By Laudato Voices | Advent Reflection | November 30, 2025
Advent is a time for preparation, hope, and spiritual renewal. During these four weeks, we are invited to welcome Christ into our lives and the world. This season encourages us to put our faith into action, even by caring for God’s creation. Guided by Laudato Si’ and Pope Francis’s call to care for the environment, Advent invites us to open ourselves to change and take real steps to protect and heal the earth.
Each of the four weeks of Advent focuses on different aspects of preparation: hope, peace, joy, and love. These themes are not just spiritual reflections but also invitations to act in ways that nurture our relationship with the environment and Gods people to renew our commitment to caring for God’s creation. We suggest a few ways you can incorporate the teachings of Laudato Si’ into each week of Advent Season through meaningful, concrete actions.
Week 1: Hope – Preparing Our Hearts for Change
Advent begins with hope, encouraging us to look forward and get ready for Christ’s coming. When we care for creation, hope means believing that change is possible and that even small actions can help create a better future for the earth but mostly importantly we need to work for the conversion of our souls as we wait expectantly for the coming of the Messiah. Singing Maranatha.
Action for Week 1: Start with Reflection and Intentional Action
• Reflect: Take time to consider how the state of the environment is affecting both the earth and its people, especially the poor and marginalized. Pope Francis reminds us:
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth” (Laudato Si’, 21). Let this reality spark hope that we can turn things around.
• Set Intentions: This week, pick one area of your life to start changing, such as using less plastic, saving water, or choosing sustainable products. Write down your intentions and share them to help build a community or family of hope and shared purpose.
Week 2: Peace – The Call to Internal Conversion
The second week of Advent centers on peace. Pope Francis calls us to a deep inner transformation, aligning our hearts with God’s vision. Lasting peace blossoms when we live in harmony with each other and with the earth. By being builders of peace in our families and communities and by tending to creation, we sow seeds of peace for ourselves and for generations yet to come.
Action for Week 2: Practice Sustainable Living
• Simplify: Peace starts in our homes and communities. Try to simplify your life by using less. Laudato Si’ points out that “the culture of consumption… leads to the constant draining of the earth’s resources” (Laudato Si’, 27). This week, focus on buying fewer, more sustainable products that are made with care for people and the planet.
• Mindful Consumption: Pay attention to how your daily choices can support peace. Try to waste less food, eat more plant-based meals, and use fewer single-use plastics. Living this way honors the earth and all its creatures.
Week 3: Joy – Celebrating Creation’s Beauty
The third week of Advent is about joy. Joy comes from noticing and appreciating the beauty of creation, which Pope Francis calls the joyful embrace of all creatures. This week, we are encouraged to see the world as a gift, celebrate nature, and feel grateful for the earth’s many blessings and share this blessing with others especially those in most need.
Action for Week 3: Reconnect with Nature and Protect What You Love
• Get Outside: Spend some time walking in a park, hiking a trail, or just enjoying a garden or forest. Let yourself feel the joy of God’s creation. As Pope Francis writes:
“Each creature is the object of the Father’s love, who grants it existence and supports it” (Laudato Si’, 77). Let this joy deepen your commitment to protecting the environment.
• Share the Joy: This week, invite others to enjoy nature with you. You could organize a community clean-up, plant a tree, or start conversations about caring for the earth. Let your joy and love for creation spread to others.
Week 4: Love – Love for God and Creation
The last week of Advent focuses on love. Love motivates everything we do, and when we care for creation, it drives us to protect the earth and all living things. Our love for God inspires us to value His creation and act with kindness toward the world.
Action for Week 4: Strategic Environmental Advocacy
• Stand Up for the Poor: Love for creation also means standing up for the poor in our families and communities with small acts of charity including sharing the little we have with those in need to celebrate christ’s love well and those who are often the most affected by environmental destruction. Pope Francis challenges us to remember that “the poor and the earth are crying out to us” (Laudato Si’, 49).
• Commit to Long-Term Action: Loving creation means promising to make lasting changes. You can support youth groups, street children, help local farmers, or join community projects for action. Let your voice and actions speak up for the earth and those most in need in the coming year.
During Advent we are being called to a New Relationship with Creation
As we prepare for Christ’s birth, we are also called to renew our hearts and the world. The Advent themes of hope, peace, joy, and love are not just things to think about—they are challenges to live out each day. By caring for creation, we put these virtues into action and take part in God’s work of renewal.
In the spirit of Laudato Si’, let us remember that our care for the environment is a reflection of our love for God and for one another. Pope Francis reminds us:
“Everything is connected. The way we treat the environment, the way we treat each other, is a reflection of our love for God.” (Laudato Si’, 91)
May this Advent be a time of change, where our choices show the hope, peace, joy, and love that Christ brings. Let’s care for creation every day, making our lives a sign of faith in Christ’s coming.
