Illuminate
A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation
by Fr. John Nepil
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Pub Date Aug 08 2025 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
“If we do not embrace the darkness,” writes Fr. John Nepil, “we cannot welcome the light. This is the heart of Advent: a season of trustful surrender, renewed receptivity, and silent vigil. It is the time when we wait for the coming of the light—not just in the Christ child at Christmas, but in the inner illumination of God’s presence in the soul. God, who is conceived in silence and born in poverty, comes again to fill the soul with light.”
In Illuminate: A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation, Fr. John leads you on a four-week journey through darkness to light. Beginning with the prologue of St. John’s gospel, he reveals the profound hope found in the Word made flesh—the sacred mystery of the Incarnation.
Week 1: Word—“In the beginning was the Word…”
Encounter the eternal Word of God and learn to hear his voice speaking into your daily life.
Week 2: Light—“The light shines in the darkness…”
See how Christ’s light breaks through fear, doubt, and uncertainty, guiding you to embrace truth and hope.
Week 3: Faith—“He came as a witness to testify to the light…”
Like John the Baptist, become a bold and faithful witness to Christ’s love, bringing light to those around you.
Week 4: Life—“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”
Celebrate the miracle of the Incarnation and experience the fullness of God’s love in your everyday life.
Conclude your Advent journey by welcoming Christmas morning with the powerful words of John’s gospel proclaimed at sunrise Mass.
Through daily meditations, reflection questions, prayer, and beautiful artwork, you’ll move beyond abstract ideas to discover practical, life-changing ways to recognize and share Christ’s light in your everyday life.
Perfect for personal reflection or group study, Illuminate includes free companion videos and a downloadable leader’s guide, found at avemariapress.com.
This Advent, step into the light—and let it lead you to deeper hope, faith, and joy.
Advance Praise
“Fr. John Nepil does something refreshingly new in this wonderful journal: He brings together the beginning of the liturgical year with the beginning of St. John’s gospel, enabling us to journey through Advent in the company of the great evangelist. The prologue to St. John’s gospel is one of the most mystical and enlightening passages of scripture, and one of the most poetically beautiful. Fr. Nepil’s reflections allow the light of the gospel to shine in the darkness, helping us to journey in expectant hope toward the coming of the Light himself. I can think of no better guide for Advent than this delightful journal.”
Joseph Pearce
Visiting Professor of Literature at Ave Maria University
Visiting Chair of Catholic Studies at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
“In a world that often rushes through Advent in a blur of holiday busyness, Fr. John Nepil’s Illuminate calls us to slow down, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. With profound theological depth and spiritual insight, this journal masterfully weaves scripture, the wisdom of the saints, and the richness of our Catholic tradition into a transformative journey through the season of waiting. I wholeheartedly recommend it to those who desire to live this season with intentionality, prayer, and the light of Christ.”
Stephen Henley
President of Legatus
“In Illuminate, Fr. Nepil’s reflections are a guide, and in the darkness of winter, we need a guide to help us slow down, reflect, contemplate, and ready our hearts in the waiting. Importantly, this journal encourages us to resist distraction and intentionally journey into the darkness to welcome the ‘light’ of Christ. Along the way, we walk through the ever-poignant prologue to the Gospel of John and are reminded of the gravitas of anticipating the coming of the Word. I couldn’t ask for a better focus this Advent!”
Marcie Stokman
Founder and President of Well-Read Mom
“God is so other that he is able to come so near. Fr. Nepil walks us through the mystery of Advent, the waiting and longing and becoming more and more accustomed to the ‘light of life,’ Christ Jesus—Immanuel. Experience Advent anew with these profound reflections as we prepare for the absolute center of time and reality: God becomes man in Christ Jesus. Your experience of Advent will never be the same after praying through these reflections! Highly recommended!”
Andrew and Sarah Swafford
National speakers and authors
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781646804238 |
| PRICE | $11.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 144 |
