Advent and Christmas Resources 2023
The Advent Season begins on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The United States Bishops describe this season as follows:
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent (from, ad-venire in Latin or 'to come to') is the season encompassing the four Sundays (and weekdays) leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas * * * The final days of Advent, from December 17 to December 24, we focus on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord at Christmas.
The Christmas season begins December 25, 2023 and ends January 8, 2024. As the U.S. Bishops state:
Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. Celebrating the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is the culmination of the mystery of the incarnation, the feast of God becoming flesh (the Latin "in carne" means "enfleshment"). It is a uniquely Christian teaching, the Divine choosing to become one of us. Because of this belief, God is not only Transcendent, but also wholly Immanent, Emmanuel (God-with-us). . .
Follows are some resources to assist your family in preparing for and celebrating the Advent and Christmas Seasons:
Daily Readings
Lecturas de Hoy
Lectio Divina (USCCB)
Lectio Divina en Español (USCCB)
"What is Advent" (USCCB)
Advent Calendar 2023 (USCCB)
Calendario de Adviento 2023 ((USCCB)
About Advent Wreaths (USCCB)
Blessing of an Advent Wreath (USCCB)
Blessing of a Christmas Tree (USCCB)
Blessing of a Christmas Manger or Nativity Scene (USCCB)
The Jesse Tree (Loyola Press)
The "O Antiphons" of Advent (USCCB)
Resources for Liturgy and Prayer for the Seasons of Advent and Christmas (Fr. Felix Just, S.J.)
Advent Resources from Ignatian Spirituality (Loyola Press)
Praying Advent (Creighton University)
Praying Advent with Pope Francis' Exhortation, "The Joy of the Gospel"
"Four Gifts for You This Advent" (Loyola Press)
Resources for Advent (Jesuit Institute)
Christmas Season (USCCB)
Christmas Infancy Narrative (USCCB)
Narración Navideña Infantil
Blessing the Home and Household on Epiphany (USCCB)
Christmas Lesson Plans for Children - Grades 1-3 (Loyola Press)
Christmas Lesson Plans for Children - Grades 4-6 (Loyola Press)
Christmas Lesson Plans for Children - Grades 7-8 (Loyola Press)
Examinations of Conscience (USCCB)
Celebrating Christmas (Creighton University)
The Advent season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas * * * The final days of Advent, from December 17 to December 24, we focus on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord at Christmas.
The Christmas season begins December 25, 2023 and ends January 8, 2024. As the U.S. Bishops state: