Advent Resources:

 

• Advent – Christmas Seasons: Directory on Popular Piety & Liturgy - Cong. for Divine Worship & Discipline of  Sacraments
• Advent & Christmas Inspiration: poems, quotations, readings & sermon illustrations.
• Advent – Catholic Answers
• Advent and the Four Last Things – Death - Judgment - Heaven - Hell: Truth be told, we don’t hear much of any of those four last things at all anymore – and we are all the poorer for it. December 1, 2019 Peter M.J. Stravinskas | Catholic World Report
• Advent Calendar 2019 (USCCB): 2019 Family Advent Calendar PDF to download. Includes prayers for Advent Wreath, Crèche & Christmas Tree.
  • Lectio Divina For Advent (USCCB): English & Spanish guides to meditate, contemplate, and pray on your spiritual preparation for Advent and Christmas.
• Advent Calendar  – EWTN: Origins of Advent/Christmas devotions, prayers and meditations.
• Advent Calendar 2019: Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.
• Lighting Advent Candles: To light a candle is an act of hope. Fr. Ron Rolheiser, OM, 2002-12-01.
• What Are the 'O Antiphons'?: Fr. William Saunders (Arlington Catholic Herald)
  • "Meditation Notes on the O Antiphons" Fr. Roger J. Landry. The O Antiphons refer to the seven antiphons that are recited (or chanted) preceding the Magnificat during Vespers of the Liturgy of the Hours – Dec. 17-23, with Dec. 24 being Christmas Eve and Vespers for that evening being for the Christmas Vigil. Copyright © 2004 catholicpreaching.com.
  • "The O Antiphons: The Fullness of Time" by Jennifer Gregory Miller | Dec 16, 2019 | Catholic Culture. December 17 begins the 'O' Antiphons, and it means Christmas is only an octave away. Although the 'O' Antiphons always begin on the same date…
• "Reasons for Hope: Meditations for the Advent Season" by Bishop Robert J. Baker. Available to download PDF.
• Franciscan Advent and Christmas: Montage of Franciscan photos from Assisi and Greccio
• Las Posadas: A wonderful Mexican Christmas tradition symbolizes the Biblical journey of Mary and Joseph as they searched for shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.
• "An Advent Examination" Fr. Ed Hays
• "Gift of Wonder" Rev. Alfred McBride, O. Praem. (PDF)
• "Keep Watch - He is to Come!" Diatessaron (PDF)
• Life Is An Advent Season
• "A St. Nicholas' Note"
   

Christmas Resources:

 

• Christmas Calendar: December 25–January 11. USCCB
• Origins of Christmas: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
• Christmas Inspiration: poems, quotations, readings & sermon illustrations
• Christmas & Christmas Spirit: Greatest Quotations on Christmas and the Christmas Spirit – compiled by Michael Josephson
• Christmas Short Stories, Articles and Resources: Joyful Heart Renewal Ministries
• Holyart – Christmas: entirely dedicated to Christmas: Jerusalem Olive wood nativities, Val Gardena nativities, home decorations, tree decorations, and much more.
• St. Nicholas Center: To educate people of faith, and the wider public, about the true St. Nicholas.
  • St. Nicholas Study Guides: recover the joy and holiness of Advent & Christmas
  • Liturgical Material for St. Nicholas.
• Christmas Carols: Lyrics to Popular Christmas Songs and Carols
  • "Mary, Did You Know?" written by Mark Lowery, from the Gaither Vocal Band album released in 1998 – Still The Greatest Story Ever Told.
  • "O Holy Night" by David Phelps (wait for the take-your-breath-away closing).
  • "O Holy Night" by Willie K – in English and Hawaiian.
• 1 Corinthians 13 - A Christmas Version Sharon Jaynes
• 8 Gifts That Don't Cost a Cent (PDF)
• 25 Ways We're Different This Christmas -- 2001
• "At Christmas" Edgar Guest
• "Bells on Christmas Day" Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• "The Best Gift" Betty Werth (PDF)
• A Candy Maker's Witness
• Christmas Affirmation
• The Christmas Gift
• A Christmas Prayer
• "A Christmas Prayer" Robert Louis Stevenson (PDF)
• Christmas Spoken Here
• The Coming of the Light Liturgy Training Program (PDF)
• For People Who Have Everything
•  God, Our Father" (PDF)
• The Gospel Tree
• "The Inn-Keeper Makes Excuses" Edgar Guest
• "Joy: True Gift of Christmas" Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI (PDF)
• "Keeping Christmas"   Henry Van Dyke
• Legend of the Poinsettia
• "Origins of the Christmas Crib"
• Meanings of Christmas
• "Thriving Through the Holidays" Jim Rohn (PDF)
• "The Night Before Christmas" –  a more spiritual version (PDF)
• "Twas the Night Before Christmas -- multitude of variations & versions
• A Prayer for Christmas Morning  Henry Van Dyke
• "The Tear of a Mother" Judy R. Smith
• "There Is No Place Where God Is Not" Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• This Day's Greatest Gift
• "We Rejoice!" Christmas Day sermon
• "What Are You Expecting for Christmas?"