Five Ways to Live Advent Well this Year

(Yes, it is a click-bait-y title, but you're here, aren't you?!)

At breakfast this week, a brother priest casually asked me:

"Hey, you're a liturgy guy... How can I do this Advent thing well? What can I do?"

So, in response to his question, I'll offer the following suggestions. Of course, there are more ways to celebrate Advent well, but here are five:

(1) Pray the Collect from the daily Mass

As I hinted at during my previous post, the opening prayer at Mass (called the Collect) during each day of Advent is a mini-reflection on the meaning of Advent. These prayers are the Church's way of distilling the essence of a particular liturgical season or a Saint's feast day and asking the Lord for a specific grace or gift.  During Advent, these prayers are quite poignant, as they ask for strength, protection and courage whilst we struggle against sin.

For example, the collect for Friday of the First Week of Advent is : 

Stir up your power, we pray, O Lord, and come,
that with you to protect us,
we may find rescue
from the pressing dangers of our sins,
and with you to set us free,
we may be found worthy of salvation.

Each day, take the Collect of the day's Mass & pray it slowly, making the prayer your own.

You can find the collects either in a Daily Roman Missal, a monthly Magnificat booklet, or on other sites. Pray well.


(2) Read the First Reading: A Study of the Prophecies of Isaiah

During Advent, the first reading at each day's Mass is usually from the Prophet Isaiah. In short, Advent provides a mini Bible study of the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

Read each day's first reading at Mass from Isaiah and see how the Church's Liturgy proclaims the texts as a way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah.

You can find the daily readings for Mass on the US Bishop's website.


(3) Pray the Prefaces of Advent

The two prefaces used during the Season of Advent are excellent summaries of the twofold purpose of Advent. Praying each of these is a also way to see clearly the double structure of Advent:

• The Two Comings of Christ (used during Advent through December 16)
• The Twofold Expectation of Christ (used from December 17-24)

(4) Pray the Great "O" Antiphons

From December 17-23, the Church intensifies it's preparation for the Celebration of the Birth of the Lord.  During Vespers, there are special antiphons chanted at the Magnificat that highlight an aspect of the Lord's coming which was foretold by Isaiah or other Old Testament prophet. Each of these antiphons begin with the vocative "O", which directly addresses the Lord by one of his prophetic titles.

• December 17 - O Sapientia (Wisdom)
• December 18 - O Adonai
• December 19 - O Radix Iesse (Root of Jesse)
• December 20 - O Clavis David (Key of David)
• December 21 - O Oriens (Dayspring)
• December 22 - O Rex Gentium (King of the Nations)
• December 23 - O Emmanuel

The USCCB, Fr. Z and others have sites dedicated to the O Antiphons.


(5) Set up an Advent Wreath at home

Many households have an Advent wreath on the dining room table. The four candles count the weeks of Advent. It's a simple way to remind you and your family that the Lord is coming - and coming soon!