Advent

We await the coming of Jesus Christ the Lord!

Christmas MAss Times Gabriel Project Virtual Giving Tree Christmas Angels project

During this Advent Season, let us ask the Lord to help us keep the lamp of faith alit in our lives, to be prepared to receive Him, and that He fill us with peace and joy.

Pope Francis

Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events around the Archdiocese

See all Advent Events

The Advent Wreath

Each Sunday in Advent, Catholics light Advent wreath candles at Mass representing the passing of each week of Advent in anticipation of the coming of Christ at Christmas.

The Advent wreath tradition is rich in symbolism. The shape of the wreath symbolizes the eternity God, while the evergreens symbolize new life and signs of hope. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, each with their own reflection—hope, love, joy and peace. A fifth white candle can also be lit to represent Christmas. As we light the candles each week, we journey toward Christmas in joyful expectation to celebrate Christ’s coming into the world over 2,000 years ago, while also waiting in hope for his second coming.

Why not bring this tradition into your home this year? It is an opportunity to bring the family together for prayer while lighting the Advent candles. You can buy wreaths and candles online (on Amazon, The Catholic Company, or other websites) and with new battery powered candles, families can order flameless candles to avoid messy wax spills or other candle mishaps.

Jesse Tree

We all have family trees, why not honor Jesus’ family tree? The Jesse Tree is a tradition that follows biblical stories from creation to the birth of Jesus, showing Jesus’ family tree and reminding us of the centuries of expectant hope of the Jewish people for the coming of the savior. This tradition places ornaments on a Christmas tree, adding the story of salvation history to the traditional family Christmas ornaments.

You can follow along with the stories for each day here or buy your own Jesse Tree ornaments on Etsy, and other websites. Make sure to have your Bible ready to read through each story as you go!

Advent Calendars

Advent calendars help us count down the days to Christmas. These calendars come in all shapes and sizes. Some hold tasty treats behind cardboard windows while others may be wood or felt with cute creatures to add each day. Whichever you choose, Advent calendars are a fun reminder that we wait in joyful participation of the coming of Christ. Advent calendars can be found in local stores or online.

Advent Calendars

O Antiphons

The O Antiphons are antiphons used at vespers on the last seven days of Advent. Each antiphon refers to a name or an attribute of Christ from scripture. They also appear in the carol O Come O Come Emmanuel. The O Antiphons can be prayed, chanted, or sung. They may also appear in Lessons and Carols services.

Dec.17: O Spaientia or O Wisdom
Dec.18: O Adonai or O Lord
Dec. 19: O Radix Jesse or O Root of Jesse
Dec. 20: O Clavis David or O Key of David
Dec. 21: O Oriens or O Dayspring
Dece.22: O Rex Gentium or O King of the Nations
Dec. 23: O Emmanuel or O With us is God

Pray the antiphons

St Andrew Novena

Beginning on St. Andrew the Apostle’s feast day, November 30, the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment In which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your request]

through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Get Christmas cheer in your mailbox or inbox!

Subscribe to our free Catholic San Francisco online newsletter or our in-print glossy magazine. Just fill out this form.

Name

First Last

Email(Required)

Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

1-415-897-2171

Advent

We await the coming of Jesus Christ the Lord!

Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events around the Archdiocese

The Advent Wreath

Jesse Tree

Advent Calendars

O Antiphons

St Andrew Novena

Get Christmas cheer in your mailbox or inbox!

Find your local parish

Church of the Assumption

Our Lady of Loretto Parish

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Sacred Heart Parish

Saint Anselm Parish

Saint Anthony of Padua Parish

Saint Cecilia Parish

Saint Hilary Parish

Saint Isabella Parish

Saint Patrick Parish

Saint Raphael Parish

Saint Rita Parish

Saint Sebastian Parish

Office of Development

Church of the Epiphany

Church of the Nativity

Church of the Visitacion

Corpus Christi Parish

Mission Dolores Basilica

Most Holy Redeemer Parish

National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi

Notre Dame Des Victoires Parish

Old Saint Mary’s Parish

Our Lady of Fatima Parish

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish

Saint Agnes Parish

Saint Anne of the Sunset Parish

Saint Benedict Parish

Saint Boniface Parish

Saint Brendan Parish

Saint Cecilia Parish

Saint Dominic’s Catholic Church

Saint Elizabeth Parish

Saint Emydius Parish

Saint Finn Barr Parish

Saint Gabriel Parish

Saint Ignatius Parish

Saint John of God Parish

Saint John the Evangelist Parish

Saint Kevin Parish

Saint Mary’s Cathedral

Saint Michael Korean Parish

Saint Patrick Parish

Saint Paul Parish

Saint Peter Parish

Saint Stephen Parish

Saint Teresa Parish

Saint Thomas More Parish

Saint Vincent De Paul Parish

Saints Peter and Paul Parish

St. Monica – St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Star of the Sea Parish

All Souls Parish

Church of the Good Shepherd

Church of the Nativity

Holy Angels Parish

Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

Mater Dolorosa Parish

Our Lady of Angels Parish

Our Lady of Mercy Parish

Saint Matthew Parish

Saint Peter Parish

St. Pius Church

Saint Raymond Parish

Saint Robert Parish

St. Timothy Catholic Church

Saint Veronica Parish

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish

Our Lady of the Pillar Parish