By Susan Ciancio
Thanksgiving is upon us, many neighbors and stores have already put up Christmas decorations, Christmas-themed movies are ubiquitous, and radio stations have begun to play Christmas songs. It’s a joyous time of year, for sure. But as Catholics, we know that the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is more than just special cookies, decorations, and parties. It’s Advent—a time of preparation for the coming of our Lord and Savior.
During the four weeks of Advent, it is incumbent upon us, especially as parents, to help our families prepare. That means that each day we should contemplate the reason for Christmas, putting our faith first and reflecting on the love of a Father who sent His Son to redeem us.
To help you and your family find the inspiration you crave this Advent, we have created three reflection booklets specifically intended for families to read aloud. It takes just a handful of minutes a day, but the time spent together listening and talking about the themes and completing the challenges we propose will help you grow closer to each other and to God.
So take a look at what each booklet entails and choose the one that is right for your family. Each is easily downloadable and super affordable (just $1.99).
Each day we explore and reflect upon a new mystery of the rosary as we encourage you to picture yourself as a silent companion to Jesus and Mary. Walk with Christ and His mother, follow their teachings, and immerse yourself in their lives. The entries for each mystery include a related Bible verse, an explanation, a reflection, a challenge, and a brief prayer. As you read, we hope that you can easily picture the love between mother and Son and the love Christ has for others and you, and we hope that this time of holy anticipation of the birth of our Lord and Savior puts you in the right frame of mind to receive Him joyfully.
2. Awaiting the Gift of Christ: Walking with the Saints This Advent
This booklet will walk you through Advent with the stories of some amazing saints and with teaching from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Each day, we introduce a concept from the Catechism, provide a short bio on a saint, and include a reflection of how that saint lived his or her life according to Church teaching. We then offer a way for you to use that saint’s example to build a culture of life in your home or community and end with a short prayer.
3. Waiting for Christ with Joyful Anticipation: Reflecting on Christ’s Love This Advent
Each day we offer you a joyful Bible verse that speaks of the anticipation of Christ. We include a short reflection to help you ponder God’s words. We then highlight a special saint and explain how you can use that saint’s example to build a culture of life in your own homes and communities. Finally, we end with a fun activity you can do as a family that will help bring out the joy of the season.
Each booklet is a beautiful addition to this Advent season. So grab the family, snuggle on the couch, and open your hearts to the love of Christ.