Advent (from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” or “arrival”) is a season dedicated to getting ready for Jesus to arrive. For four weeks, we focus our hearts on two things: first, the birth of Jesus, and second, the promise of God coming again to fill the world with even more hope, peace, joy, and love.
Advent is also a time of year when Mary comes center stage. We see her kneeling beside Jesus in the stable; we hear her sing her powerful song, the Magnificat; and if we’re lucky, we might even get to dress up in blue and play her in the Christmas pageant. Other than that, in many churches today, we don’t really give Mary much thought.
For thousands of years, however, Christians have held a special place in their hearts for Mary. All over the world, she’s captured imaginations as Theotokos (“Bearer of God” or “House of God”). But her identity doesn’t stop there! She’s also known by a host of other names: “Our Lady of Sorrows,” “Our Lady of Guadalupe,” “The First Disciple,” “Our Lady of the Palm,” and many more.
So this Advent season, as we prepare for Jesus to arrive, let’s get to know Mary a little bit better: exploring some of her many names and filling out her ordinary, extraordinary, inspiring portrait – all the while learning how we, too, can become bearers of God.
Advent Meditations for the 2025 Advent Season
This is a devotional booklet for the Advent season with a reflection for every day from the first Sunday of Advent to Christmas Day. You may read the day’s meditation at your normal prayer time or with your family or to take a quiet moment in the day or whenever you feel led.
Many of the reflections in it were written by Trinitarians. We have an incredible pool of talent in our parish, and we are so thankful to all who were able to contribute. The remainder are texts of hymns, mainly Advent hymns. Sometimes reading them as devotional poetry instead of singing them allows us to see them with fresh eyes and appreciate them on a whole new level.