Want a Deeper Advent Experience? Avoid These Common Mistakes

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

Hello Friends! I hope this video was helpful & I hope everyone has an amazing Thanksgiving and Advent! Jesse Tree Devotion Ideas acatholicmomslife.com/5-jesse-tree-ideas/ St Andrew Novena Video and Printable sheet acatholicmomslife.com/advent-devotions/ Other Advent ideas and Celebrations acatholicmomslife.com/advent-devotions/

[@KatRocks38]

I just want to say Thank You so much for this channel. I am interested in Catholicism, and beginning to attend Mass. I feel drawn to it, even though I was raised Protestant. You're helping me to figure out how to focus on being a more Godly wife and mother. 💛

[@evavanvollenhoven308]

I grew up in Poland, and we had absolutely no Christmas decorations, nor Christmas carols and definitely it was a time to fast from sweets. ❤

[@monicageller226]

As a Mexican Catholic Advent is celebrated very similarly to lent fast, prayer and reflection. We have a music genre called villancicos. It’s Christmas music all about our Lord and the holy family. Thank you so much for all you do Heather. You’re so inspirational!

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

I love this! Thank you for sharing I love to hear how everyone prepares differently.

[@Mamymaestra]

I am Mexican too and live in Mexico City, and here, in my personal experience most Catholics actually don’t really prepare for Christmas very well, and Villancicos (Carols) SHOULDN’T really be played nor sung just yet, but we should sing Advent songs, and that is what many parishes have begun to do instead of the villancicos. Try looking up the group Jésed , from Monterrey, they have translated the hymn she mentions (veni, veni Emmanuel) into Spanish. What is a truly Advent Mexican tradition are the posadas, those are great if and when celebrated well, with a rosary or at least the litany and procession first, and the special song and prayers for the posadas.

[@RaqMor13]

I recently started to open my eyes to all of the evil in the world. I read the book of revelation and realized it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better. This calmed my heart knowing that God already knows and has everything planned. I want to grow stronger in my catholic faith so I can teach my children that it’s not scary or boring but exciting.

[@melianna999]

God has control over everything. When we walk with God we safe.

[@stephzen837]

This is my first time fasting before Christmas (I had only done it during Lent) which I didn't know is a normal practice 😔 we should all research more about our religion because it's beautiful and it warms your heart ❤️ Thank you for sharing 🙏🏻

[@dianebell3653]

I'm a much older Catholic, from a long line of Irish Catholics. Can I just mention the O Antiphones of Advent as a must. I also attend Rorate Mass during Advent. It's a beautiful Mass, held before the sun rises and by candle light. Well in my neck of the woods it is, could be different around the world. May the road rise up to meet you. God bless all who pass this way.✝❤

[@Akris30]

My husband and I went to s Rorate Mass last year for the first time. We loved it so much and our very energetic 1 yr old was in total awe ❤️ E plan on going again this year! God Willing!

[@theresa.m.]

This such a wonderful video. We have an Advent wreath on our dining table. We do put our tree up, but we don’t decorate it until Christmas Eve. Same with the Christmas music; we keep it minimal until Christmas Eve. We also keep the nativity scene the same way you do; we don’t put Jesus out until Christmas morning. I feel like this keeps our home pretty balanced.

[@elizabethdavis3417]

We bring the Nativity scene out on Gaudete Sunday but just start with one animal (sheep for example). Then mary and Joseph are hidden around the living room in a new place each day as they travel, and another piece of the set is added (shephers, cows, donkeys) Joseph and Mary make it on Christmas eve and the angel in the evening, then baby Jesus in the morning with the readings and "away in a manger. We also sing a carol before opening each present and do a present a day until Jan 6. (Some are family gifrs or smaller, we dont all get 13 big gifts!).

[@andrea9797mdd]

The Christmas Novena starts on Nov 30. It's the Feast of St Andrew. That's why it's also known as the St Andrew's Novena

[@MomHarper927]

I went to Advent Retreat yesterday and our priest told us not to worry about buying gifts for people who already have or getting the most lights for your tree. Spend this time fasting, praying and almsgiving. Thank you for your videos. They help me so much learning about my Catholic faith.

[@karenrich9092]

I don't have an Advent wreath, but I have a light fixture over my kitchen table with 5 lights. I begin the first Sunday with only 1 bulb lit by turning the others until they go out, then I add one each week with the last 1 being Christmas Eve. Another idea is to have all your Advent supplies stored together, so they're easy to find. I start baking early and store them in my spare frig -- out of sight out of mind. Thanks for your videos and ideas.

[@milysanz2404]

This year I bought an advent nativity calendar. My kids have really enjoyed opening a box each morning to slowly complete the nativity scene and its the perfect moment to share with my kids more about the birth of Jesus. Also I decided to have them hang their own stockings tonight so tomorrow Dec 6 they can wake up to chocolate coins and i can share with them about the feast of Saint Nicholas. Thank you for sharing about Novenas its my 3rd year praying the Christmas Novena its very powerful.

[@careywhipple7242]

I am not a cradle catholic. My background is high church episcopal to Eastern Orthodox Christian to now catholic. I have been catholic for two years now. My family is not catholic so the tree and the decorations are put up for the entire month of December. I am a candidate in the secular Franciscan order. I’m still figuring out advent and how I want to observe it.

[@LenaSheppard]

Thank you for sharing these. Happy Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful you're here !

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[@judyp.6753]

I’m good with waiting to decorate though I don’t wait. What annoys me the most is when the decorations come down the day after Christmas!! Christmas is the beginning of Christmastime, NOT the end! Please do a video on that. 😊🙏

[@michaelhaywood8262]

A Catholic book I read many years ago [before I became a Catholic] described Advent as ''a time of penance, but not so much a time of penance as Lent''. To my shame I had not kept it is such until recent years.

[@guadalupegonzalez9959]

Thank you for sharing this video about advent . I really enjoy your videos. God bless you. Amen 🙏. ❤❤

[@mariasilviacirelli7799]

I live in Milan (Italy) where we have the Ambrosian rite, that is quite different from the Roman one. Here we use a different lectionary and we have different lectures throughout the year. Advent is of 6 weeks, starts the first Sunday after Saint Martin feast and Sundays are called in a different way. And it has a very lenty atmosphere, with lectures that recall to penance and reversion.

[@pkesleon]

Thank you ❤ I’m so grateful to have grown up my whole life celebrating las posadas and now that I have my own children we continue this tradition every Christmas and it’s the most wonderful way to prepare our hearts for Christmas! The kids get to be involved the whole way, they dress up and do reenactment of the pilgrimage from the 16-25 it’s so much fun!!

[@MomHarper927]

My church is celebrating las posadas as well. Never heard of it. I will be attending.

[@saradorris3554]

We started Mary on the Mantel this year. Instead of purchasing the doll, we used one Barbie and tried to make a little Mary outfit.

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

great idea!

[@diannsanford2436]

I love your channel. I learn so much.

[@melianna999]

Thank you for this.

[@handmaidofgod2351]

Wonderful video Heather 🎉 thank you 😊

[@Gudregerar7]

Oh Thank you so much Heather!!! That song ”Oh come, oh come” just touched my heart and I got new courage to tidy up here a little bit and put out our Advent-decorations; all in purple and all reminding of Jesus’s coming! And The feast of S:t Andrew starts TODAY; the 30:th of November!! Loooove that novena!!! Been praying it for several years!! Beautiful!!! Helps me SO much to focus on the mystery of Jesus’s coming! God with us!!! Felt so depressed and out of energi and overwhelmed before I watched your video! So much is to be done today! My oldest son is moving in again for some times, the small kids just want to decorate, I have to do some work in our company…BUT now ai feel I can do it! 🙏💜

[@maryfrey]

Thank you, Heather. A very happy Thanksgiving and a very blessed Advent to you and your family. 💕

[@7peacefrog]

I love your video's and thank you for sharing all things Advent, and also I hope you and your family have a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving

[@IheartJMJ]

I think nowadays we have lost some of the anticipation aspect of Advent. I blame that a lot on consumerism which starts pushing Christmas advertising on us in November. You are right, everyone decorates before Thanksgiving, at least everyone that I know. My aunt and uncle had ten children, and they would put up the Christmas tree and decorations on Christmas eve, and also wrap all the presents to place under the tree. I thought that was such a neat tradition, although it never worked out that way for my family.

[@yajajam10]

Thank you for this. ❤

[@fernandaoliveira2895]

Muito obrigada. Deus a abençoe. 💒🙂

[@fieldsofomagh]

Great ideas for advent, Heather. Thanks for sharing.

[@Eric-dg3uo]

My mom fell down and broke her hip in hospital 🌞

[@MsSbunny1]

The mary statue that you have! Please. Where did you find it?

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

I love it! She is perfect for Advent here is her link acatholicmomslife.com/advent-decor/

[@julieelizabeth4856]

If you google "expectant Mary statue" you'll find a number of options. If you do "expectant Mary statue with donkey" there are even more.

[@rukidding-y2c]

The new Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the New Covenant. Best representation.

[@teresaperez228]

Hi Heather, I ordered a beautiful dress on one of your websites you show us, but sadly I didn’t get it

[@TorikMarak-bu4my]

Pray for me sister I am catholic

[@MariaGalarza-y5g]

Amén🙏🙏😘😘💜🕊️⛪️🙏

[@scurtei]

How you look to the video, on the left side: Heather, I like your nice and gentle statue (Emoji: heart + hug)! What female saint is she? (I don't think is Mary alone pregnant with babie Jesus...)

[@teresaperez228]

I bought the dress online and never arrived

[@ACatholicMomsLife]

Oh no! What Company did you buy it from?

[@julianegillan6994]

I don't mean to burst your bubble, but you should at least be aware. The advent wreath was invented by a German Lutheran pastor, the idea quickly spread in Lutheran communities and then in Catholic communities. It's a common tradition for both Lutherans and Catholics in Germany now. As a German Catholic I put up my advent wreath as well and love it. Also, you are free to choose the colour for your candles that you like. The notion they must be three purple and one pink candles is an American fairly new invention.

[@femaleKCRoyalsFan]

It matches the vestments color at the mass though. Violet and rose.

[@julianegillan6994]

@@femaleKCRoyalsFan You're correct. Just saying, it's a German tradition, I'm German and you can choose the candles you like. That's all.

[@henriettanovember4733]

May I ask if you are a convert?

[@l-kin3480]

She was raised catholic