DECEMBER
The Season of Hope
December is the holy season of Advent, a time of active and joyful waiting. It's not just a countdown to Christmas; it's a season to prepare our hearts for Christ's first coming in Bethlehem and to anticipate His glorious second coming. Explore the rich symbols and prayers that define this beautiful time of hope.
From Advent to Christmas: Waiting in Joyful Hope for Our King
For much of the world, December is a time of frantic rushing. But for the Church, it is a holy season of active, joyful waiting. This is the essence of Advent, a word that comes from the Latin adventus, meaning "coming." During this sacred time, the Church invites us to quiet our hearts, light the candles, and prepare our souls for a profound encounter.
Advent is not just a countdown to Christmas; it has a beautiful, twofold purpose:
To Remember: We prepare to celebrate the First Coming of Christ—His humble birth as a child in Bethlehem.
To Anticipate: We prepare our souls for the Second Coming of Christ—His glorious return at the end of time.
It is this spirit of "joyful hope" that defines the season.
The Symbols of Our Waiting
In our parish, you will see the signs of this holy preparation, each rich with meaning.
The Advent Wreath
This is the most common symbol of the season.
Evergreen Circle represents God's unending love and the eternal life Christ brings.
Four Candles mark the four weeks of Advent.
Three Purple (Violet) Candles symbolize prayer, penance, and preparation.
One Rose (Pink) Candle is lit on the Third Sunday (Gaudete Sunday), a sign of the joy that is near.
The Color Purple
The liturgical color for Advent is purple (or violet). This color holds a deep, dual meaning: it symbolizes royalty and preparation. It reminds us that we are preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus as our "King of Kings." At the same time, like in Lent, purple calls us to a period of prayerful waiting, penance, and reflection. However, Advent's preparation is unique, as it is tinged not just with repentance, but with the joyful and royal anticipation of our coming King.
Living Advent in Our Homes
This season is a perfect time to bring the spirit of preparation into your own home and family life.
Set up an Advent Wreath
Having a wreath on your dinner table is a powerful way to mark the passing of the weeks. You can light the candles and say a simple prayer together each night.
Pray the "O Antiphons"
In the final days of Advent (December 17-23), the Church prays a special, ancient set of prayers known as the "O Antiphons." Each one calls upon Christ by a different Old Testament title (e.g., "O Wisdom," "O Key of David"). We invite you to pray these at home.
Prepare a Manger
Set up your nativity scene, but leave the manger empty. Let the visible emptiness be a reminder that your heart is also preparing a place for Christ to be "born" anew.
The Culmination: The Joy of Christmas
The waiting of Advent finds its fulfillment in the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). On this holy day and throughout the Christmas season, we celebrate the greatest mystery of our faith: the Incarnation. God so loved us that He humbled Himself to become one of us, a small child, to bring light into our darkness.
May this Advent be a time of peace and profound preparation for your heart, so that you may receive the newborn King with more joy and love than ever before.
The Culmination: The Joy of Christmas
The waiting of Advent finds its fulfillment in the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). On this holy day and throughout the Christmas season, we celebrate the greatest mystery of our faith: the Incarnation. God so loved us that He humbled Himself to become one of us, a small child, to bring light into our darkness.
May this Advent be a time of peace and profound preparation for your heart, so that you may receive the newborn King with more joy and love than ever before.