Our Church calendar is rich with feasts and fasts, ebbs and flows, that give rhythm and reason to our years and seasons. Incorporating the traditions associated with the some of the feasts and fasts of the liturgical year helps with catechesis and with awareness of the history and beauty of our faith.
Because Advent is the beginning of the Church’s year, it is the perfect time to start “liturgical living” and look at which feasts to include in your home during the Advent season. Celebrations can be as simple as planning on a certain cuisine for supper and simple prayers asking for intercession incorporated around the dinner table or at bedtime. Take a look at what feasts happen during Advent on our Advent liturgical living pages (these pages are constantly evolving as resources and traditions are found, so check back regularly!), and put them in your calendar now, with a few notes on what you could do to celebrate. We’ll email out ideas weekly, too, to help you throughout the season. Also, remember you do not need to celebrate every feast day; pick out those that are important to your family, shooting for one or two a week.
Keep in mind, liturgical living isn’t just for families with children-anyone can start to add these traditions to their plans. They’re wonderful ways for everyone to live their faith at home.
Here are some of the most popular feasts and memorials during the Advent season:
In addition to planning which feast days your household wants to celebrate, you should also look at your calendar to see what seasonal activities you’ll want to or be expected to attend, like work Christmas parties, town celebrations, and family dinners. Put them down now so you know what to expect and can be careful to not overbook and wear yourself thin. It’s okay to need to turn down invitations due to too many events happening at one time. Prioritize what is most important to you and your family, and make time for those things while passing on others so you can focus on preparing your home and heart for the coming of Christ’s birth.
St. Anthony Catholic Church 