We are just days away from the start of Advent—a new liturgical year, a fresh beginning, and the season that invites us to rediscover hope. Advent begins on November 30, and these next two weeks are the perfect time to prepare our hearts so that when the first candle is lit, we are ready not just with decorations, but with renewed faith.
Too often, Advent slips past us. We rush toward Christmas, buried in busyness, and by the time we look up, the season is gone. But the Church, in her wisdom, gives us a sacred runway—a chance to get ready before Advent begins, so the season can transform us rather than overwhelm us.
Here’s how to begin now.
1. Start With Confession: The Doorway to Peace
If you do nothing else before Advent, go to Confession.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is not a burden—it is the embrace of God who runs to meet us. What better way to begin a season focused on Christ’s arrival than by clearing out the noise, guilt, sin, and heaviness that keep us from Him?
A good confession now means you’ll enter Advent with a clean heart and a renewed sense of peace. It lets grace do what it’s meant to do: prepare the way of the Lord.
Look up your parish’s confession times or schedule an appointment. No matter how long it has been, this is the perfect moment.
2. Create Space: Advent Begins Where Noise Ends
Before Advent begins, choose where you will pray.
Is it a corner of the living room? A chair by the window? A quiet spot outdoors?
Preparing a simple prayer space—maybe with a Bible, a candle, or an Advent wreath—signals to your heart that something holy is coming. When the world grows louder in December, this small place can become a refuge of silence, reflection, and stability.
3. Plan Your Prayer—Not Your Shopping List
Instead of asking, “What gifts do I still need to buy?” ask:
“How will I pray during Advent?”
You might:
- Pray the Rosary daily or weekly
- Read the Mass readings each morning
- Pray a short prayer when you light each Advent candle
- Choose a simple Advent devotional
- Set aside five minutes for silence
The goal is not perfection but faithfulness. Pick practices you can truly keep.
4. Choose One Act of Charity to Live All Season
Advent is a season of hopeful waiting—but it’s also a season of overflowing mercy.
Before Advent arrives, pick one concrete act of charity:
- Adopt a family in need
- Support a local pregnancy center
- Visit someone who is lonely
- Give to a parish outreach ministry
- Write cards to people in nursing homes
- Increase your tithing or almsgiving
Let one intentional act of love accompany your Advent journey.
5. Bring Your Family Into the Preparation
Don’t wait until December to gather everyone.
In these next days, consider:
- Setting up an Advent wreath
- Choosing a special family prayer
- Reading Scripture together
- Talking about the meaning of each candle
- Starting a family gratitude or prayer list
When Advent becomes a shared mission rather than a private task, hearts open in new ways.
6. Make Room for Christ Before the Calendar Fills
The rush of Christmas parties, school events, shopping, and end-of-year deadlines is real—and it can drown out Advent.
This week, look at your calendar and gently protect the spaces that belong to God. Choose which invitations you will accept and which moments of silence you will guard.
Holiness needs room to breathe.
This Year, Don’t Let Advent Pass You By
God is already drawing near.
These days before Advent are not ordinary—they are a gift, a gentle invitation to slow down, turn back, and make ready the way of the Lord.
Prepare now. Start small. Let grace begin its work today.
When November 30 arrives and the first candle flickers in the darkness, you will feel it—not just that a season has begun, but that Christ is coming, and your heart is ready for Him.
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