Since Advent is just around the corner I thought that a little clarity on the just what Advent is, or what it is meant to be, would be nice way to start things off. This is a time of expectation for the birth of the Messiah, and a time of personal preparation for this event. This is also a time of self-exploration, a time to check our Spirituality and get back in touch with those things that should be most important in our lives.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions regarding Advent.
Advent (Lat., adventus, “coming”),1
“This season of joyful expectation has a twofold character: it prepares for the commemoration of the Incarnation celebrated during the Christmas season, and it looks forward to Christ’s Second Coming at the end of time”.1) “The first two Sundays highlight Christ’s Second Coming; the last two, incarnational themes, with the forth Sunday adverting to Mary”.1)
“The first candle on the Advent wreath has been called the Prophecy candle; the liturgical color for this Sunday is purple/violet.
The Second candle on the Advent wreath has been called the Bethlehem candle; the liturgical color for this Sunday is purple/violet.
The third candle on the Advent wreath has been called the Shepherd’s candle; the liturgical color for this Sunday is Rose, this Sunday is called Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday
The forth candle on the Advent wreath has been called the Angel’s candle; the liturgical color for this Sunday is purple/violet.
The fifth Candle is in the middle of the Advent wreath is a large white candle; this candle is called the Christ Candle. The Christ candle is lit during the Vigil Mass or during the Nativity of the Lord”.3
“Beginning the Church's liturgical year, Advent is the season 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. Advent devotions remind us of the meaning of the season. Special Advent devotions include the lighting of the Advent wreath; the Advent calendar which helps remind us of the season with daily thoughts and activities; Advent prayers that prepare us spiritually for the birth of Jesus Christ.-
Traditionally, Advent wreaths are constructed of a circle of evergreen branches into which four candles are inserted, representing the four weeks of Advent. Ideally, three candles are purple and one is rose, but white candles can also be used.
The purple candles in particular symbolize the prayer, penance, and preparatory sacrifices and goods works undertaken at this time. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, Gaudete Sunday, when the priest also wears rose vestments at Mass; Gaudete Sunday is the Sunday of rejoicing, because the faithful have arrived at the midpoint of Advent, when their preparation is now half over and they are close to Christmas.
The progressive lighting of the candles symbolizes the expectation and hope surrounding our Lord’s first coming into the world and the anticipation of his second coming to judge the living and the dead”.2
Now is the time to ask yourself, what does Advent mean to me? Advent, like all the liturgical seasons, is what you make of it. Try and set aside a little additional time to read the daily scriptures. Do your best to relate these reading, stories, or teachings to your life.
May your Advent experience be rich with new life.
1. The Encyclopedia of Catholicism, by Richard P. McBrien
3. A Dictionary of Church Terms and Symbols, by Loice Gouker (out of print)
By David E.Gonzales
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