Advent Calendar, 2024

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 December

2

How will you draw closer to Christ during Advent? Will you deepen your faith through intentional prayer, heartfelt penance, generous almsgiving, or a renewed focus on the Sacraments?

3

Practice the Heroic Minute as proposed by St. Josemaría Escrivá. Get out of bed immediately when you wake (don’t press the “snooze” button) and offer the day to God.

4

5

6

Attend First Friday Mass, in honor of Jesus’ Sacred Heart. Pray, “O Sacred Heart of Jesus, make my heart like yours.” And He will.

7

Perform a thorough examination of conscience today. Then attend Confession to ready your soul to greet the Savior.

Light the first violet candle in the Advent wreath, symbolizing Hope. Reflect on God’s faithfulness and the hope of salvation. (See 1 Peter 3:15 for inspiration.)

Set out the stable and the empty manger from your Nativity scene.

Slowly add the figures throughout Advent.

Advent is a busy time for Catholic parishes. Call or email your parish office and ask how you can help.

8

9

Immaculate Conception God preserved Mary from sin to be Jesus’ mother. Attend Mass and pray a Rosary in her honor.

10

A loving gaze is one of the kindest gifts we can offer. Today, Look at everyone through eyes of compassion and kindness, letting love illuminate each encounter.

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12

Our Lady of Guadalupe

To honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, place a rose in a vase and pray for expectant mothers.

13

14

Light two violet candles in the Advent wreath each night this week. Sit in silence and enjoy the quiet. Read Luke 2:1-7.

Ask Jesus to heal whatever keeps you from experiencing God’s bountiful love.

St. Francis de Sales said, “Have patience with all things, but... chiefly with yourself.” Practice patience with everyone today, especially yourself.

Gather friends and neighbors and go Christmas caroling at a nursing home or homeless shelter.

15

Gaudete Sunday

Light two violet candles and the rose one for joy to mark the halfway point of Advent.

16

Reach out to your parish office to find out how you can make Christmas brighter for a family in need. Your kindness could be their Christmas miracle.

17

Put a lamp or candle in a window to welcome the Christ Child. Light it every night until Christmas.

18

Today, offer a small sacrifice out of love, just for God.

19

Visit the Blessed Sacrament, where Jesus promises to remain with us (Matthew 28:20).

Renew your faith in His steadfast love.

20

Refusing to forgive can destroy our interior peace. Ask for the grace to let go and move on.

21

The King is coming! Tidy up your home and prepare to welcome Him.

22

Light all four candles in the wreath, including the last one for peace. Remember, we are awaiting Christ and the peace He brings to those faithful to Him (Luke 2:14).

23

Read Luke 2:1-19 and decide how you can make room in your heart for Christ. What steps will you take to welcome His presence and live out His love each day?

24

Meditate on the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary or pray Evening Prayer tonight to ready your heart for the birth of the Messiah.

25

Rejoice!

Place the Christ Child in the manger and rejoice!

“In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his be- trothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1-7).