John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judeaand saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:A voice of one crying out in the desert,Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his...
This year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 30, 2025, and will end on Thursday, December 25, 2025. Before Advent begins, take some time to create a plan that will prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent is a season inviting us to...
Ever feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of devotions, prayers, novenas, saint days, feast days, celebrations, fasts, Holy Days of Obligation, octaves, and other observances in the Catholic Church? In this digital age, we have more resources than ever—Catholic books,...
Please join Catholic-Link Connect this Advent as we journey alongside the Abiding Together Podcast for their beautiful seasonal study. This year, we will embark on a pilgrimage of the heart, traveling through four sacred spaces—Eden, Loretto, Elizabeth’s home,...
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast. Fr. Rob and Fr. George to discuss some traditions one can incorporate this Advent to help prepare our hearts and homes for the coming of the Christ child at Christmas. Fr. Rob says we first need an Advent Wreath and we...
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast. Fr. Rob and Fr. George to discuss The Three Comings of Christ to reflect on during Advent. The three comings of Christ are: 1) Christ's birth at Christmas, 2) Christ's coming into our hearts and souls every day, and 3)...
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast, Fr. Rob and Fr. George Elliot discuss how the season of Advent is a preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ. One means of preparation for the Solemnity could be to practice fasting. Fr. Rob makes the distinction...
St. Joseph has been accompanying me since my youth and this latest accomplishment—the song I co-wrote with Tom Raniszewski, “The Carpenter’s Son”—is but another time he has influenced my thinking and lifelong spiritual journey. When I began elementary school at St....
Your Lord and Savior is Now the Size of a Watermelon! Advent has officially begun! The final month has finally arrived and Baby Jesus will soon be born. The last month in the womb is spent with baby Jesus preparing for his birth. He is inhaling and exhaling...
Looking for Advent ideas to try with your family? I love Advent! If you deliberately celebrate Advent, you get the joy of preparing for Christmas, without becoming tired of the pre-Christmas hype. Now that my children are starting their own families, I think about the...
Need time to slow down as we approach Christmas? Need a way to enter into Advent on a daily basis with weekly accountability and community? Join Catholic-Link Connect as we allow Christ to enter our hearts this Advent season with Heather Khym’s book Encountering...
This year, Advent begins on Sunday, Dec 1, 2024, and will end on Tuesday, Dec 24, 2024. Before Advent begins, take some time to create a plan that will prepare your heart to celebrate the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Advent is a season inviting us to step away...
In this episode of the Catholic Link podcast, Fr. Rob and Fr. George Elliot discuss how the season of Advent is a preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ. One means of preparation for the Solemnity could be to practice fasting. Fr. Rob makes the distinction...
The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully exclaims that “No one, whether shepherd or wise man, can approach God here below except by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring him hidden in the weakness of a new-born child (CCC 563).” The manger at...
Royalty, penance, and sacrifice– purple is the liturgical color used during the Season of Advent. Purple represents a time of preparation before the important celebration of Christmas. But why is there also a pink candle on the Advent Wreath? One of only two “pink”...
Who Was St. Lucy? St Lucia is an early Christian martyr with a story that brings us many traditions on her feast day, December 13th. From the Swedish procession led by a young girl wearing a crown of candles to an eldest daughter serving their families sweet treats....
The moment we open our eyes the day after Thanksgiving (and oftentimes even before), we are inundated with reindeer, gingerbread, gifts, elves, and Santa. Though these things are not inherently bad, if we do not keep our Christmas season properly ordered, it is all...
As I walked from the campus library to my dorm with my roommate, we discussed our plans for the weekend. It was a temperate December day in Southwest Florida at Ave Maria University. “Don’t forget!'' My roommate reminded, “Advent begins this weekend. Let’s go to the...
Expectant waiting. This is a notion– when considered through the lens of modernity– that seems like a foreign concept from the days of yore. The world is available at the slight extension of the fingertips. Objects of both necessity and desire can be purchased with...
Advent: the season most Catholics would like to honor more appropriately but find it difficult to do so with the commercial Christmas creeping in all around. But when we do celebrate Advent it is totally worth it— both for the value in the season in and of itself, but...
I must admit, that patience is not a virtue that comes easily to me. Waiting for something, whether it's a package from Amazon or standing in line at the grocery store, tends to frustrate me. Even sitting in traffic on the highway can test my patience to its limits....
This year, Advent begins on Sunday, November 30, 2025 and ends December 25, 2025. Take some time before Advent starts to form a plan that will prepare your heart to enter into the celebration of the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Christmas day. The...
What parents don’t want to give their children the best gifts possible? But beyond traipsing through malls or scrolling online for the perfect present, time might be well spent this Advent season giving kids the Greatest Gift by helping them develop a deeper...
Gospel of Matthew 1:18-24 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,yet unwilling to...
Las Posadas is an Advent tradition begun by Hispanic Catholics in the 16th century. Las Posadas means “the Inns,” and like a typical novena lasting nine days, the celebration spans the nine days before Christmas. Though it does involve knocking on doors and...