Advent begins November 29, 2009
Did you know that Christmas is preceded by an entire season devoted just to the preparation and anticipation of the great, holy event of Christmas? Advent, which means, He comes, is the liturgical season of four Sundays which precede Christmas. It has its own special customs, its own special music, even its own special foods and a little tree, the Jesse Tree, all its own. It is a time for family to come together and experience the waiting and hoping of Christmas being almost here.
Keep Advent on my Zazzle store
My Etsy Shop
Welcome to my Etsy shop. You will find many pretty things here, including my decorative, I Keep Advent banner. Enjoy.
Keep Advent on Etsy
Here is the little banner that I custom make with each order through my beautiful Epson R280 printer. Come find it at my Etsy shop http://bit.ly/Xg213
More About Advent
The Saints of Advent
The Feasts of Advent
December 3 The Feast of St. Francis Xavier
December 4 The Feast of St. Barbara; St. John Damascene
December 6 The Feast of St. Nicolas
December 7 The Feast of St. Ambrose
December 8 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
December 12 The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 13 The Feast of St. Lucy
December 26 The Feast of St. Stephen
The Advent Wreath
Molded resin rings with the cups evenly spaced for the candles are also a good choice now. They are durable, so they are more environmentally friendly than the old styrofoam rings and will hold the candles in place far more safely.
You will need a ring either to be decorated with greens or not. Evergreens if you are using them will need to be wired into place. (Do not use a wreath designed for display on the door or the wall; it will not hold the candles securely and could be a fire hazard.)
You will need four candles, three purple and one rose (very deep pink, not red). The three purple candles symbolize penance, which is an aspect of the keeping of Advent that has gotten lost in the commercial glitz hustle of our modern Christmases. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, to indicate that Christmas is getting nearer and that the penance will be completed and be transformed into joy.
Finally you will need four lengths of ribbon about a foot each to tie bows around the bottom of the candles just above the base of the wreath.
My Advent Wreath
Marguerite Blogs
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Watch For The Light: Readings For Advent And Christmas
I am looking forward to this book, since I am familiar with all of the writers listed.
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 12/11/2009) 
The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas
Amazon Price: $10.88 (as of 12/11/2009)
Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen: Daily Scripture and Prayers together with Nouwen's Own Words
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
Christmastide: Prayers for Advent Through Epiphany from The Divine Hours
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
The Essential Advent and Christmas Handbook: A Daily Companion : With a Glossary of Key Terms (Redemptorist Pastoral Publication)
This is a good compendium that came out several years ago.
Amazon Price: $11.66 (as of 12/11/2009)
The O Antiphons
Sapientia, Wisdom see Is. 11:2-3
Adonai, Lord of Israel see Is. 11:4-5
Radix Jesse, Root of Jesse see Is. 11:1
Emmanuel, God with us, Is. 7:14
Clavis David, Key of David, see Is 22:22
Oriens, Radiant Dawn, Dayspring, see Is. 9:2
Rex Gentium, King of all Nations, see Is. 9:7
The source for my list here is a wonderful web site, http://www.fisheaters.com/customsadvent10.html, which is in the links below. This site has texts for the O Antiphons in both Latin and English and has the notation for the music in chant. In addition there are mp3 files, which you can listen to of the antiphons being chanted.
Advent Links
- Creator Mundi Religious Advent Calendars
- Most beautiful, religious Advent calendars can be found here.
- 25 Things to Do for Advent
- From the Pro Sanctity Movement. They are attempting to restore Advent. Let's join them.
- Catholic Culture, Advent Page
- Great site to find out the readings for the liturgy, information about the liturgical cycle of the year, activities and even recipes.
- Catholic Culture, Stir Up Sunday
- More about the customs of "Stir up" Sunday.
- The Jesse Tree
- Link to my Squidoo lens on the Jesse Tree.
- O Antiphons
- All about the O Antiphons sung during the Golden Nights before Christmas Eve. The text of the O Antiphons are here in Latin and in English, and MP3s of the chants, with notation, are available in Latin.
- Beliefnet Interactive Advent Calendar - Beliefnet.com
- Count down the days of Advent with Beliefnet's interactive Advent calendar which features in-depth articles, devotionals, quizzes and much more.
This is really fun!
Books by Caryll Houselander
One of my all-time, absolutely favorite writers.
A Child in Winter: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany with Caryll Houselander
Actually selections with a commentary by the editor. It is a good book, but not as good as having just the writings of Houselander. It is organized to be read day by day though and that can provide useful reading for meditation and a pause from all the hustle.
Amazon Price: $17.96 (as of 12/11/2009)
The Reed of God
One of my most favorite books ever--and I have way too many books. I try to re-read this one every year at Advent. She takes us on an extended metaphor meditation of Mary; the meaning of Mary in all her roles. Underscores the sense of expectation that is at the heart of Advent.
Amazon Price: $9.32 (as of 12/11/2009)
The Little Way of the Infant Jesus
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
The Essential Rosary: Prayers
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
The Jesse Tree
More Books on Advent on Amazon
The Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath (Advent/Christmas)
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
Advent and Christmas With the Saints
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 12/11/2009)
Let It Be : Advent and Christmas Meditations for Women
Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)
An Advent Processions Based on the Great "O" Antiphons
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 12/11/2009)
Please Share Your Stories about Advent.
Do you have a special memory of Advent? Do you have a special custom that you would like to share? Please do.
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Reply
- Dec 7, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
- Nice lens. I put a link to your lens on our Christmas List web lens. Check out http://www.squidoo.com/christmaslist to see a list of our websites that you can go to to find Christmas gifts for your family and friends.
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