Thursday, December 7, 2017
Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Advent begins the eve of the fourth Sunday before Christmas
While it’s too early to celebrate Christmas (the Christmas
Season begins at sundown December 24th), it’s a perfect time
to celebrate the New Year! With the first Sunday of Advent,
we begin a new Liturgical, or Church, Year.
The word advent means “coming.” During Advent we prepare
for two comings of Christ. We prepare for Christmas and the
celebration of Christ’s incarnation, and we prepare for
Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
Advent begins the eve of the fourth Sunday before Christmas,
always the Sunday closest to the November 30th Feast of
Saint Andrew. Therefore, Advent is not always four weeks
long. It is possible some years that the fourth Sunday of Advent
could be December 24th!
Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. Violet, which expresses penance, sorrow,
and/or waiting is the primary liturgical color during this season. Rose, however, is the
color for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. The word gaudete is Latin for
rejoice. The entrance antiphon for Mass the third Sunday of Advent begins with the
words from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” On
this third Sunday of Advent we rejoice in the fact that the Lord is near.
It is only in keeping Advent and not rushing the Christmas Season that we will be
ready for the Lord when he comes!
∗ The circle of evergreens that
make an Advent Wreath is
symbolic of God’s eternal
love for us.
∗ An Advent Wreath has four
candles, usually three violet
and one rose. The rose
candle is lighted the third
Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
Sunday.
Season begins at sundown December 24th), it’s a perfect time
to celebrate the New Year! With the first Sunday of Advent,
we begin a new Liturgical, or Church, Year.
The word advent means “coming.” During Advent we prepare
for two comings of Christ. We prepare for Christmas and the
celebration of Christ’s incarnation, and we prepare for
Christ’s second coming at the end of time.
Advent begins the eve of the fourth Sunday before Christmas,
always the Sunday closest to the November 30th Feast of
Saint Andrew. Therefore, Advent is not always four weeks
long. It is possible some years that the fourth Sunday of Advent
could be December 24th!
Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. Violet, which expresses penance, sorrow,
and/or waiting is the primary liturgical color during this season. Rose, however, is the
color for the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday. The word gaudete is Latin for
rejoice. The entrance antiphon for Mass the third Sunday of Advent begins with the
words from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” On
this third Sunday of Advent we rejoice in the fact that the Lord is near.
It is only in keeping Advent and not rushing the Christmas Season that we will be
ready for the Lord when he comes!
∗ The circle of evergreens that
make an Advent Wreath is
symbolic of God’s eternal
love for us.
∗ An Advent Wreath has four
candles, usually three violet
and one rose. The rose
candle is lighted the third
Sunday of Advent, Gaudete
Sunday.
Monday, December 4, 2017
Sunday, December 3, 2017
Advent is a time to prioritize God, overcome indifference, Pope says
Advent is a time to prioritize God, overcome indifference, Pope says: On Sunday Pope Francis kicked off the Church's Advent season saying it is a time to let go of the worldly distractions that take us away from God, and focus on growing closer to him through prayer and concern for others.
.- On Sunday Pope Francis kicked off the Church's Advent season saying it is a time to let go of the worldly distractions that take us away from God, and focus on growing closer to him through prayer and concern for others.
Referring to the day's readings, which stress the importance of being vigilant, the Pope said “the watchful person is one who, in the noise of the world, does not let themselves be overwhelmed by distraction or superficiality, but lives in a full and conscious way, with a concern above all for others.”
With this attitude, we quickly become aware “of the tears and necessity of our neighbor and we can also welcome the human and spiritual qualities and capacities,” he said, adding that an attentive person, “also turns to the world, trying to counteract indifference and the cruelty of it, rejoicing in the treasures of beauty that also exist and must be preserved.”
Pope Francis spoke to pilgrims present in St. Peter's Square for his Angelus address, which took place on the first Sunday of Advent.
He focused his address on the day's Gospel reading from Mark, in which Jesus tells his disciples to “Be watchful! Be alert!,” because “you do not know when the time will come.”
Advent, he said, is a time given to us “to welcome the Lord who comes to meet us, to verify our desire for God, to look ahead and prepare ourselves for the return of Christ.”
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