Advent is that time of preparation for the coming of the Christ Child. It is also the time of year when people begin the hectic task of shopping. Presents are at the top of the list. We want to ...

What Are the Four Points of Advent? The four points of Advent are hope, peace, joy and love. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, a candle representing one of these themes is lit to reflect the ...

The fifth and final Advent candle, of course, is the one we light on Christmas Eve. This candle represents Jesus — the culmination of the previous four. He is our hope, our Peace, our Joy ...

GARDEN TIP All About Wreaths The first sign of Christmas is the hanging of the Christmas wreath from the front door of the house. People take a lot of pain to make their wreaths look different ...

Advent is a season penance, but we live in a celebratory culture where the Christmas festivities begin ... is not the same as that for Lent and some joy is permitted. Gaudete means "rejoice ...

All the trees of the wood shout for joy before the Lord ... family can sing a song, an Advent carol, if it knows one, then it is time to bless the crib and eat Christmas Eve supper.

Many Advent customs involve counting the days until Christmas begins ... ‘to rejoice’ and the readings on this Sunday focus on joy – rejoicing in the Lord and joy in what is to come.

We are over halfway to Christmas. Today, on Gaudete Sunday, we just begin to inch out of the half-light of Advent slightly closer towards the ... He encourages us to cultivate a profound interior joy ...

Visit each week during the season of Advent as we light a new candle and share a new gift. The Marian Library wishes you hope, peace, joy and love throughout the ... as we continue to wait and prepare ...