This year’s Advent season will be the shortest possible Advent. With Christmas on a Monday, the fourth week of Advent is only one day! This means that you need to make the most of your twenty-two days of preparation for the Birth of Christ.
We have five incredible resources to help you keep your focus on the “reason for the season.” Don’t let the hustle and bustle of the holidays keep you from growing spiritually. And, because none of us can find extra money during the Christmas season, all of these resources are free.
5 (FREE!) Advent Resources
Pray More Novena Advent Retreat
This is a retreat you can take part in from the comfort of your own home and go at your own pace. There will be thirteen talks from some of the best Catholic authors and speakers. A few of the talks that I’m looking most forward to: Having Great Hope in God’s Plan (Fr. Nathan Cromly), Isaiah 9:6: The Titles of Jesus (Mary Lenaburg), and The Stages of Giving & Receiving Forgiveness by Johnnette Benkovic. Find out more at sign-up for the retreat here.
Daily Email Gospel Reflections From uCatholic
If you’re just looking for a little boost to help guide your Advent, these daily reflections are perfect. They are short, yet insightful, and can easily be incorporated into a busy schedule. Links to the readings for the day are also included in the email if you want to take the reflection even deeper. Personally, I love these reflections that are sent directly to my email. It’s a nice daily reminder to stay focused. Sign up here.
Advent Journal For Kids From Take Up & Read
I’m so excited to do this Advent prayer journal with my children. Just read the description from the website: “Here, you’ll find the same heroes of the faith that are in the adult version, only the stories are more complete. (You might even consider printing one for yourself as an addendum to your journal.) Then, there are “I wonder” questions to inspire great conversations with your children and to help all of you with your journaling. There are lectio divina pages designed with children in mind, more complex for the older kids, a little simpler for the younger. We introduce the Saint Andrew Christmas prayer and we give your children beads to color as they pray.” You can download and print these journals for FREE on the website!
There is also an adult version of the journal available for purchase on Amazon.*
Daily Advent Videos From #ShareJesus
Such a wonderful idea… “This Advent get a daily 2-3 minute video featuring amazing religious sisters (Sisters of Life, CFR Sisters, SOLT Sisters, and more.) Videos are short, engaging, and created to be shared with your friends!”
Online Workshop “4 Keys To Drawing Closer to God This Advent” From Catholic-Link.org
You’ll learn:
- Who are the important biblical figures of Advent
- How to appropriate their lives to our own
- How Advent is a preparation for our own definitive encounter with Christ at our death
- How Christmas only makes sense in light of Advent
