Are you praying for a peaceful Advent? Are you looking for simple ways to celebrate Advent at home? Look no further – I’ve got you covered with this simple guide to peaceful preparation.
This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission from the sale of items purchased via these links.
Advent always begins with the best of intentions, doesn’t it?
The Jesse Tree. The Advent Calendar. “O” Antiphons and acts of service. But somehow, by the time the fourth window’s been popped open and three children are arguing over mediocre chocolate, the temptation to cancel the season is strong.
Hiding with a glass of wine seems much more appealing than yet another failed attempt at seasonal tradition.
Moms are really good at putting pressure on themselves – especially during Advent.
The season operates within a consistent desire for liturgical and social perfection, one that’s intensified with every scroll of our social media feeds. There are posts from bloggers. Pins on Pinterest. And worse yet, our own friends’ highlight reels. Each of these things carries potential for personal failure, while the rest of the world carries on without difficulty.
But even when we escape the trap of comparison, there is a busyness that looms in our hearts and our homes. Parties, programs, and events pop up with ferocity.
Who has time to make it to confession?
Who has the willpower to give up Christmas cookies and wine?
Saint Teresa of Calcutta was a wise woman. She understood secular Advent’s potential for disorder, far removed from the refinement we are drawn to by the Lord:
“The season of Advent is like springtime in nature, when everything is refreshed and renewed.”
It is also meant to affect that same change in us, she says, “to refresh us and make us healthy, to be able to receive Christ in whatever form He may come to us.”
The season of Advent shouldn’t be what the world so often makes it, binding our hearts and minds in a winter of distress. Rather, it should ready our souls for the reception of our Savior, so we are ready and waiting for the renewal He will bring.
How do we do this, exactly, making room in the midst of all the mess? One way is to keep our celebrations centered on the homefront, letting go of the idea of “perfect” and embracing the holiness of the “good.”
It’s okay to say no to social obligations.
It’s okay to hold off on the tree.
It’s okay to focus school days on preparation and waiting.
And truthfully, it’s okay to reach out to a community of like-minded families who are working to accomplish the same thing.
Mama, you are not alone. The truth is, there are millions of Catholic mothers trying to achieve the same thing. Our efforts to preserve and enjoy the true nature of the season seem more fruitful, somehow, in light of that knowledge, and I’m excited to share with you two specific, exciting things.
First, I’ve got five days of Advent traditions, perfectly suited for celebration at home:
- How to Prepare Your Home for Advent, Even in the Chaos
- Renew Your Advent Focus: 15 Creative Advent Traditions
- Why Advent Service Matters, Plus 13 Ways to Love Your Neighbor
- 4 Simple Opportunities that Bring Advent Prayer Time to Life
- 25 Magical Books to Savor this Advent
Even with our little one on the way, looking ahead at all the ideas we could incorporate later during Advent and Christmas makes my head spin. There are so many good things we’ll have to figure out what’s essential and that might mean saying no to things like you mentioned.
Wow.. this sounds like a great deal. I am so looking forward to Advent.
Thank you for all of the beautiful reminders for Advent! Most of all I needed the reminder to be kind to myself and not compare or get uptight about what I haven’t been able to do.