Advent/Christmas Season   

The Advent/Christmas Season

The Beginning of the Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church

The Adoration of the Shepherds - by Lebrun, Charles - from Musée du Louvre, Paris

The principal purpose of the Advent/Christmas Season is to remind us of the radical transformation effected in our human life by the Incarnation of the Word.

By coming into this World to take upon Himself our Human Nature, God's own Son did not merely become one of us, He gave us the Power of becoming real Children of God. A New Race, a Holy People, whom He with  His Divine Life, leads to the Heavenly Throne.

We celebrate many wonderful occasions this time of the year. Advent starts the New Liturgical Year in the Catholic Church. We prepare for the birth of Our Lord Who with His parents Joseph and Mary establish a Holy Family.

Advent Season

The whole Advent Season is a Long Appeal  for the Coming of Our Savior. 

The liturgy of Advent was once five weeks long, it now contains only four. It begins on the first Sunday which occurs closest to November 30, the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle.

In medieval times Advent was much like the Lenten Season, full of fasting, preparation and penance. Some of this remains today with the practices in the Mass, the purple vestments, silence of the organ, and the suppression of the Gloria in Excelsius. The Alleluia chant after the Gradual reminds us that Advent is a time of gladness. The gladness increases as Christmas approaches. On the Third Sunday of Advent, the altar is with flowers, Rose colored vestments are worn, and the organ playing returns.

Advent Homily

Meditations on Advent

by Archbishop Timothy Dolan

Meditations on Advent

by Father Frank Pavone

Liturgy

The Liturgy of the Advent Season brings into prominence Three (3) Great Figures in Church history: Isaiah, Saint John the Baptist, and Our Blessed Lady. It brings to mind the waiting for the promise of salvation which God had given through the Prophets for many Generations. On the first Christmas, the promise was fulfilled.

During the next Four (4) Weeks, let us prepare with the same joy that must have been present almost 2000 years ago, as we celebrate the impending Birth of Jesus, Our Lord and Savior.

The Advent Wreath 

Many people celebrate Advent by lighting the candles of an Advent wreath each night and saying a prayer. Unlike the animated wreath above, Three (3) Purple Candles and One (1) Pink Candle comprise the Advent Wreath.