Advent is a season of anticipation—a time to reflect, prepare, and lead your family closer to Christ. As Catholic dads, we’re called to guide our families through this holy season with intention and purpose. But with the chaos of daily life, how do we create meaningful traditions, strengthen our faith, and still find time to grow as individuals?
Two books stand out as essential resources for Catholic husbands and fathers this Advent: Super Habits by Dr. Andrew Abela and Weird Catholic Handbook by Michael Lichens. These books tackle two sides of the Catholic experience. One focuses on building a disciplined, virtuous life, while the other invites you to rediscover the beauty and mystery of the faith through its quirkiest and most fascinating elements. Together, they provide the perfect roadmap for leading your family and deepening your own spiritual journey this Advent.
Why Habits Matter: Lessons from Super Habits
What if you could simplify your life and find more joy, strength, and purpose—without adding more to your plate? Dr. Andrew Abela’s Super Habits unlocks the power of small, consistent actions to build virtue and transform your life. It’s not about grand gestures; it’s about steady, daily practice. And as Advent reminds us, small actions lead to big spiritual rewards.
How Super Habits Helps Catholic Dads
Abela’s book is especially relevant during Advent, a time when we’re called to slow down and refocus. The habits outlined in this book are rooted in ancient wisdom and modern psychology, designed to align your life with God’s will.
- Virtue as a Daily Practice: Abela shows how virtues like patience, humility, and courage aren’t built overnight—they’re the result of consistent actions, repeated until they become second nature.
- Practical Guidance for Real Life: Whether it’s managing stress, strengthening relationships, or finding time for prayer, Super Habits provides actionable advice to help you grow as a husband and father.
- Simplicity Through Habits: By automating decisions—like committing to daily prayer or setting boundaries for work—you free up mental energy to focus on what truly matters: your faith and family.
Advent Challenge: Build a Super Habit
Advent is the perfect time to start building a new habit. Here’s a step-by-step guide inspired by Abela:
- Choose One Spiritual Habit: Begin with something manageable, like saying a decade of the Rosary each night or lighting the Advent wreath with your family.
- Be Consistent: Set aside the same time each day for your habit to make it automatic.
- Reflect on Your Progress: At the end of each week, take a moment to evaluate how the habit is impacting your life.
These small, intentional steps can transform your Advent season and set the foundation for lasting change.
Be sure to buy the book at Sophia Press here!
Rediscovering Wonder: Weird Catholic Handbook
Advent is a season of awe, a time to reflect on the mystery of God’s love breaking into our world. Michael Lichens’ Weird Catholic Handbook captures that sense of wonder, offering a Chestertonian journey through the strange and extraordinary aspects of Catholic history and tradition.
From saints battling mythical monsters to the eerie beauty of bone chapels, this book reveals the spiritual truths hidden in the Church’s oddities. It’s a fun and fascinating read, but it’s also deeply insightful, helping Catholic dads see the faith in a new light—and share it with their families.
What Makes Weird Catholic Handbook Essential for Advent
- Captivating Stories for Family Discussions: Use Lichens’ stories as a way to engage your kids in conversations about the faith. Imagine their reactions when they hear about incorrupt saints or St. Michael’s battle with the devil!
- Profound Spiritual Insights: Beneath the oddities lie powerful lessons about God’s love, the dignity of life, and the reality of spiritual warfare.
- A Tool for Evangelization: These stories are perfect for sharing with friends and family who might be curious—or skeptical—about Catholicism.
- Advent Tradition: Share a Story Each Week
Make Weird Catholic Handbook part of your family’s Advent celebration. Here’s how:
- Pick a Story: Choose one of the book’s fascinating tales, like the incorrupt bodies of saints or the history of bone chapels.
- Discuss Its Meaning: After reading, ask your kids what they found interesting or surprising. Use it as a jumping-off point to talk about faith and values.
- Connect It to the Season: Tie the story back to Advent themes, like hope, preparation, or the reality of eternal life.
Be sure to buy the book from Sophia Press here!
Practical Tips for Living Advent as a Catholic Dad
- Embrace Silence - Advent invites us to slow down and listen. Create moments of silence in your day to reflect on God’s presence. Turn off the TV or put down your phone during dinner, and use that time for prayer or meaningful conversation.
- Make Confession a Priority -There’s no better way to prepare your heart for Christmas than through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Schedule a time to go as a family, and talk to your kids about the importance of God’s mercy.
- Lead by Example - Your kids will follow your lead. Show them what it means to live Advent intentionally by committing to daily prayer, acts of charity, and small sacrifices.
- Use Both Books Together - Apply Super Habits to build a daily practice of prayer, gratitude, or reflection. Use Weird Catholic Handbook to spark curiosity and deepen your family’s understanding of the faith.
- Reflect on the Eucharist - As the “source and summit” of our faith, the Eucharist is central to Advent. Attend Mass regularly, and teach your children about the profound gift of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
Why These Books Matter
For Catholic dads, Advent is a call to step up—to be leaders, protectors, and teachers. Super Habits equips you to build a life rooted in virtue, while Weird Catholic Handbook deepens your appreciation for the beauty and mystery of the faith. Together, they offer a powerful toolkit for living your vocation with intention and joy.
This Advent, take the opportunity to grow as a husband and father. Start building a habit that will strengthen your faith, and share the wonder of the Church’s traditions with your family. With Super Habits and Weird Catholic Handbook, you have the tools you need to lead your family through a meaningful and transformative season.
Pick up your copies today, and make this Advent a time of renewal and discovery—for you and your family.
Find these titles at Sophia Institute Press and begin your journey toward a faith-filled life.
