Daily Readings

The links below will take you to the readings for each day of Advent, as published on the Web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops:

 
December 2024

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Reflections from Archbishop Charles C. Thompson

Read Christmas columns which former Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin published in our weekly newspaper, The Criterion:

• 2024
  • Mary responds to the gift of God’s love by sharing it with us
    • María responde al don del amor de Dios al compartirlo con nosotros
  • We can begin again as Jesus comes again
    • Podemos volver a empezar cuando Jesús retorne
  • This Advent, look to Mary Immaculate to see the light of God’s glory
    • Este Adviento, busquemos en María Inmaculada la luz de la gloria de Dios
  • As we give thanks, we also wait in hope for Jesus’ coming
    • Mientras damos gracias, también esperamos con esperanza la venida de Jesús
  2023
  • Mary’s choice—to welcome Christ into her life—is one for us, too
    • La elección de María de acoger a Cristo en su vida es igual para nosotros
  • Christ’s coming is near, God is with us, let us share the joy
    • La venida de Cristo está cerca, Dios está con nosotros, compartamos la alegría
  • Mary will lead us to her Son if we follow her ‘yes’
    • María nos guiará a su Hijo si, al igual que ella, decimos ‘sí’
  • This Advent, let’s prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming
    • Este Adviento, preparemos nuestros corazones para la venida de Cristo
• 2022
  • During Advent, we rejoice with Mary, our mother in faith
    • Durante el Adviento, nos alegramos con María, nuestra madre en la fe
  • A voice of hope calls us to prepare for the Lord’s coming
    • Una voz de esperanza nos llama a preparar la venida del Señor
  • Stay awake! Prepare for the Lord’s coming again this Advent
    • ¡Estemos vigilantes! Preparémonos para la nueva venida del Señor en este Adviento
  2021
  • Christ comes to us when we share him with others
    • Cristo viene a nosotros cuando lo compartimos con los demás
  • Advent celebrates Mary, mother of our Savior
    • El Adviento celebra a María, madre de nuestro Salvador
• 2020
  • Mary’s ‘yes’ makes the incarnation of Jesus a reality
    • Gracias al ‘sí’ de María la encarnación de Jesús es una realidad
  • Gaudete Sunday invites us to rejoice in the Lord’s nearness
    • El domingo Gaudete nos invita a regocijarnos en la cercanía del Señor
  • Patience and hard work prepare us for the Lord’s coming
    • La paciencia y el trabajo arduo nos preparan para la venida del Señor
  • Watch! We do not know when Christ will come again
    • ¡Estemos atentos! No sabemos cuándo vendrá Cristo de nuevo
• 2019
  • God is with us as we wait in joyful hope
    • Dios está con nosotros mientras aguardamos con expectante alegría
  • Are you the one who is to come? Or should we look for another?
    • ¿Eres tú el que tenía que venir, o debemos esperar a otro?
  • Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist both point to Jesus
    • La santísima virgen María y san Juan Bautista apuntan hacia Jesús
  • Let Advent be a time of hope and forgiveness
    • Que el Adviento sea una época de esperanza y perdón
• 2018
  • Christ comes to be our peace and calls us to conversion
    • Cristo viene para ser nuestra paz y nos llama a la conversión
  • Gaudete Sunday reminds us Advent is a season of joy
    • El domingo de Gaudete nos recuerda que el Adviento es una temporada de alegría
  • Staying close to our mother Mary through her son Jesus
    • Mantengámonos cerca de María, nuestra madre, a través de su hijo Jesús
  • Waiting in joyful hope for the one who brings us Good News
    • Esperamos jubilosos a aquel que nos trae la Buena Nueva
• 2017
  • A Christmas message from Archbishop Charles C. Thompson
    • Mensaje de Navidad del Arzobispo Charles C. Thompson
    Rejoice always! And pray without ceasing
    • ¡Alégrense siempre! Y oren sin cesar
  • Waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ
    • Esperamos la revelación de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo

Christmas/Advent Reflections from former Archbishop Tobin

Read Christmas columns which former Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin published in our weekly newspaper, The Criterion:

• 2016
  • Saints for Advent: Mary of Nazareth, John the Baptist
    • Los santos del Adviento: María de Nazaret y Juan el Bautista
• 2015
  • A Christmas Message from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
    • Mensaje de Navidad del Arzobispo Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
  • The Lord draws near to us, closer than we think
    • El Señor está cerca de nosotros, más de lo que pensamos
  • The Lord is coming again in glory
    • Una vez más el Señor viene con gloria
  • Rejoice in the Lord: Mary born without sin is sign of God’s mercy
    • María, concebida sin pecado original, es una señal de la misericordia de Dios
  • ‘The days are coming, says the Lord.’ Are we ready?
    • ‘—Vienen días —dice el Señor.’ ¿Estamos preparados?
• 2014
  • Christmas is a feast of joy in heaven, on Earth
    • La Navidad es una fiesta de alegría en el Cielo, celebrada en la Tierra
  • Advent is a time of preparation for Christ’s coming
    • El Adviento es una época de preparación para la venida de Cristo
  • Waiting for the blessed hope is easier said than done
    • ‘Aguardar la bendita esperanza’ no es tan fácil como parece
• 2013
  • A Christmas message from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
• 2012
  • A Christmas reflection from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.

Reflections from Archbishop-Emeritus Buechlein

Read past Advent columns which Archbishop-Emeritus Daniel M. Buechlein has published in our weekly newspaper, The Criterion:

• 2010
  • Pray and keep on looking forward during Advent (En Espanol)
• 2008
  • Advent offers us the grace to become better friends with Jesus (En Espanol)
• 2007
  • We want without delay, but Advent is about what’s worth waiting for (En Espanol)
• 2006
  • Let Mary be a down-to-earth model for us this Advent (En Espanol)
• 2005
  • Don’t let Advent pass without joyfully making room for God (En Espanol)

Special Christmas covers through the years

Each year, as the season of Advent culminates in the celebration of Christmas (and the Christmas season), The Criterion has a special commemorative front page, which is usually taken from famous artwork. Click on the links below to view some of our recent covers (1998-Present).

What is Advent?

Each year, the four Sundays leading up to Christmas mark not only the beginning of the Church's liturgical year but also a solemn preparation for the joy of Christ's birth. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the preparation for Christmas:

The coming of God's Son to earth is an event of such immensity that God willed to prepare for it over centuries. He makes everything converge on Christ: all the rituals and sacrifices, figures and symbols of the "First Covenant". He announces him through the mouths of the prophets who succeeded one another in Israel. Moreover, he awakens in the hearts of the pagans a dim expectation of this coming.

St. John the Baptist is the Lord's immediate precursor or forerunner, sent to prepare his way. "Prophet of the Most High", John surpasses all the prophets, of whom he is the last. He inaugurates the Gospel, already from his mother's womb welcomes the coming of Christ, and rejoices in being "the friend of the bridegroom", whom he points out as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Going before Jesus "in the spirit and power of Elijah", John bears witness to Christ in his preaching, by his Baptism of conversion, and through his martyrdom.

When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior's first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating the precursor's birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: "He must increase, but I must decrease." (522-24)