Advent with the Fathers
Advent 2026 begins on Sunday, November 29, and ends on Christmas Eve. This plan gives one short reading for each of its 26 days, drawn only from the public-domain editions in our reading room. The first weeks look toward Christ’s coming at the end of time; from December 17 the readings follow the O Antiphons toward Christmas. Each link opens the reader at the start of the passage.
- Day 1
First Sunday of Advent
Clement of Rome, The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
First Epistle of Clement, chapter XXIII · about 2 min
“The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His…”
Clement of Rome wrote to the church at Corinth near the end of the first century. This chapter answers those who doubt that what was promised will come to pass.
Read day 1 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/apostolic-fathers/pg-77576/3/117Project Gutenberg #77576, tr. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, F. Crombie. Edition: 1870. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 2
St Andrew, Apostle
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XX, chapter 1 · about 4 min
“Intending to speak, in dependence on God's grace, of the day of His final judgment, and to affirm it against…”
Book XX of The City of God is on the Last Judgment. Augustine begins with what the whole Church professes: that Christ shall come from heaven to judge the living and the dead.
Read day 2 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/37/1312Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 3
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
Book I, opening · about 3 min
“Great art Thou, O Lord, and greatly to be praised; great is Thy power, and Thy wisdom infinite. And Thee…”
The opening of the Confessions, written about 397 to 400. Augustine asks how the God who made heaven and earth can come into him.
Read day 3 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/confessions/pg-3296/0/15Project Gutenberg #3296, tr. Pusey, E. B. (Edward Bouverie), 1800-1882. Translation by 1882. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 4
Catherine of Siena, Saint Catherine of Siena as Seen in Her Letters
Letter to Stefano Maconi · about 3 min
“Dearest son in Christ sweet Jesus: I Catherine, servant and slave of the servants of Jesus Christ, write to thee…”
Catherine of Siena (1347 to 1380) writes on keeping watch over the soul. Her closing lines mention her arrival in Rome on the first Sunday in Advent.
Read day 4 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/catherine-letters/pg-7403/17/625Project Gutenberg #7403, tr. Vida D. Scudder. Edition: 1905. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 5
St Francis Xavier
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Book II, chapter 1, “Of the inward life” · about 2 min
“The kingdom of God is within you, saith the Lord. Turn thee with all thine heart to the Lord and…”
The Imitation of Christ, usually attributed to Thomas à Kempis (about 1380 to 1471), on preparing the heart for Christ to come and dwell within.
Read day 5 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/imitation-of-christ/pg-1653/5/206Project Gutenberg #1653, tr. Benham, William, 1831-1910. Translation by 1910. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 6
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 29 · about 2 min
“The prophecy of Isaiah is not in the book of the twelve prophets, who are called the minor from the…”
In Book XVIII Augustine surveys the prophets. This chapter gathers what Isaiah foretold of Christ and the Church.
Read day 6 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/28/989Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 7
Bede the Venerable, Ecclesiastical History of the English People
Book IV, chapter 3 · about 3 min
“It is no wonder that he joyfully beheld the day of his death, or rather the day of the Lord,…”
Bede (about 673 to 735) on the death of St Chad (Ceadda), bishop of the Mercians, who kept the day of the Lord always in mind.
Read day 7 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/bede-ecclesiastical-history/pg-38326/14/496Project Gutenberg #38326, tr. A. M. Sellar. Edition: 1907. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 8
Second Sunday of Advent
Letter to Diognetus (anonymous), The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Epistle to Diognetus, chapter VII · about 3 min
“For, as I said, this was no mere earthly invention which was delivered to them, nor is it a mere…”
An anonymous early Christian letter of uncertain date, printed in this edition with the Apostolic Fathers. Chapter VII is on how God sent His Word among men.
Read day 8 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/apostolic-fathers/pg-77576/111/3885Project Gutenberg #77576, tr. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, F. Crombie. Edition: 1870. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 9
St Ambrose
Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
Book V · about 3 min
“When therefore they of Milan had sent to Rome to the prefect of the city, to furnish them with a…”
Augustine describes coming to Milan in 384 and hearing Bishop Ambrose preach.
Read day 9 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/confessions/pg-3296/4/150Project Gutenberg #3296, tr. Pusey, E. B. (Edward Bouverie), 1800-1882. Translation by 1882. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 10
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary
Discourse on the Immaculate Conception · about 2 min
“How befitting it was to all Three of the Divine Persons that Mary should be preserved from original sin.”
Alphonsus Liguori (1696 to 1787) published The Glories of Mary in 1750. Pius IX defined the Immaculate Conception as dogma in 1854, after this discourse was written.
Read day 10 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/glories-of-mary/pg-72411/17/617Project Gutenberg #72411. Edition: 1852. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 11
Letter to Diognetus (anonymous), The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Epistle to Diognetus, chapter IX · about 3 min
“As long then as the former time endured, He permitted us to be borne along by unruly impulses, being drawn…”
Chapter IX, “Why the Son was sent so late,” takes up the question of why God waited so long.
Read day 11 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/apostolic-fathers/pg-77576/111/3889Project Gutenberg #77576, tr. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, F. Crombie. Edition: 1870. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 12
Thomas Aquinas, On Prayer and the Contemplative Life
On the seven petitions of the Lord’s Prayer · about 5 min
“The Lord's Prayer is the most perfect of all prayers, for, as S. Augustine says to Proba: "If we pray…”
From the Summa Theologiae (II-II, question 83, article 9) in Hugh Pope’s 1914 translation. Aquinas explains what we ask when we pray “Thy kingdom come.”
Read day 12 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/aquinas-prayer-contemplative/pg-22295/14/494Project Gutenberg #22295, tr. Hugh Pope, O.P.. Edition: 1914. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 13
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 30 · about 2 min
“The prophet Micah, representing Christ under the figure of a great mountain, speaks thus: "It shall come to pass in…”
Augustine reads Micah, including the prophecy that a ruler of Israel will come out of Bethlehem.
Read day 13 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/28/992Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 14
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love
Chapter IV · about 1 min
“In this [Shewing] He brought our blessed Lady to my understanding. I saw her ghostly, in bodily likeness: a simple…”
Julian of Norwich (about 1342 to after 1416) recorded the showings she received in May 1373. Here she sees Mary as she was when she conceived.
Read day 14 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/revelations-divine-love/pg-52958/7/259Project Gutenberg #52958, tr. Warrack, G. (Grace Harriet), 1855-1932. Edition: 1901. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 15
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 35 · about 3 min
“There remain three minor prophets, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, who prophesied at the close of the captivity. Of these Haggai…”
Haggai and Zechariah. Augustine quotes Zechariah: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Sion.” Gaudete Sunday is named for the first word of its entrance antiphon, Rejoice.
Read day 15 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/28/1009Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 16
St John of the Cross
Boethius, The Consolation of Philosophy
Book V, prose VI · about 4 min
“'Since, then, as we lately proved, everything that is known is cognized not in accordance with its own nature, but…”
Boethius (about 477 to 524) wrote The Consolation of Philosophy in prison. Here Philosophy explains that God lives in an eternal present.
Read day 16 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/consolation-philosophy/pg-14328/21/746Project Gutenberg #14328, tr. H. R. James. Edition: 1897. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 17
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 35 (continued) · about 6 min
“Malachi, foretelling the Church which we now behold propagated through Christ, says most openly to the Jews, in the person…”
The same chapter turns to Malachi, including the promise of the messenger sent to prepare the way.
Read day 17 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/28/1012Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 18
Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Abandonment; or, Absolute Surrender to Divine Providence
Book I, chapter II · about 2 min
““The power of the Most High shall overshadow thee,” said the angel to Mary.”
Jean-Pierre de Caussade (1675 to 1751) on finding God’s will in the duties of each moment, beginning from the angel’s words to Mary.
Read day 18 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/abandonment/pg-52057/4/143Project Gutenberg #52057, tr. McMahon, Ella, Ramière, Henri, 1821-1884. Edition: 1887. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 19
O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
John Henry Newman, The Dream of Gerontius
The Fifth Choir of Angelicals · about 1 min
“Praise to the Holiest in the height, And in the depth be praise: In all His words most wonderful; Most…”
The O Antiphons are sung at Vespers from December 17 to 23. Newman’s hymn, “Praise to the Holiest in the height,” praises the “loving wisdom of our God.”
Read day 19 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/dream-gerontius/pg-48927/8/288Project Gutenberg #48927, tr. Maurice Francis Egan. Edition: 1910. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 20
O Adonai (O Lord)
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 33 · about 3 min
“Jeremiah, like Isaiah, is one of the greater prophets, not of the minor, like the others from whose writings I…”
Jeremiah’s prophecies as Augustine reads them, including the righteous shoot to be raised up for David.
Read day 20 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/28/1003Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 21
O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse)
Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Book IV, chapter 17 · about 3 min
“With the deepest devotion and fervent love, with all affection and fervour of heart, I long to receive Thee, O…”
“Of fervent love and vehement desire of receiving Christ.” The chapter recalls John the Baptist, who leapt for joy in his mother’s womb.
Read day 21 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/imitation-of-christ/pg-1653/25/893Project Gutenberg #1653, tr. Benham, William, 1831-1910. Translation by 1910. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 22
Fourth Sunday of Advent; O Clavis David (O Key of David)
Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy
Paradiso, Canto XXXIII · about 2 min
““Thou Virgin Mother, daughter of thy Son, Humble and high beyond all other creature, The limit fixed of the eternal…”
The last canto of the Divine Comedy opens with St Bernard of Clairvaux’s prayer to the Virgin, in Longfellow’s translation.
Read day 22 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/divine-comedy/pg-1004/139/4882Project Gutenberg #1004, tr. Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882. Translation by 1882. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 23
O Oriens (O Dayspring)
Ignatius of Antioch, The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Ignatius, Epistle to the Ephesians, chapter XIX (shorter version) · about 1 min
“Now the virginity of Mary was hidden from the prince of this world, as was also her offspring, and the…”
Ignatius of Antioch wrote this letter on his way to martyrdom in Rome early in the second century. Chapter XIX tells of the star.
Read day 23 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/apostolic-fathers/pg-77576/55/1950Project Gutenberg #77576, tr. Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, F. Crombie. Edition: 1870. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 24
O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations)
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 48 · about 3 min
“This house of God is more glorious than that first one which was constructed of wood and stone, metals, and…”
Augustine on Haggai’s prophecy that the glory of the latter house will be greater than the first, when “the desired of all nations” comes.
Read day 24 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/29/1041Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 25
O Emmanuel
Augustine of Hippo, The City of God
Book XVIII, chapter 46 · about 4 min
“While Herod, therefore, reigned in Judea, and Cæsar Augustus was emperor at Rome, the state of the republic being already…”
Augustine on the birth of Christ in Bethlehem while Herod reigned in Judea, citing the prophecy of the virgin who will bear a Son called Immanuel.
Read day 25 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/city-of-god/pg-45305/29/1037Project Gutenberg #45305 · Volume II, tr. Marcus Dods, George Wilson, J. J. Smith. Edition: 1871. Rights: Public domain (US)
- Day 26
Christmas Eve
Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul
Chapter V, “Vocation of Thérèse” · about 2 min
“I was far from meriting all the graces which Our Lord showered on me. I had a constant and ardent…”
Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 to 1897) describes the grace she received at Christmas 1886, after Midnight Mass.
Read day 26 →bibliothecacatholica.com/#/read/story-of-a-soul/pg-16772/8/299Project Gutenberg #16772, tr. Taylor, Thomas N. (Thomas Nimmo), 1873-1963. Edition: 1922. Rights: Public domain (US)
Every reading opens in the on-site reader at the start of the passage. The editions are public domain in the United States; each badge links to how rights are determined. All reading lists.