The Best Way to Enjoy the Beautiful Season of Advent – In the School Room

Advent will begin shortly and being prepared is the best way to enjoy this most beautiful of liturgical seasons. It can seem daunting, which is why it is so important to begin to prayerfully discern how you want this Advent to look for your family

Take some time (perhaps at Adoration) to take stock of your situation and see how you and your family can really live the Advent season this year.  Some things to consider…

1. If you are pregnant or nursing your time and energy levels are bound to be limited, and your Advent should be less hustle and bustle and should reflect your need to rest and take care of your baby. Limit your outings and plan for some fun, easy indoor activities, and devotions with the children.  Seton sells some enjoyable sticker books, activity books, and puzzle books that will engage the young ones while giving mom some time to take care of herself.
2. If you are out of the baby stage, this may be the year you can finally get to some of the more time-consuming activities that you have had to pass on in years past. Do not give in to the temptation to do everything you’ve longed to do, that’s a good way to make yourself and anyone else nuts. Rather, focus instead on doing one thing really well.  Maybe this is your year to do a Jesse Tree or observe the Ember Days, or perhaps you will take time to learn about the O Antiphons. Do one thing as well as you can and enjoy it.
3. If you have teens or students returning from college, this could be a way to draw them further into the practice of their faith. You might be able to commit to daily Mass, a spiritual study of some kind or travel to visit a shrine.

Whatever your plans, remember that the end goal is an Advent that creates an atmosphere in the home that welcomes the Christ child, one that furthers the faith of your children and settles your own mind and heart so as to be prepared to welcome the King of Kings.

Please join us in the Seton Support Community as we journey through Advent together.

“Let us come close to the crib. If you
love riches, you will find the
gold that the kings brought;

if you are looking for the smoke of honors,
you will find that in the incense;
and if you take delight in the
delicacies of the senses,
you will find the delicate perfume of myrrh
that pervades the stable.

Be rich in love for this adorable Saviour,
respectful in the familiarity
with which you relate to Him,
and delight in the joy of experiencing
in your soul so many inspirations and affections
because you look exclusively to Him.”

~ St. Frances de Sales