My Advent Altar | Christmas Voices of Hope

Maria Montemayor

Thursday, December 11, 2025

Maria's Advent altar.

Welcome to Advent, and to our series, "Christmas Voices of Hope: Stories and Reflections for the Season." This time of preparation to celebrate the birth of Christ is full of stories, experiences, and traditions that come to define what the season means for each of us.

To inspire you with hope during this month of waiting and anticipation, we have invited friends and members of the Salt + Light Media family to share how their Advent and Christmas traditions have marked their own journey, and that of their communities.

Today's reflection comes from Maria Montemayor, a member of our Marketing team, who tells us about a creative devotional practice that she takes up every year.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.”

- Romans 15:13

There is something magical about this time of year. Colourful Christmas lights, snow falling softly from the sky, and Christmas songs blasting in shopping centres and restaurants: these are reminders that Christmas is near and that I need to prepare for it. Every year, for the past three years, I've set up an Advent prayer space in my home to do just that.

This year, my Advent altar includes a statue of the Holy Family — a gift from our office Christmas gift exchange last year — an Advent wreath and candles, Christmas decorations from past work Christmas parties, and rosaries gifted to me this year by dear friends and coworkers. These items are reminders of how God makes known His love for me through my friends, my work, my colleagues, and my faith.

My Advent altar brings me joy whenever I look at it because it is a physical space that I have set apart for God. While I know that God comes first in my heart, the altar indicates that God comes first in my home. Anyone who enters my home will be able to see my altar and know that I am Catholic, I love the Lord, and I prioritize Him in my life. I also keep that space clean, just as I aim to keep my heart clean.

Even though I have had the opportunity to meet with several friends during this Advent season and enjoy tasty meals and good conversations with them, my Advent hasn't been completely pleasant. During this season, I have learned to set boundaries with others to protect my inner peace. Because I always think the best of others, it has been easy for my polite and forgiving nature to be taken advantage of. When I'm hurt by others, I want to retreat, I want to vent, I want to no longer be targeted. I know that these individuals have their own struggles, but my well-being matters as well.

Mary and Joseph also suffered when trying to find a place for Mary to give birth to Jesus. No place wanted to accommodate them. I can only imagine how hurt they felt after a long and exhausting journey and pregnancy. I thought I could escape from suffering during this Advent season. Instead, I am learning that I can bring my suffering to the Advent altar. The Holy Family can be right there with me, in my sadness and woundedness.

Even though Mary and Joseph were rejected by innkeepers, they ultimately experienced joy and peace from the Lord's birth in a manger. Similarly, there is hope at the end of Advent for me and for anyone who has suffered (or is currently suffering) during this Advent season. Dark times shall pass, the Lord will come, and we will experience a renewal of our faith so long as we keep our hearts open.