In his reflection at the Angelus on the First Sunday of Advent, Pope Francis reminded the faithful that Advent is not just a time of preparation for Christmas: we are also looking forward to the return of Christ at the end of time, as well as our own, personal encounter with Jesus at the end of our lives. In these four weeks of Advent, he said, “called to leave a resigned and routine way of living, and to go forth, nurturing hopes and dreams for a new future.”