Greetings in Christ to all. November 30th is our First Sunday in Advent. The Advent season is a preparation period meant to allow all Christians the opportunity to reflect on their faith, our Lord, the world and our role in it, while we prepare our hearts the celebration of the Birth of Emmanuel! Also, we’re called to direct our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time. During this time we are called to participate in the holy sacrament of Reconciliation and to cleanse our hearts and minds of our sins so we are ready for Christ’s coming!
During Advent there are some liturgical changes, too. Like Lent, our priests will wear violet or purple to the Mass, except for the Third Sunday in Advent which is Gaudete Sunday when the color is rose.
The altar decorations will be very modest up until Christmas Eve when everything “blooms” into full color for welcoming our Lord into the world. You will notice the addition of the Advent Wreath which has a basis of evergreen branches into which are placed four candles which represent the four weeks of Advent. They may be all white or three purple and one rose-colored. The candles represent prayer, penance, preparatory sacrifices and good works performed specifically during the four weeks of Advent. The third Sunday (Gaudette) is the rose Sunday, a day of rejoicing because we are at the midpoint of Advent. Our preparation for Christmas is half over!
Won’t you please take the time to use your Advent weeks to seek peace and thanksgiving in your daily life? Come to Mass and join in the chorus of voices that contribute to the simple beauty of this time. The Lord our God wants us to enjoy this time to get to know ourselves and our Lord better; to fall in love with this beautiful Catholic faith, and be truly ready to enjoy the magic and wonder of a true Christmas celebration.
We hope to see you at our Advent and Christmas Masses. Please check our calendar and note we have even more opportunities for Eucharistic Adoration during Advent than in ordinary time. Come, all ye faithful.
For more information, please visit Advent | EWTN.