Advent is a time of spiritual preparation as we await the coming of Christ. This coincides with the coming of Christmas. The tradition of lighting four Advent candles, one for each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, is often used in churches but can also be used in the home. This script is a modified version for use in a home for a family, group or an individual. The materials required are simple, one large white candle in the center, the Christ Candle, representing Christ, the light of the world, and four colored candle (usually three purple and one pink but four purple can be used). These can be purchased along with an advent ring (smaller than the ones typically used in church worship) designed to hold each of the four candles from an on-line Christian supply stores or at a local Catholic or Christian book store. Use the script provided for each of the days scripture reading, prayers or carols. One reading per week is used with a candle lit at each of the four selected days leading up to Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. It can be done on a Sunday, or another day of the week. Other carols, songs, praise hymns, prayers, can also be added. The theme of this devotional centers around the prophecies of a coming Messiah in the Old Testament and the fulfillment in Jesus Christ. If this is not a tradition in your family, try adding it this year and see if this spiritual practice may assist in oriented your heart and mind to the call of the gospel during this time of year.
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