The shops may be in full Christmas mode, but the Church offers something deeper, quieter, holier: Advent, a sacred time of longing, preparation, and hope.
This is not yet Christmas - it is the season to watch and wait. We recall the ancient people of Israel, yearning for the Messiah. We prepare our hearts to welcome Christ not only as a baby in Bethlehem, but also as King of glory at the end of time.
🕯️ Monthly Devotion: Come, Lord Jesus
Daily Advent Prayer
“Come, Lord Jesus. Purify my heart, renew my hope, and teach me to wait with love. As Mary awaited You, help me to prepare a place for You in my soul. Amen.”
Pray this short prayer each day of Advent. Let it shape your mornings and calm your nights. In all the busyness, carve out silence. Christ is near.
🧘♀️ Monthly Meditation: Prepare Him Room
Picture a dusty town. A humble carpenter. A girl not yet twenty. And a womb bearing the Saviour of the world.
Mary’s “yes” is quiet, unseen—but it changes everything. She prepares a place for Jesus in her heart, her home, her whole being.
Now picture your heart. What does it look like inside? Is there room for Him?
Let this be your meditation: Jesus desires to be born again—this time, in you.
He doesn’t come where it’s perfect. He comes where He is wanted. Prepare Him room.
📆 Key Dates in the Catholic Calendar – December 2025
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1 December (Monday) – First Week of Advent continues
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6 December (Saturday) – St Nicholas
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7 December (Sunday) – Second Sunday of Advent
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8 December (Monday) – Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy Day of Obligation)
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12 December (Friday) – Our Lady of Guadalupe
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14 December (Sunday) – Gaudete Sunday (Third Sunday of Advent – Rose vestments!)
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21 December (Sunday) – Fourth Sunday of Advent
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24 December (Wednesday) – Christmas Eve
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25 December (Thursday) – The Nativity of the Lord – Christmas Day
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26 December (Friday) – St Stephen, First Martyr
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27 December (Saturday) – St John the Apostle
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28 December (Sunday) – The Holy Family
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31 December (Wednesday) – St Sylvester I
✝️ The Scriptural Witness
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Isaiah 9:6 – “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…”
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Luke 1:38 – “Behold the handmaid of the Lord…”
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Matthew 1:23 – “They shall call his name Emmanuel, which means ‘God with us.’”
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Mark 13:35–37 – “Watch therefore—for you do not know when the master of the house will come…”
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John 1:14 – “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
The Word is not distant. He draws near. In Advent, He knocks again. Will we let Him in?
🕯️ Devotion in Practice
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Light an Advent wreath – one candle each Sunday: Hope, Peace, Joy, Love
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Go to Confession – Prepare your soul like a clean manger
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Adopt a “little fast” – One small daily sacrifice for Christ
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Read a chapter of Luke each day – There are 24 chapters: one for each day leading to Christmas
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Donate to someone in need – Time, money, or kindness
“The King will come. Let us prepare to meet Him!” – Liturgy of the Hours
🔥 Saints of December Who Point to Christ
St Nicholas (6 Dec) – Bishop and gift-giver, model of charity
St Ambrose (7 Dec) – Courageous bishop who baptised St Augustine
Immaculate Mary (8 Dec) – Prepared from the beginning for Christ
Our Lady of Guadalupe (12 Dec) – Mother of the unborn and the Americas
St Lucy (13 Dec) – Martyr of light
St Joseph (Holy Family Sunday) – Silent guardian of the Redeemer
St John the Apostle (27 Dec) – The disciple whom Jesus loved
✒️ A Poem for December: “Advent Candle”
A single flame in shadow glows,
A quiet sign the whole world knows.
The nights are long, the stars are far,
Yet still we seek the Morning Star.
With watching hearts and waiting prayer,
We light the wick of holy care.
For Hope comes wrapped in swaddled grace,
To warm the coldest, darkest place.
So let this light in silence burn—
For Christ will come, and Christ return.
⛪ At Every Mass
“He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” – Nicene Creed
Every Mass is an Advent. Every Eucharist is a coming of Christ. When the host is lifted, heaven touches earth—and the waiting ends, if only for a moment.
This December, attend Mass not only on Christmas Day, but as often as you can. Come early. Stay late. Watch and wait.
🧠 The 24/7 Catholic Quiz – Advent and Christmas
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What does “Advent” mean?
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How many Sundays are in Advent?
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What liturgical colour is used during Advent?
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What feast is celebrated on 8 December?
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What Marian title is linked to 12 December?
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What colour is used on Gaudete Sunday?
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What is the name of the hymn “O Come, O Come…”?
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Who said, “Be it done to me according to your word”?
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What Gospel includes the Annunciation?
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What do the four candles of the Advent wreath symbolise?
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What saint is often linked with gift-giving in December?
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What is the Latin name for Christmas Midnight Mass?
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What does “Emmanuel” mean?
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What prophet said, “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son”?
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What do we call the weeks leading up to Christmas?
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Which Gospel includes the visit of the Magi?
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Who declared the dogma of the Immaculate Conception?
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What saint is often shown with a lily and carpenter’s tools?
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What feast celebrates Jesus’ birth?
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What’s one thing you’ll do to prepare spiritually for Christmas this Advent?
✅ Quiz Answers
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“Coming” or “Arrival”
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Four
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Violet or purple
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The Immaculate Conception
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Our Lady of Guadalupe
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Rose
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Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
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Mary
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Luke
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Hope, Peace, Joy, Love
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St Nicholas
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Missa in Nocte
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“God with us”
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Isaiah
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Advent
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Matthew
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Pope Pius IX
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St Joseph
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Christmas (25 December)
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(Your answer!)
📍 Parish Invitation – Come Wait With Us
This Advent, come to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in New Milton. In the stillness of this holy season, the Church offers not noise but silence, not hurry but hope.
Come to Confession. Come to Adoration. Come to Christmas. He is coming for you.
🔗 Visit our parish website
📍 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, New Milton
✨ Coming Next Month: 1 January 2026
New Year, New Grace – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Start the year with the Queen of Peace, and let grace lead you forward.
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