It’s Advent during the Eucharistic Revival called for by the U.S. bishops, and so it’s a perfect time to prepare for Christmas with Jesus Christ, truly present among us in the tabernacle or monstrance at our local Catholic church. Here are some easy ways to unite with Jesus, give gifts, receive gifts, and deepen family love.
This Advent, through the Eucharist, unite yourself to Jesus.
Visit Jesus in the Eucharist during your Christmas errands. You don’t have to spend an hour or even a half hour to visit the Eucharist in the tabernacle or in the exposed monstrance. You can just stop by for a brief chat. I use the ABCS of prayer and briefly adore Jesus with simple words of why you believe, hope and love him; recall the blessings he has given you, especially the goodness, truth and beauty you experienced in the past 24 hours; express contrition for what you’ve done wrong; and offer supplication, asking him to supply those in need with every good thing.
Pray for his second coming. Advent prepares both for Christmas and for Jesus’ second coming. The Catechism (1402-1405) calls the Eucharist a “pledge of the glory to come.” Add the words of Revelation “Come, Lord Jesus!” to your dinner prayer or daily offering, adding: “Come to us in the Eucharist, and at Christmas, and at the end of time.”
This Advent, through the Eucharist, share your gifts with others.
Give to the poor. Jesus in the Eucharist, “commits us to the poor” says the Catechism. “To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren.” Find some way to serve the poor as a family: Through a parish apostolate, a city initiative, or by donating. Make a visit to the Eucharist to pray for who you served before coming home.
Commit to the Church. It’s not our human love or respect for one another that makes the Church what it is; the Eucharist “makes the Church,” says the Catechism. To live the Eucharist, serve your parish or diocese or a religious order in an apostolate, in its activities, or by donating.
This Advent, receive the forgiveness offered by the Eucharist.
Go to confession. “Holy Communion separates us from sin” says the Catechism. But it adds, “The Eucharist is not ordered to the forgiveness of mortal sins — that is proper to the sacrament of Reconciliation.” Find a time to bring the whole family to confession to prepare to receive Jesus at Christmas.
Give something up for Advent. The Eucharist “enables us to break our disordered attachments to creatures and root ourselves in” Christ, says the Catechism. It’s hard to give something up in December, the month of Christmas parties and holiday concerts. Maybe give up something significant and donate it as a special sacrifice.
This Advent, strengthen your ties to your family.
Do a secret good deed daily. “The Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life,” says the Catechism. Fight back! Instead of being a “Secret Santa” be a “Secret Jesus” by the power of his body and blood you have received, and do a secret good deed each day (use the five love languages and give an act of service, a small gift, an affirming word, a hug or kiss, or quality time).
Have a family Advent movie night. Instead of going in different directions, find time to get the family together for a movie. Before there were Hallmark Christmas movies, there were movies for each of these categories. Movies about Jesus include “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) and “The Little Drummer Boy” (1968). Movies about giving and repentance include A Christmas Carol (the Muppets version is best for kids) and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966). But if you want to watch a Hallmark movie, why not the one most about the Eucharist? In The Maldonado Miracle (2003), directed by Salma Hayek, the blood of Christ unites a town.
And today we celebrate...