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How to Prepare for Christmas

Prepare for the coming of the Saviour

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and to prepare for it the Church gives us the season of Advent. Advent, which begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, means “arrival” and is a time for preparing ourselves for God’s arrival in the world.  Each Sunday in Advent, Catholics light one more candle on the Advent wreath. They are a symbol for the ever-brightening light God sends into our darkness.

Christmas is the great celebration of Jesus’ birth, when God gave us His son. God becomes very small and comes into the world as a human being. The Christmas tree, the candles, festive decorations and the crib are not just a decoration for a great marathon of present-giving. They are to remind us of this great event: the birth of Jesus is the reason for this big feast.

Precisely because this feast is so important, the Church celebrates it quite extensively: with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve and church services on Christmas Day. The Christmas season ends with the Baptism of the Lord, which is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany (which is usually 6th January).

Advent & Christmas Books

A Book of Novenas Dr Raymond Edwards, Glynn MacNiven-Johnston

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The Church Year for Children

The Church Year for Children Katrina Lange, Pia Biehl

£16.95Add to Basket

Advent & Christmas Ebooks

Enter into Advent

Mary's Gift of Self Prepares the Way

Mary's Gift of Self Prepares the Way

In this Advent reflection of the first line of the Hail Mary, discover how Mary helps us to consider our place in salvation history, and how meditating upon Mary's role in the birth of Our Lord also encourages us to meditate upon the fulfilment of the Kingdom.

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Behold He is Coming

Behold He is Coming

As we prepare to celebrate the coming of the Word made flesh, it's helpful to consider Christmas from three perspectives: the past when Our Saviour was born, the present where Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist, and the future when we will one day be judged.

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Unpacking Advent Traditions

Advent: Catholic Customs & Traditions

Advent: Catholic Customs & Traditions

Discover how to use Advent as a time for preparation for Christmas by unpacking Catholic customs, their origins and their significance. What does the Advent wreath symbolise? Who invented the Christmas crib? What are the Catholic origins of the Christmas tree? Learn these fascinating facts and more in this blog.

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For Children

How to Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

How to Make Your Own Christmas Decorations

What makes a Christmas tree a Christmas tree? Traditionally, Christmas trees are decorated with glass baubles of all different colours, and candles or chains of lights. Why not make your own decorations this year? Discover this fun activity for children!

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