Day 24: Tuesday 24 December 2024

Season of Advent

Advent is the four-week season before Christmas during which we prepare for the coming of Christ.  The word Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming”.  The season of Advent is a time of waiting, conversion and of hope, which has a twofold character as:

  • A time of preparation for the Solemnities of the Christmas season, in which the first coming of the Son of God to humanity is remembered; and,
  • A time when – by remembrance of this – our minds and hearts look forward to the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time.

For these two reasons, Advent is a period of devout and expectant delight.

Today we hear an Advent reflection from Una Allen of Towards Peace.

The vision of Towards Peace is to provide a safe supportive space, where people who have been affected by abuse in a Church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time.

 

Praise for the Gift of Life
God of Love, we praise and thank you
for the wonderful gift of life.
Help us to cherish that gift in ourselves and in all
whom we meet.

child and mothers hand for web
Bless all children that they may know
the joy of being alive and that we may
help them towards a great future.

Bless all young men and women,
be with them through these years
of change in their bodies, their priorities,
their relationships,  so that nothing may damage
their joy and their hope.

Bless all couples preparing for marriage.
Help them to cherish each other more every day.
And give them the courage to put their love for
each other first so that their lives may
be full and their marriages happy.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Prayer Intentions
1. We pray for peace;
that enemies may lay down their weapons
and strive to build peace together.

peace lamp

2. We pray for all those who are travelling over Christmas
that each person may arrive safely to his or her destination.

3. For those for whom Christmas is a time of sadness, darkness
or despair; that they may receive our love, compassion,
healing and consolation.

4. We pray for our Holy Father Pope Francis and for
all Church leaders in our country and our community.

Father in heaven, you sent your Son to live among us as a man,
one who understands our needs. Grant us what we need today.
We make these, and all our prayers, through Christ our Lord.
Amen

Kids’ Corner!

Each day of Advent you will find fun activities for children to enjoy and learn more about the Season of Advent!  Print out this image and colour it in however you like!

To print: click on the link below to open a new page, then select “print” to print out the page for colouring.

Kids’ Corner Day 24

ENDS