Making a retreat during Advent: living the season of waiting in a monastery

Every year, the four weeks before Christmas go by quickly: shopping, meals to organise, the end of the year at work. In abbeys and monasteries, the same weeks have another name and another rhythm. This is Advent, a season of waiting that communities live in simplicity and song. Making a retreat during Advent means joining that rhythm for a few days before the holidays.

What is Advent?

The word comes from the Latin adventus, "coming" or "arrival". Advent opens the liturgical year of the Catholic Church: it begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the evening of 24 December.

The first Sunday of Advent therefore falls each year between 27 November and 3 December. Advent always has four Sundays, but it lasts between 22 and 28 days depending on the day of the week on which Christmas falls. The third Sunday has a name of its own: Gaudete, "Rejoice".

Advent has two parts. Until 16 December, the readings speak of waiting for the return of Christ at the end of time. From 17 December, they turn to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Three figures accompany these weeks: the prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary.

The liturgical colour is violet, a sign of preparation. On the third Sunday, many churches and communities change to rose: the joy of Christmas is near. On Sundays, the Gloria is not sung at Mass; it returns on Christmas night.

How monks and nuns live Advent

In a monastery, Advent is not noticed through decorations. It is noticed by ear, and in the light.

The offices and the chant

The day of the community is still shaped by the monastic offices, from vigils before dawn to compline in the evening. During Advent, the texts that are sung draw above all on the Book of Isaiah: a people walking in darkness and hoping for light.

In communities that sing in Latin, you will hear the Rorate caeli, taken from Isaiah (45:8): "Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above". The Gregorian chant of Advent is one of the oldest repertoires of the year.

The great "O" antiphons, from 17 to 23 December

During the last seven days before Christmas, a special antiphon is sung at vespers before the Magnificat. Each begins with "O" and gives a name to the awaited Messiah: O Wisdom, O Adonai, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel.

Read backwards, the initials of the Latin words (Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, Emmanuel) spell ERO CRAS: "I will be there tomorrow". Attending these vespers is one reason to choose a retreat in the last week of Advent.

Simplicity and light

Advent is not Lent, but communities live it with a certain restraint: fewer flowers in the church, simple meals, more silence. In some communities, a Mass is celebrated at dawn by candlelight alone. Lauds, sung as the day breaks, take on a particular character in December, when it is still dark.

Why make a retreat during Advent?

Preparing for Christmas differently

Many people arrive at Christmas tired, without having thought about it. A few days in a monastery in December make it possible to celebrate having taken the time to prepare. That is the very meaning of Advent.

Finding silence at the end of the year

December is often the busiest month of the year. The silence of a monastery offers a pause: no screens at the table, days ordered by the bell, time to walk, read and write. The benefits of a retreat are often felt from the second day.

Looking back on the year

The end of the calendar year and the beginning of the liturgical year meet during Advent. It is a good moment to look back on the past months and think about what you hope for next. If you wish, the guestmaster or guestmistress can offer you time to talk or spiritual accompaniment.

Which kind of retreat to choose during Advent?

The individual retreat

This is the most common form. You are welcomed in the monastery guesthouse, you attend the offices you wish, and the rest of the time is yours. It suits a first experience as well as regular retreatants.

The preached retreat

Some communities offer guided retreats during Advent, with talks on the texts of the liturgy, often over a weekend. Dates are set in advance and places are limited, so it is best to book early.

A weekend or a week

A weekend is enough to live a Sunday of Advent with the community: Saturday vespers, Sunday Mass. Three to five days during the week give you time to enter into the rhythm. To hear the "O" antiphons, aim for 17 to 23 December.

Practical advice for an Advent retreat

• Book early. Guesthouses receive many requests before Christmas, especially for the week of 17 to 24 December.
• Check whether guests are welcome over the holidays. Some communities close their guesthouse around Christmas to celebrate among themselves. Others welcome retreatants for Christmas night: we present several in our article Christmas in an abbey: where to make a spiritual retreat?
• Bring warm clothes. Abbey churches are rarely heated, and vigils take place at night.
• Travel light. A Bible or a book for meditation, a notebook, good shoes. Our list what to bring on a retreat will help you pack.
• You do not need to be a believer. Monasteries welcome anyone who respects the rhythm of the house. See do you need to be religious to go on a spiritual retreat?
• Contribution is free. Most communities ask for a contribution towards costs according to your means.

Where to make a retreat during Advent?

RITRIT brings together abbeys, monasteries and Carmels in France, Belgium and Italy that welcome retreatants all year round, Advent included. You can look for a place near you by region in our destinations, then book your stay directly on RITRIT.

If this is your first retreat, start by reading what is a spiritual retreat: you will know what to expect when you arrive.

Frequently asked questions about Advent retreats

When does Advent begin?

Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, between 27 November and 3 December depending on the year. It ends on the evening of 24 December, with the Mass of Christmas night.

How long does an Advent retreat last?

Usually from two days to a week. A weekend lets you live a Sunday of Advent with the community; three to five days give you time to enter into silence.

Can I make an Advent retreat without being Catholic?

Yes. Monastic guesthouses welcome anyone looking for a time of quiet, whether they are believers or not. You will only be asked to respect the silence and the rhythm of the house.

What are the "O" antiphons?

They are seven antiphons sung at vespers from 17 to 23 December, before the Magnificat. Each gives a title to the awaited Messiah, from "O Wisdom" to "O Emmanuel".

Do I need to book far in advance?

For the last week of Advent, yes: places go quickly. For a weekend at the end of November or the beginning of December, a few weeks are often enough.

Can I stay at the monastery for Christmas?

It depends on the community. Some welcome retreatants for Christmas night, others close their guesthouse. The page of each place on RITRIT shows when it welcomes guests.