Advent

Advent, from “adventus” in Latin meaning “coming,” is the season of the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to Christmas. It is a season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and a preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.  

The Advent season reminds us that the church is in its “last days.” As God’s people wait for the return of Christ, the “Second Coming,” the church looks back upon Christ’s First Coming in celebration. This tension of living in anticipation of the return of Christ while at the same time celebrating his incarnation is at the heart of Advent.

To balance both the remembrance and anticipation experience during the season, the first two Sundays in Advent (Dec. 3 to Dec. 10) look forward to Christ’s second coming while the last two Sundays (Dec. 17 to Dec. 24) look backward to remember Christ’s first coming. From Dec. 3 through Dec. 10, the scripture readings focus on prophecies of Christ’s coming and return in judgment, while readings for Dec. 17 through Dec. 24 focus on preparations for the Nativity of the Lord at Christmas, according to Christianity.  

The season of Advent affords us many opportunities to reflect and celebrate. Fasting is encouraged throughout Advent as an act of humility and service to God. Abstaining from food or some foods for some period (you choose) is a physical sacrifice; an unavoidable reminder of who we are and to whom we belong.

The third Sunday of Advent (known as Gaudete Sunday) is commonly marked by the use of rose-colored candles and vestments, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

During the holiday season, priests wear purple or blue and churches may include a more modestly decorated altar. 

In Church (and you can make or buy one for your home) we add the Advent Wreath to our worship. The Advent wreath first appeared in Germany in 1839 when a Lutheran minister working at a mission for children created a wreath using a wheel of a cart. He placed twenty small red candles around the wheel and four large white candles inside the center. The red candles were lit on weekdays and the white candles were lit on Sundays. Not having any spare cart wheels lying around, we have simplified this to four candles: three blue and one rose (pink) representing Advent Sundays, and one white candle at the center for the Birth of Jesus.

With a circle frame to hold them, the Advent Wreath frame is covered by evergreens, symbolizing everlasting life in the midst of winter and death. The wreath reminds us of God’s unending love and the gift of eternal life he makes possible. Sometimes additional decorations like holly and berries are added, their red color pointing ahead to Jesus’ sacrifice and death; or pinecones, symbolizing the new life Jesus brings through his resurrection. 

The blue candles symbolize the prayer, penance, preparatory sacrifices, and good works undertaken during this time. The rose candle is lit on the Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing, to celebrate the faithful reaching the midpoint of Advent and the proximity of Christmas. Liturgically, the four candles represent hope, faith, joy, and peace and are lit in an order that symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding the lord’s first coming into the world and anticipation of his second coming. The fifth white candle in the middle of the wreath, lit on Christmas Day, celebrates Jesus’ birth.  

As a tradition, a display representing the Nativity is placed near the Altar. A Nativity is a wonderful reminder of the harsh reality of the world Jesus was born. It also reminds us of the hope God has for us and the innocence and purity of the love God gives. A Chrismon Tree is also placed near the Altar, the witness of which is described by Mrs. Harry W. Spencer, the creator of this tradition:

“I realized Christmas was the birthday of the Christ Child. Let us honor the Child, the Person He is…it occurred to me that by using these early symbols of our faith to decorate the tree, we would bring out distinctly the real reason we celebrate this day of the year. I hoped such a tree would not only be worthy of being placed in the Lord’s house, but would also contribute to the spirit of worship in this holy seasons.”

“Chrismon” (Kriz’mon) is a combination of parts of two words: CHRISt and MONogram. A Chrismon is just that, a monogram of Christ. Originally all Chrismon were made in a combination of white and gold. White, the liturgical color for Christmas, refers to our Lord’s purity and perfection; the gold, to His majesty and glory. While this full expression is in the Church, you too could dedicate a portion of your Christmas tree to reflect this tradition.

The Advent season invites us to step away from what can be a frenzied time of parties, shopping, and holiday noise to consider how we commemorate the Birth of Jesus and to reflect on the triumphant return of Jesus at the Second Coming.

Anticipating the beautiful Blue of Advent,
Fr. Bill+