Advent Season
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Saint Boniface during the Advent Season
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The Advent Season is December 3, 2023 through the morning of December 24, 2023
What is Advent?
Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent, from the Latin word "ad-venire" meaning "to come to", is the season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.
The Advent Season is a time of preparation that directs our hearts and minds to Christ’s second coming at the end of time and also to the anniversary of the Lord’s birth on Christmas.
The final days of Advent focus particularly on our preparation for the celebrations of the Nativity of our Lord (Christmas).
-United Conference of Catholic Bishops
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Vision of Life and Hope during the Advent Season
Preparation for Christmas is an important theme for Advent, but more is involved. Advent gives us a vision of our lives as Christians and shows us the possibilities of life.
The vision of life that Advent gives us is twofold; it looks back to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, and it looks to the future when Christ will come again. In the interval between these two events we find meaning for our life as a Christian.We celebrate Christ-become-human. We view his life and experience, his presence as a human being in our history. Christ came to show us what life can and should be. He gave us true and valid principles by which we can live true and valid lives. But Jesus knew that the human heart could not live in isolation. He formed the Church around the concept of a people held together by love. In that community we discover unlimited possibilities and meaning. Alone we can do nothing. Together we find real meaning.
When Christ left this earth, he did not abandon us. He remains with us in his Spirit, the Church, the Sacraments, the Scriptures and each other. He lives in community with us and keeps his vision of life before us.
When Christ comes again, his presence will no longer be hidden behind the signs and symbols of the liturgy or the words of the Scriptures. His presence among us will be revealed in all its fullness, a presence that will never end, a presence that will perfect and complete our community.
This is the "greater significance" of Advent. In these few short weeks, we take in the sweeping panorama of time -from Christ's birth to his Second Coming. The season of Advent brings us the magnificent vision of life and hope for the future given to us by Christ.
Advent is our time to become more involved, more caught up in the meaning and the possibilities of life as a Christian community. Thus, we are preparing not only for Christmas, but also for Christ's Second Coming. This means that when he comes again, we will be awake and watchful. He will not find us asleep.
-© Liguori Publications Excerpt from Advent
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Advent: Self-Preparation
While we typically regard Advent as a joyous season, it is also intended to be a period of preparation, much like Lent. Prayer, penance and fasting are appropriate during this season.Advent is not as strict as Lent, and there are no rules for fasting, but it is meant to be a period of self-preparation. The purple color associated with Advent is also the color of penance. The faithful should fast during the first two weeks in particular and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The color of the Third Sunday of Advent is rose. This color symbolizes joy and represents the happiness we will experience when Jesus comes again. The Third Sunday is a day of anticipatory celebration. It is formerly called "Gaudete" Sunday; gaudete means "rejoice" in Latin.
Finally, Sundays during Advent, just as during Lent, should not be given to fasting, but instead to celebration because we celebrate the resurrection of Our Lord every Sunday. It is important to remember, however, there are no particular rules for how the laity should observe Advent.
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Jesus said to his disciples: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come...Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming,...May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to all: ‘Watch!’”
Mark 13: 33,35, 36-37
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Advent Wreath
The Advent Wreath, a venerable European tradition, can be a way to involve even very little children in learning about Christian preparation - not only for celebrating Our Lord's birth, but to make our hearts truly ready to receive Him.The wreath's symbolism of Advent (coming) of Light into the world is clear. The gradual lighting of the four candles, one on each Sunday of the Advent season, combined with the liturgical colors of the candles (purple is the penitential color used during Advent and Lent; rose is a liturgical color used on Gaudete Sunday in Advent (Gaudette means "Rejoice") help to symbolize not only our expectation and hope in Our Savior's first coming into the world, but also in his Second Coming as Judge at the end of the world.
The wreath itself is also symbolic. The circle of evergreen in which the candles are placed represents everlasting life. The seedpods, nuts and cones used to decorate the wreath are symbolic of resurrection, and fruits represent the nourishing fruitfulness of the Christian life.
Gathering materials for the wreath-perhaps on an outing in the park or woods, or even in the backyard and assembling it at home is an interesting family project in which even the youngest children can participate.
On the first Sunday of Advent, you may sprinkle the wreath with holy water and bless it before the first purple candle is lit. The appropriate Advent collect can be said as the candle[s] are lit each day of the week, followed by the blessing before meals, if you use the wreath at mealtime. On the second Sunday two purple candles are lit; on the third Sunday, two purple and one rose; and all candles are lit on the fourth Sunday.
The Advent season is a good time to pray the Angelus at family meals.
Children who are old enough can take turns lighting the candles. (The littlest ones can blow them out at the end of the meal.) If you use the wreath at mealtime, it is helpful to place it on a tray or platter so it can be moved, and to protect the table from candle wax.On Christmas Day, all the greens and decorations are replaced with fresh ones, and four new white candles, symbolizing Christ, replace the colored ones and are burned throughout the Christmas season.
-From Celebrating Advent and Christmas: A Sourcebook for Families.
© 2001 by Women for Faith and Family
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The Angelus Prayer
The Angelus prayer celebrates the awesome mystery of the Incarnation of Jesus. We also venerate His holy Mother Mary, who said “yes” to God’s will and became the Virgin Mother of God. (cf. Luke 1:26-38)
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with Thee;
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death. AmenV. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.Hail Mary. . .
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.Hail Mary. . .
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.Let us pray:
Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
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"The Angelus" by Jean Francis Millet, 1857
In this painting, a couple working in a field pause, bow their heads, and pray the Angelus at the end of the day’s work.
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Advent Prayer for Families
Heavenly Father, your son, Jesus, is your greatest gift to us, a great sign of your love.
Guide us as we strive to walk in that love together as a family this Advent.
As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, bring us closer to each other and to your son.
Give us the grace and strength we need every day.
Help us to always trust in you. Come, Lord Jesus, lead all people closer to you.
Come and dispel the darkness of our world with the light of your love.
Amen.
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Prayers for each week of Advent
Week One- Hope
Dear Jesus, you are the hope in our messy world. This Advent, help us slow down, listen to your voice, and focus on what’s really important. We place our hope in you as we prepare our hearts to celebrate your birth on Christmas. Amen.
Week Two- Peace
Dear Jesus, you entered our world on Christmas as the Prince of Peace. This Advent, as we strive to become the-best-version-of-ourselves, fill us with a deep and abiding peace. Help us share that peace with everyone we encounter, especially those who need it most. Amen.
Week Three- Joy
Dear Jesus, help us focus on you during this busy season. May we stay aware of the joy you bring into our lives. We want to find you in the everyday moments and come with hearts of gratitude to your manger on Christmas. Amen.
Week 4- Love
Dear Jesus, may the light of your love always shine in our hearts. As Christmas draws closer, we marvel at your great love for us. Let your love transform every aspect of our lives and touch everyone we encounter. Our hearts are open to you, Jesus. Amen.
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