We are in the throws of the Holiday spirit. We just celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas is just right around the corner, and soon enough we will celebrate a new calendar year. However, in the Catholic Church we are celebrating a new year within the church! We have concluded the Ordinary Time, and now, the Church is entering into Advent. Much like our secular world waits with anticipation for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, the Church is in anticipation of a different kind. We enter into the next four weeks of the coming of Christ.
We can witness very clearly the difference between the secular calendar and the religious or Church calendar. The moment Halloween ends, the grocery store has replaced the isle that use to contain Halloween candy, witches and goblins with Christmas candy canes and Santa Claus. The secular world jumps from one money making holiday to the next without reflection. The Church does not rapidly jump from one feast to another, but instead carefully prepares the souls of the faithful for what they are about to experience. Christmas is not just another holiday, another “thing” to make money on or celebrate, it is so important the Church put the birth of our Lord at the beginning of its year and gives four full weeks for the faith to prepare for this great feast.
What is the meaning of Advent? The word “Advent” signifies coming, and by it is understood the visible coming of the Son of God into this world, at two different times." [1] What are the two visible times of the coming of God? One is the Nativity (born of the Virgin Mary). One is yet to happen (He will come again to judge the living and the dead). Both of the visible times of the coming of God are in the Creed.
What is Advent? It is a solemn time of preparation and anticipation of the Lord. We are to meditate on the Incarnation of Christ, the love, patience, and humility, which He has shown us, and to give proper gratitude to Him. It is also a time of repentance, fasting, prayer, alms-giving, and other works in accordance that would be pleasing to God. [2]
What should we meditate on since Christ has already come? First, we should meditate on the thousands of years and the all those who lived the faith waiting, praying, hoping in the coming of their Lord. That during their days of darkness and troubles they kept the faith in the hope that their redeemer would come. We know Christ has come and walked amongst us, and we should be thankful. However, we are also to take the time and recount in the hope of Christ’s second coming. [3] Hope is a powerful thing, we hope and we wait. For example, people who are passionate about a sports team will wait and wait, faithful to the end. They won’t stop believe for a sports team, but for Christ they will not wait.
Why do we have four weeks of Advent? After not thinking about Christmas for almost a whole year, the Church blocks out this time so we can take the time to prepare ourselves for the celebration of the birth of Christ. We prepare ourselves by going to confession and repententing from our sinful ways. We prepare ourselves from letting go of this world and their attempts to materialize the holiday with presents and gifts alone, and instead focus on the coming of our savior. It is a time to pray and meditate on the Holy Spirit, Mary, the Archangel Gabriel, the Incarnation, St. Joseph, St. Nicholas, the shepherds, the three wise men, the three kings, and of course the second person of the Holy Trinity, Jesus Christ.
Why should we get to Confession during this time of Advent? Our motto for the Advent season should be “He must increase, but I must decrease.” [4] Jesus humbles himself to become an infant, and born in a stable. We must be willing to humble ourselves too by admitting we are sinners and ask for forgiveness in the Sacrament of Confession. By humbling ourselves we are able to receive the child Jesus.
In 1980, just before Christmas, then Pope John Paul II was with over two thousand children in a church in Rome. He began with a question, “How are you preparing for Christmas?” A child shouted, “By praying!” The Pope responded, “Very good, by praying, the Pope says, but also by going to Confession. You must go to Confession so that you can go to Communion later. Will you do that?” The little children all shouted very loudly, “We will!” “Yes, you ought to go.” Said the Holy Father. Then lowering to a whisper he said, “The Pope will also go to Confession so as to receive the Child Jesus worthily." [5]
Why does the priest where purple during this time? Not just the priest, but also all the cloths on the altar and in the church are in purple. It is also good to point out incase you didn’t notice, but the Gloria wasn’t sung today either, and won’t be sung during the Advent season. All of this is because just like Lent, we are in a time of preparation and anticipation of the upcoming Christmas season. Purple represents preparation, penitence, and prayer. It can also represent the God’s divine royalty. Discuss Questions: What are some ways in which you can prepare for Christmas? What sort of prayers or penitence will you practice this Advent Season?
[1] The Church’s Year pg. 11
[2] The Church’s Year pg. 11
[3] The Church’s Year pg. 12
[4] John 3:30
[5] In Conversation with God vol. 1 pg. 5