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Day 1 – Start with scripture
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
On the first Sunday of Advent we light the first Advent candle, known as the the Prophecy Candle. It represent looking forward with hope.
Read this Gospel passage. Think about the images.
V/. Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke
R/. Glory to You O Lord
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
R/. Praise to you, O Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 3:10-16
R/. Praise to you, O Lord Jesus Christ.
Spend some time in pairs or threes and talk about the question below. When you’re finished share them with the whole form and see where the dialogue takes you.
Listening to the Gospel, we might not see any reason to hope. The images and ideas can be upsetting. So where is the hope?
Click below to “Add Comment” and capture some of what has been said in your form for others to see.
Lord, Advent is a time to spread joy and hope, but we are easily distracted by the promise of gifts and self satisfaction. Enkindle in us the desire to share our blessings with those less fortunate and allow space in our celebrations for the perfect and everlasting gift of your son.
We make our prayer in the name Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sts Peter and Paul: Pray for us.
Day 2 – The Angelus
We invite you to make the sign of the cross.
This prayer devotion is a specific reminder of the Incarnation, when God became man to save us. Feel free to either follow along with the clip or use the text below it. We will pray the Angelus every week during Advent.
V/. is for the teacher/leader. R/. is everyone else.
V/. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R/. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee;
Blessed are you amongst women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
V/. Behold the handmaid of the Lord,
R/. Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary…
V/. And the Word was made flesh, (Pause. Bow or genuflect)
R/. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary…
V/. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
R/. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray. Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Day 3 – Christmas is about getting stuff…
Class discussion: What’s in the box? What on your list?
PS5? XBOX? PANDORA? IPhone 16?Robux? Airforces?
Christmas is a time for being sorry for our failures. Like Lent, the liturgical colour is purple, but it is also a time of great hope and joy. The realities of spending Christmas with each of our families can be dramatically different, and not always in a good way. Difficult relationships, frustration and the same events happening over and over again. Eating too much and arguing. Maybe ‘hiding’ in the digital world of TikTok, Snap, and X. It can seem like a pointless exercise.
If, however, we focus on the real meaning of Christmas, and hope in the real person of Christmas, things can be wonderfully different. Instead of anger, frustration, disappointment, and boredom, we can experience love and friendship with God Himself. If we keep Christ in Christmas, it will be a happy one.
Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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