Faith Formation Helps – December 2025

December 2025 – Faith Formation Helps

Theme: Advent & Preparation

FAMILY SECTION

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, You came to us as a child in Bethlehem. Come again into our hearts this Advent. Help our family to prepare with love, joy, and peace. Amen.

Simple Catechesis for Families

Advent means “coming.” It is the season of waiting and preparing for Jesus’ coming.

We prepare for three comings:

Jesus’ birth at Christmas, when He came in history.

His coming into our hearts through grace and the sacraments.

His coming again in glory at the end of time.

Advent is like getting your home ready for a special guest — cleaning, decorating, and making space.

We prepare our hearts through prayer, kindness, confession, and works of mercy.

The Advent wreath helps us count the weeks until Christmas, lighting a new candle each Sunday to show that Christ, our Light, is near.

Family Discussion Prompts

What can we do to get our hearts ready for Jesus?

What makes waiting difficult?

How can we show joy and kindness while we wait?

What does the light of each candle mean to us?

Family Activity Ideas

Advent Wreath: Light a candle each week and pray: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Nativity Scene Countdown: Add one figure each day — ending with the Christ Child on Christmas Eve.

Acts of Love Chain: Write good deeds on paper strips and link them into a chain for the crib.

Family Confession Night: Go to confession together before Christmas.

Advent Blessing Box: Collect items for the poor or lonely and deliver them together.

ADULT SECTION

Catechesis for Adults

CCC 524: “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah; by sharing in the long preparation for the Saviour’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for His second coming.”

Advent invites us to live between memory and hope — remembering God’s faithfulness, hoping for His return.

The purple colour symbolises repentance and royal expectation.

The two great figures of Advent are Isaiah, the prophet of hope, and John the Baptist, the prophet of conversion.

Advent is not just “countdown to Christmas.” It is the Church’s spiritual retreat, preparing hearts through silence, Scripture, and sacrament.

Reflection Questions for Adults

What am I waiting for this Advent — things, or Christ Himself?

Have I allowed Advent to become just shopping and busyness?

Where in my life do I need to make room for God’s coming?

If Jesus returned tomorrow, would I be ready?

Try This Week

Read the Sunday Mass readings ahead of time and reflect on them.

Spend ten minutes daily in silence before an Advent wreath or candle.

Go to Confession — the best way to prepare your soul.

Write a short prayer of invitation: “Come, Lord Jesus, into my life.”

APOLOGETICS HELPS

1. “Why do Catholics ‘wait’ for Christ if He already came?”

Advent looks backward, inward, and forward.

Backward: celebrating the first coming at Bethlehem.

Inward: inviting Christ into our hearts.

Forward: awaiting His second coming in glory.

The Church’s rhythm keeps us spiritually awake (Mark 13:33).

2. “Why is Advent a time of penance?”

John the Baptist prepared people by calling them to repentance (Luke 3:3).

We make room for Christ by clearing sin from our lives.
Analogy: Before a guest arrives, we tidy our house; confession tidies the soul.

3. “Why does Advent have purple and not Christmas colours?”

Purple symbolises waiting, humility, and repentance.

Advent is a joyful waiting, not yet the feast itself.
Analogy: You don’t open presents before Christmas morning.

4. “What’s the difference between Advent and Lent?”

Both are penitential, but Advent’s tone is hope and joyful expectation; Lent’s is sorrow and conversion.

Advent prepares a cradle; Lent prepares a cross.

5. “Isn’t Christmas about family and giving?”

Family and giving are good, but they flow from the deeper truth: God’s gift of Himself in the Incarnation.

Advent reminds us not to lose Christ amid Christmas busyness.

ILLUSTRATION STORIES

1. The Guest Room (Making Space for Christ)

A family was expecting important visitors. They hurried to clean every room — except one messy storage space. When the guests arrived, the father hesitated to open that door. The visitors smiled and said, “That’s the room we’d like to help you tidy.”
Lesson: We often hide parts of our lives from God, but Jesus wants to enter those very rooms — our fears, sins, and burdens. (Revelation 3:20)
Catechetical tie-in: Advent invites us to open every room of our heart to Christ through repentance and honesty.

2. The Candle in the Window (Hope)

During a harsh winter, a family placed a single candle in their window each night, hoping their son would return from war. One night he saw the glow and found his way home.
Lesson: Hope lights the way in dark times. Christ is the light we watch for. (John 1:5)
Application: The Advent wreath’s candles represent growing hope — week by week, the light increases.

3. The Empty Crib (Longing for Jesus)

A child looked at the empty crib and asked, “When will baby Jesus come?” Her mother answered, “When our hearts are ready.” Each day the child added straw for every good deed. By Christmas, the crib was soft and full.
Lesson: Advent teaches us to prepare a crib for Christ in our hearts by good works and kindness.

4. The Midnight Train (Waiting in Faith)

A man waited for a midnight train that seemed delayed. The stationmaster assured him, “It always comes.” The man stayed awake, and at last the train arrived.
Lesson: God’s promises never fail, though His timing surprises us. Advent waiting forms patience and trust. (2 Peter 3:8–9)

5. The Locked Door (Conversion)

A woman heard knocking at night but was afraid to open. When morning came, she saw it was her friend, waiting to bring good news.
Lesson: Christ knocks on the door of our hearts. Fear can delay His entry, but He waits patiently. (Revelation 3:20)

6. The Messenger in the Desert (John the Baptist)

A town had forgotten its king’s message. One man appeared, shouting, “Prepare the road!” Some mocked him, but others repaired bridges, filled holes, and cleared stones. When the king arrived, only those who had prepared could welcome him.
Lesson: John the Baptist’s call echoes each Advent: “Prepare the way of the Lord.” Conversion clears the road for Christ.

7. The Broken Clock (God’s Perfect Timing)

A clock stopped ticking at midnight and everyone thought time had ended. But dawn came anyway.
Lesson: God’s time is not ours. Advent reminds us to trust His plan even when waiting feels long. (Galatians 4:4)

8. The Lantern and the Watchman (Vigilance)

A watchman kept his lantern burning all night while others slept. When the Master returned unexpectedly, the watchman alone was ready.
Lesson: Jesus says, “Stay awake, for you do not know the day or hour” (Matthew 25:13). Advent is spiritual vigilance — keeping the lamp of faith alight.

TEEN TRACK

Advent challenges teens to see waiting not as boredom but as training in faith.

In a world of instant gratification, Advent teaches patience and purpose.

John the Baptist was young and fearless — a model for Advent courage.

Practical Helps:

Limit screen time to make space for prayer.

Do one secret act of kindness daily — “Advent missions.”

Listen to sacred Advent music instead of Christmas songs early.

Keep a small notebook titled “Preparing My Heart.”

SEEKER TRACK

Everyone is waiting for something — success, love, peace. Advent reveals the One who fulfils all waiting.

God entered human history quietly; He may enter your life quietly too.

The message of Advent: “You matter enough that God Himself is coming to meet you.”

Practical Helps for Seekers:

Light a candle daily and simply say: “Come, Lord Jesus.”

Read Isaiah 9 or Luke 1 and imagine hearing those promises for the first time.

Visit a church during Advent; sit in silence before the crib or tabernacle.

CONCLUSION

Advent is God’s gentle reminder that the story is not over.
The Child who came in Bethlehem will come again in glory.
He asks only that we keep the light burning and the door open.

“Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20)

“The Church each year makes present this expectation of the Messiah.” (CCC 524)