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, Dec. 17-24, focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).
Advent devotions including the Advent wreath, remind us of the meaning of the season. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has developed an Advent calendar to help you fully enter in to the season with daily activity and prayer suggestions to prepare you spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.
Review USSCB Advent calendar and other USCCB Advent resources>
