Not to sound absolutely cliché, but we all know it’s true:
It’s easy to forget the true meaning of Christmas. We all get caught up
Christmas shopping, cookie baking, and watching holiday movie marathons and
forget about that the time leading up to Christmas is an important time in the
liturgical year - It’s Advent.
Unfortunately, as college students, our finals schedule
doesn’t make it convenient to spend large amounts of time in prayer and
preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. At the same time, Advent is
an important time to reflect, pray, and discern. How are we to take advantage
of this call for reflection and not neglect our academic obligations (not to
mention our friends and family and extracurriculars)? Here are a few ideas:
1-
Get
technical
The wonderful part of technology is that it
can help you with all your daily life- including your prayer life! A lot of
awesome apps exist to help you with your advent journey. Bible Study apps,
Advent devotional apps, and even Rosary apps can help you fit prayer in your
pocket. As your faith life is a personal thing, look around and try to find apps
that fit your prayer style best. And of course, if you haven’t already, make
sure to download Campus Ministry’s app, Notre Dame Daily Faith![WU1]
2-
Go out
and Serve
There is no better
way to get into the holiday spirit and share God’s love than to help others! Plus,
serving lunch at a local soup kitchen or caroling at a nursing home makes the
perfect study break. Notre Dame offers a lot of easy ways to get involved this
holiday season. Try to say “yes” to one opportunity, chances are you can make a
difference and not even leave campus.
3- Add a Prayer Corner to your Desk
If you are
planning to marathon study in your room, make a little space for God. Add a candle
(electric of course), a cross, and something small to remind you of hope (some
evergreen, a flower, etc.). Use your corner as a place to meditate or a place to pray for strength when studying
late at night.
4- Take a walk
Notre Dame is
beautiful year round, especially in the winter. A walk around the lakes
provides a chance for reflection and discernment, as well as a chance to enjoy campus
in the snow. Make sure you walk as slow as possible for the most peaceful
experience. For a more meditative walk, try to practice taking two steps
looking down at your feet and then two steps looking up.
5- Come and Adore Him
Have you always
wanted to fit a little more Eucharistic Adoration into your schedule? Advent is
the perfect time! Set your alarm a ½ hour earlier than you plan to wake up and use
the extra time to visit the CoMo chapel, for adoration. Having some special
time with the blessed sacrament is a great way to start your day and prepare
for a long day of studying! Learn more about adoration here: http://campusministry.nd.edu/undergraduate-resources/personal-prayer/eucharistic-adoration/.
As we enter into Advent, it is easy
to worry that the bustle of the holidays and stress exams will make Advent a
faithless time in our lives. Luckily, there are many easy ways to engage your
faith life this season! Try out these tips and don’t be afraid to share how you
plan to prepare in the comments section!
