Sometimes we get so busy with all the other Christmas preparations that we tend to forget the reason for the season. That's why, in this Year of Faith, we propose a project for the entire family: The Cube of Love Advent Calendar.

"May the journey we shall be making this year enable us all to grow in faith, in love of Christ, so that in our daily decisions and actions we may learn to live the good and beautiful life of the Gospel."

(Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, Saint Peter's Square, 17 October 2012 – Introduction: The Year of Faith)

Each year, we celebrate one of the most important holidays of our faith, the birth of Jesus. Before Christmas, the Church gives us a time of preparation called Advent. It is the beginning of the liturgical year and also a time to prepare our hearts for the birth of Jesus.

Each of the phrases on the Cube of Love is a way to grow in faith, to strive to love as Jesus did and to prepare our hearts for the Lord as a family and as a community,

The phrases with explanations are:

• Love everyone: Love everyone equally as they need to be loved. Love does not discriminate.
• Be the first to love: Take the initiative, without waiting for someone else to love first. We generally love because we feel loved, but, expect nothing in return and aim at being the first to love.
• Love Jesus in the other, Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers or sisters of mine, you did for me"(Mt25:40) Jesus considers done to himself what we do to everyone we meet. Share the other's hurt or joy:
• Share your friend's, classmate's or member of your family's worries, hurt and joy. Cry with them if they are crying: laugh with them when they are laughing.
• Love your enemy: This kind of love does not show love and forgiveness only to friends, but also to those we might consider "enemies." If someone hurts you, respond with love and perhaps your "enemy" will one day become your friend!
• We love one another: Love reaches its fullness in reciprocal love: when we love and are loved in return. Love generates love. Before acting, think "does this generates love?"

This is how it works:

1 – make your Cube of Love,
2 – roll the Cube of Love each morning, starting on the first Sunday of Advent,
3– remember the phrase through out the day and put it into practice
4 – share with your family how you lived the phrase
5 – cut and paste the circle that corresponds to the phrase that was rolled on the Cube onto the Advent Calendar for that date.

May this project help prepare your family for Christmas, and as Pope Benedict XVI wished for this Year of Faith, may we learn and discover: "to live the good and beautiful life of the Gospel."

Enjoy the Cube of Love and Happy Advent!

Download your copy here:

  Advent Calendar (555.73 kB)