Welcome to another Advent, and the beginning of a new year of Grace.

As promised, here's the Opening Prayer for the Mass of the First Sunday of Advent:

Father in heaven,
our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching
for the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for Christ our Savior
and give us the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may find us rejoicing in his presence
and welcoming the light of his truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Let's use this prayer to keep us centered on the true meaning of Advent, while the world around us challenges us to forget Advent, and to begin the celebration of Christmas