Pope Francis' Angelus Address on the Season of Advent

"Advent begins today, the liturgical season that prepares us for Christmas, inviting us to raise our eyes and to open our heart to welcome Jesus. During Advent we not only wait for Christmas, we are invited to reawaken the expectation of Christ's glorious return - when He will return at the end of time - preparing ourselves for the final encounter with Him with consistent and courageous choices. We recall Christmas; we wait for Christ's glorious return, and also for our personal encounter - the day in which the Lord will call us. During these four weeks we are called to come out of a resigned and habitual way of living, and to come out nourishing hope, nourishing  [our] dreams for a new future. This Sunday's Gospel (Cf. Luke 21:25-28.34-36) points in fact in this direction and puts us on guard against letting ourselves be oppressed by an egocentric lifestyle or by the convulsive rhythm of the days. Jesus' words resound in a particularly incisive way: '“Take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a snare. . . . But watch at all times, praying' (vv. 34.36)."

In his Angelus message on the First Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis reminds us of the importance of keeping watch (opening our hearts, asking ourselves concrete questions on how and for whom we spend our life) and praying (turning our thoughts and heart to Jesus who is about to come) as we live this season of Advent.

To access a Zenit report on the Holy Father's Angelus address, please visit:

Zenit: Angelus Address: On the Season of Advent (2 DEC 18)