly reflect on the promise of the baby... continue reading
More Advent & Christmas
Bishop Strickland's Christmastide Message: A Call to Repentance and Courageous Discipleship
As we begin a new year, Bishop Strickland offers us a powerful reflection to carry through Christmastide and beyond. His words remind us of ... continue reading
The Deacon Saint Stephen the Proto-Martyr is a Model for all Christians
In the Catholic Church, Christmas is celebrated for eight days (Octave, from the Latin Octava) and opens up into a wonderful liturgical ... continue reading
Love is Born on Christmas Morn, and the World is Born Anew Watch
The Gospel passages proclaimed at the Vigil and the Midnight Mass of Christmas root the Nativity of the Lord, in the family history and ... continue reading
Rediscovering the True Importance of Christmas for Catholics
As the world becomes increasingly secularized, the true significance of Christmas can often be overshadowed by commercialism, distractions, ... continue reading
5 Ways to keep Jesus in your Christmas celebrations this year
Christmas is a magical time of year when decorations line the streets, children are suddenly behaving and the Post Office struggles to keep ... continue reading
Get your oven mitts ready, it's time to bake Christmas cookies! Watch
Logs are burning in the fireplace and a sweet holiday tune escapes from the stereo. Christmas is here and it's time to break out those eggs ... continue reading
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