How to Pray During Advent

Advent is a Catholic, Christian season, which lasts for four Sundays leading up to Christmas. Advent is a time of spiritual renewal, a preparation for celebrating the advent of Christ, God in flesh. What distinguishes prayer during different feasts and seasons is focus. Advent's focus is renewal, hope and joy. Advent prayers proclaim praises to Jesus, God Incarnate with joyous anticipation.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Liturgical calendar
• Liturgy of the Hours

1. 
    

   Mark the Sundays of Advent, observing fasts, attending Mass and striving to bring the spirit renewal and the Incarnation into your daily life. As a matter of spiritual fact, every activity has the potential to be a prayer. In the Advent season, pray for the truth of the Incarnation and the hope that accompanies it to infuse your very breath. Think of the expectant faces of children, their giddiness as Christmas morning approaches. Imitate that, and know you will awaken to more than paper and pretty bows.

2. 
    

   Celebrate the beginning of Advent with the people you love. Gather on the first night of Advent and make an Advent wreath, weaving Advent prayers into twigs, pine needles and candles. Make the gathering itself a prayers of the unity of humanity so loved by God.

3. 
    

   Pray daily during Advent. Carve out a brief block of time when you can focus on a prayer ritual. Private Advent prayer resembles liturgical prayer. Read from Hebrew Scriptures that Christians believe foreshadow the Incarnation. Isaiah is a good selection. Catholic Church offers readings for every day. Read from Matthew or Luke and finally, read from the Psalms as indicated in the Liturgical Calendar. (see Additional Resources) Spend time reflecting and meditating. Pray for Intercessions from the Liturgy of the Hours. (see eBreviary Additional Resources) Finish with recommended closing prayer.

4. 
    

   Gather 'round the hearth with friends and family. Come together one night during Advent, cook and feast with the people you care about the most. Invite someone new. Share the wealth and hope of the season. Provide a prayerful focus. Let the gathering be an anticipatory event.

5. 
    

   Remember that holiday frenzy is not Advent's focus. Remembering and recalling in prayer that you await the Incarnation actively inserts God's presence in a real way into your more mundane holiday activities. It's alchemy of the highest order. Let joy and peace attend you as you interact with everyone each day.

Tips & Warnings

• Most Christian denominations observe Advent.. This article looks at the practices of Catholic Christians, which resemble other Christian denominations.

Resources

• Making an Advent Wreath
• eBreviary
• Guide to Daily Advent Prayer
• The Advent Wreath
• Catholic Liturgical Calendar