Joy to the World: An Advent Journey with the Angelus

Prepare your Fiat this Advent Joy is not a feeling we chase; it's a fruit that grows from trust. As Christians, we are called to say yes to God with full trust and surrender like Mary did, not just in the big moments of life, but again and again, in the ordinary moments of our ordinary days. Praying the Angelus is a small, steady habit with the power to reorient our entire lives. This Advent, Joy to the World invites you to pause once a day to pray this traditional prayer and let it draw you deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation. Through this simple habit you will be preparing your heart to make your own personal fiat to the Lord. By Christmas, may this small daily pause have planted in you the same joy Mary carried to Elizabeth, a joy that doesn't depend on our circumstances but on Christ dwelling among us. What’s Inside Daily Meditations Each week centers on a different line of the Angelus. Sundays introduce that week's line and Scripture scene; weekday meditations pair a Bible verse with a short reflection and close with a journaling prompt to help you open your heart to the Lord. Saturdays invite you to look back before moving into the week ahead, and a final guided meditation carries you into Christmas Day itself. Visio Divina Every week opens with visio divina, "divine seeing," a guided meditation on sacred art during prayer. Each weekly image is accompanied by reflection questions and a thought for the week. Small group discussion questions for the week are also included. Return to each image as often as you'd like throughout the week to deepen your prayer. Community Advent provides a wonderful opportunity to refocus your prayer life and center it on Christ through a devotion to his Blessed Mother. Whenever you begin a new spiritual exercise, like praying the Angelus daily, it is best done in community and with accountability. This is why this devotional is designed for you to use with others in your family, parish, or community. Download the free small group guide to learn more! Optional: Videos Joy to the World: An Advent Journey with the Angelus invites parishioners to encounter joy through Mary’s fiat and the daily prayer of the Angelus. Fr. Mike’s Joy to the World is a separate daily video series reflecting on the Mass readings through the lens of Christian joy. Each stands on its own. Together, they give parishioners two distinct ways to enter more deeply into the joy of Advent. A parish subscription gives parishioners access to Fr. Mike’s daily Advent series for just $4.99, plus Crux for Lent and hundreds of premium resources through Lent 2027. Free subscribers to the Ascension app will have access to Fr. Mike’s Sunday Advent homilies, which can be used alongside the devotional for individual reflection and small group discussions. Due to the seasonal nature of the program, Joy to the World: An Advent Journey with the Angelus is not eligible for return.