How you can give a gift to Jesus and to your loved one in heaven this Christmas season!

Part of Christmas preparations is shopping. Most of us spent more than we planned to this year, but we've got through our lists. Now that we've shopped, we need to make sure we are ready too. And by ready, we don't mean cooking, cleaning, and dressing up. We mean spiritually ready.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Advent is a time of spiritual preparation, and most parishes offer confession to accommodate parishioners who want to greet the coming of Jesus with a clean heart. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is especially important during this Extraordinary Year of Jubilee, because Pope Francis wants to prepare the Church for a new life, one that emphasizes evangelization and witness, and care for those in need.

If you have not yet made your confession, it is important you contact your parish or neighboring parishes to see if you can receive the sacrament and Mass before Christmas Eve.  Even if you are unable, it is important you make plans to obtain reconciliation as soon as practicable afterwards.

What greater gift can you offer Christ than your soul, washed clean?

After reconciliation, it is important to remember those who have died and are washed clean by the prayers of the faithful. We are speaking of those who have departed us, especially in the past year.

It is entirely appropriate to send a gift to those who have passed away, and to those in heaven. Catholic Online is offering its virtual prayer candles to those who may not be able to go out and light a candle in their parish church, due to weather, busyness, or some other constraint.

Our loved ones in heaven shower us with gifts of intercession every day, as they pray on our behalf in anticipation of the moment we will be reunited in heaven. Let us show our thanks by lighting a candle to them and offering prayers and thanksgiving for all the blessings they have sent.

Send a present to your loved one in heaven, light a candle today!

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