Candles and the Book of the Gospels are pictured during Mass on the second week of Advent at Jesus the Divine Word Church in Huntington, Md., Dec. 5, 2021. The second week of Advent focuses on peace. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)
CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
The season of Advent is a time we are called to be filled with the expectation of the coming of Christ into the world. A time to reflect on the themes of hope, peace, joy and love. One of the most elusive themes for most is to find peace. “Peace” is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a “state of tranquility or quiet.” But many of us experience the opposite of peace during the weeks leading up to Christmas. There are so many tasks to do, gifts to buy and wrap, and people to see, which makes the journey to Christmas Day anything but peaceful.
But there are ways to reclaim the peace of the season.
1. One of the most calming things you can do to quiet your soul is to spend time in adoration. It is simply stopping to gaze upon the Blessed Sacrament and thinking, “Jesus, I am looking at you, now look at me and speak to me, Lord.” Being at adoration in person is so powerful, but a simple search for Adoration Live on YouTube will find churches hosting a virtual experience.
2. Most churches also offer a communal penance service that provides you with the feeling of peace through reconciling our relationship with Christ when we receive absolution for the sins we confess. Sin separates us from true communion with Christ, and once whatever separated us has been absolved, we feel such peace and connection with our Lord.
3. Praying the rosary daily during the season of Advent, especially while meditating on the Joyful Mysteries, will help you to reflect and pray with the feeling of expectation that is so attuned with the season. Reflect during each Hail Mary on how you may say “yes” to something God is calling you to do. The cadence of the rosary is very calming. Whether you are praying the rosary alone or in a group, there are also online options in the form of apps. Catholify has live rosaries every hour at TheLiveRosary.com. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu also hosts a daily rosary on its Facebook page!
4. Subscribe to an Advent daily devotional like Best Advent Ever that just lands in your email inbox or visit USCCB.org and listen to the daily readings podcast each day of the season. So many parishes also offer livestreaming of daily Masses, which you can attend virtually to help you bring peace to your day.
5. Lastly, give yourself the gift of a Catholic app that helps you find peace in the palm of your hand while you are on the go. The top three I recommend are “Laudate,” “Hallow,” or “Pray As You Go.” Each of them has different features that help you tap into prayer and meditation along with more traditional elements of our faith practices. I love the more contemporary “Hallow” app that includes the voices of Father Mike Schmitz, Bishop Robert Barron and Jonathan Roumie of “The Chosen” fame reading prayers, Bible stories, homilies, challenges and podcasts. They have tools to meditate, sleep and listen to contemporary music all in one app.
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a church social media consultant based in California.
