Advent is a time of preparation marked by the symbolism of expectation, the expectation of Christ’s coming, celebrated at Christmas. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. This year, Advent begins on December 3, and kicks off liturgical year B. Its theme is “Come Lord, show us your face. Show us your face.
For this meaningful time of year, there are a number of tools available to help Christians live an Advent that invites them to reconnect with history and simplify their lives by remembering the arrival of the newborn in the crib.
The Diocese of Montreal offers an Advent calendar to “enrich family time by welcoming Jesus! For its part, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) offers a moment of reflection with the presentation of a video capsule each week in an approach entitled “Journeying together during Advent”.
In addition, the Laudato Si’ movement is using this period to invite people to pray and act. “When our faith is transformed into concrete action, it nourishes and strengthens our ‘common home’ with every step we take to care for it.” To make the task easier, the website offers an Advent Calendar 2023 (PDF file), a sort of weekly guide.
The Prions en Église website has also opted for a podcast approach, with a program entitled “En Avent, la gratitude!” It’s a way of rediscovering the power of the simple word “thank you”, notably by offering a piece of advice, an inspirational quote or a Christian song. Sign up with your e-mail address to receive the daily message (French only). You can also consult the list of traditional Christmas carols from around the world.