The Pre-Christmas Season of Advent
Waiting for the Coming of Jesus Christ
The length of Advent varies from one year to the next, beginning on the Sunday closest to the November 30th feast of St. Andrew. The First Sunday of Advent brings with it the new liturgical year, when the cycle of Scripture readings used by the Church is changed. Advent extends through Christmas and concludes on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
Advent is observed to offer reverence to the meaning of Christmas, the feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Currently, Advent is considered a time of joy and contemplative reflection. Formerly, Advent was a time of penance and fasting, which is why the liturgical color for Advent is purple (is also used during Lent to characterize penance.) According to “Advent to Christmas” at AmericanCatholic.org, “The Church discourages excessive ornamentation, boisterous music and even weddings during Advent, in order to foster a sense of quiet hope."
Advent is an Ancient Custom
Celebrated from ancient times, it was Gregory the Great who finally established the Roman Advent, according to the Harper Collins Encyclopedia of Catholicism, edited by Richard P. McBrien. A longer Advent had been the custom for approximately 300 years, but was shortened to 4 weeks. Gregory, who died in 604, composed prayers and antiphons, short verses linking prayers to the feast of the season.
Traditions of Advent
The practices of Advent include the Advent wreath, originating in Germany and Scandinavia. The traditional wreath is made of greens with four candles. Three of the candles are purple and one is rose-colored. Lighting the candles represents the promise of the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World. The rose candle is the third candle lit, and is a call to rejoice. On the Fourth Sunday, the final purple candle is lit as Catholics turn toward that which they've been waiting for, the celebration of Christmas. A devotion may be read or the family may pray together as the candles are lit.
Another way to follow Advent time into Christmas is by way of the Advent calendar. Advent calendars come in a variety of styles, from paper depictions of the nativity crèche to more elaborate wooden houses. Each Advent calendar has 25 doors which can be opened, day by day, to see what picture lies underneath the paper door or what piece of candy or ornament for the tree lies inside the wooden doors. Children enjoy both the lighting of the candles of the wreath as well as the Advent calendar, both of which focus attention on the coming of Christ.
Franciscan Father Richard Rohr, author of Preparing for Christmas with Richard Rohr: Daily Meditations for Advent states that “the celebration of Christmas is not a sentimental waiting for a baby to be born, but, more of an asking for history to be born.” In a Catholic News Agency press release, Pope Benedict reminds Catholic Christians to “be watchful for Christ, mindful of how the Lord comes into our lives and to make room for him.” The journey through Advent to Christmas Day is meant to be a journey of illumination, repentance, gratitude and rejoicing.
Sources:
AmericanCatholic.org, “Advent to Christmas’”
NewAdvent.org, The Catholic Encyclopedia
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