How Catholic Singles Can Have a Fruitful Advent This Year
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Advent is a time of preparation. We prepare our homes for visting family and friends, we prepare food for parties and get-togethers, and, most importantly, we prepare our hearts for Christ's upcoming arrival.
Advent is the perfect time to prepare your heart and home for the coming birth of Christ. With parties to attend, Christmas shopping, and lots of family and friends to see, the holidays can quickly become chaotic. It's easy to get caught up in the festivities and forget what (and Who!) Advent is really all about.
How is God calling you to prepare for Him this Advent?
How are you making your heart an open and welcome home for Him?
During this Advent, take the time to really get closer to God.
Find a good book by a Catholic author, a self-help book, or a biography of a saint. Normally, it can be hard to find time to read. With work, school, or just everyday life, reading is a pastime that gets pushed aside easily. Make it your goal to finish the book you’ve picked out before Christmas Day.
Ask your friends and family if they have a book recommendation. Find a friend or family member to read the book with. It will be easier to complete your goal of finishing the book if you have someone keeping you accountable. If finding time to read is tricky, use an audiobook so you can listen on the way to school or work. You could also set a reminder on your phone for a specific reading time! Make a conscious effort to read during these four weeks of preparation.
The four weeks leading up to Christmas are also a great time to really focus on your prayer life.
What needs attention in your prayer life? How is God calling you to get to know him better this Advent season? Take the opportunity to set aside specific time for building your relationship with God. It does not have to be a crazy amount of time; you could start with just ten or fifteen minutes every morning while you get ready, while you commute to school or work, or right before you get ready for bed.
Advent is a great time to pick up an adoration hour. Maybe committing to an adoration hour all year round is too much for your schedule, but for these four weeks, set aside one hour to sit down and have some time with God face to face. Stopping by Church for just a few minutes outside of your normal Sunday Mass time is a great attainable goal for this advent.
Advent is also a great time of year to get close to the saints.
Who knows about preparing for Christ better than the saints? Find a saint that you want to learn about, and really take the time to get to know them. Research their life, learn about them, and pray with them. Share your saint with those around you.
If you have a particular struggle or desire, find the patron saint of that specific need. Build up your own personal dream team of saints and ask for their intercession every time you need assistance. It’s easy to forget that the saints in Heaven can help us here on earth. Advent is a great time to find your patron saint and intercessor.
This time of year can be difficult if you are single.
However, this year, during the four weeks of Advent, try to forget about being single.
Take this time to prepare yourself for a relationship with God. Let go of the anger and sadness that can come with being single, and put all of your energy into learning how to love God and yourself.
Consciously set time aside for quiet prayer and contemplation. In the midst of the chaos and business, it is so important to set aside special time to talk to God.
Listen to Him. What is He asking of you in your season of singleness during Advent?
Prepare yourself for what He is calling you to.
Find Your Forever.
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