First Sunday of Advent: Renewing HOPE

First Sunday of Advent
Renewing the HOPE

Jesus said to His disciples: "Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when 

the time will come. ... May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.  

What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!"  - Mark 13: 33, 36, 37 (Today's Gospel) 

Fr Orr ~ St John Neumann Catholic Church  ~ Knoxville, TN ~ USA

"Jesus, ... the Eucharist is the sacramental testimony of Your first coming, with which the words of the prophets were reconfirmed and expectations were fulfilled.  You have left us, O Lord, Your Body and Blood under the species of bread and wine that they may bear witness to the fact that the world has been redeemed  - that through them Your paschal mystery may reach all men as the Sacrament of life and salvation.  

The Eucharist is at the same time a constant announcement of Your second coming and the sign of the definitive Advent and also of the expectation of the whole Church. 

When we eat this bread and drink this cup,

we proclaim Your death, Lord Jesus, until You come in glory.

Every day and every hour we wish to adore You, stripped under the species of bread and wine, to renew the hope of the call to glory.  Amen."

St John Paul II

 

Seconda Venuta di Christo

 

Click here: In Times Like These You Need a Savior – A Homily for the First Sunday of Advent « Archdiocese of Washington

Advent season resources

"Prepare your hearts to receive Jesus the Savior." - Pope Francis

Vatican Advent page 
U.S. Bishops’ Advent/Christmas Seasons (with daily family activities)

Click here: Sign up for Fr. Barron's FREE Advent Reflections! | Word On Fire

EWTN reflections for each day of Advent

Women for Faith & Family Advent page

Domestic-Church.com: Advent and Christmas in your home

Click here: Advent Calendar (Not just for kids!)

Fish Eaters Advent overview

Our Sunday Visitor Advent page

Internet Padre’s Advent resources page

Saints.SQPN.com: Learn more about the saints of Advent, 
including the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8 and 12), St. John the 
Baptist, St. Nicholas (Dec. 6), St. Juan Diego (Dec. 9), and 
St. Lucy (Dec. 13).

Tradition Day by Day: Writings of the Church Fathers and others saints
Short readings for every day of the year

A Catholic approach to holiday gift-giving
(Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio)

Christmas Anticipation Prayer

Beginning on St. Andrew's Feast Day, November 30, the following prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a beautifully meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request] through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother.  Amen.

You will happily find beautiful St Andrew Chaplet beads here:

Click here: Mary Devotions