Today we begin a new Church year by marking the time of spiritual preparation by the faithful before Christmas
called Advent. Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Andrew the Apostle (Nov. 30). It
spans four Sundays and four weeks of preparation (although the last week of Advent is usually shortened
because of when Christmas falls. For instance, this year, the fourth Sunday of Advent is on Sunday, and then
that evening is Christmas Eve.)
The celebration of Advent has evolved in the spiritual life of the Church. The historical origins of Advent are a
bit murky, with different regions in the Church having different celebrations each with their own emphasis.
The Church gradually more formalized the celebration of Advent. The Gelasian Sacramentary, traditionally
attributed to Pope St. Gelasius I (d. 496), was the first to provide Advent liturgies for five Sundays. Later,
Pope St. Gregory I (d. 604) enhanced these liturgies composing prayers, antiphons, readings, and responses.
Pope St. Gregory VII (d. 1095) later reduced the number of Sundays in Advent to four. Finally, about the
ninth century, the Church designated the first Sunday of Advent as the beginning of the Church year.
Despite the imprecise history behind Advent, the importance of this season remains and give us the opportunity
to focus on the coming of our Lord. (Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning coming.) The
Catechism stresses the two - fold meaning of this coming : When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent
each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation
for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for His second coming (No. 524). So on
one hand, we reflect back and celebrate the anniversary of the Lord’s first coming into this world. We ponder
the great mystery of the incarnation when our Lord humbled Himself, taking on our humanity, and entered
our time and space to free us from sin. Then on the other hand, at the same time, we recall that our
Lord will come again to judge the living and the dead and that we must be ready to meet Him.
One of the most common symbols of Advent is the Advent Wreath. The wreath is in the shape of a circle,
without a beginning or end. By this we call to mind how our lives, here and now, participate in the eternity
of God’s plan of salvation and how we hope to share eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. The wreath is
made of fresh plant material, symbolizing how Christ came to give us new life through His passion, death,
and resurrection. Three candles are purple, symbolizing penance, preparation, and sacrifice; the pink candle
symbolizes the same but highlights the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, when we rejoice because
our preparation is now half - way finished. The lighted candles themselves represent Christ, who entered this
world to scatter the darkness of evil and show us the way of righteousness. The progression of lighting candles
shows our increasing readiness to meet our Lord.
It would be wonderful if each family have an Advent wreath, light it at dinner time, and say the special prayers.
This tradition will help each family keep its focus on the true meaning of Christmas. During Advent we
strive to fulfill the opening prayer for the Mass of the First Sunday of Advent: Father in Heaven,…increase
our longing for Christ our Savior and give us the strength to grow in love, that the dawn of His coming may
find us rejoicing in His presence and welcoming the light of His truth.
Have a happy and blessed Advent,
Father Joseph Byerley
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