Advent
"O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God Appear."
Advent is the first season of the Church year. It lasts for four weeks leading up to Christmas Day on December 25th. “Advent” comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming or arrival.” In the Christian context, this word points to two very important events: remembering the “arrival” of Jesus Christ when he was born into the world on the first Christmas Day, and looking forward to his second “arrival” when, as Christians believe, Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Experience Advent
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Advent Devotional
Download the Advent Family Devotional Guide to Enhance Advent Prayer & Contemplation For You And Your Children.
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Jesse Tree Ornaments
Printable Ornaments and Bible Readings to help your famil trace God’s redemptive through history.
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Advent Wreath
Download a helpful guide on how to use an Advent Wreath with weekly devotional prayers in anticipation of Christ’s birth.
A Time of Preparation
The Advent season contemplates the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and is a season of preparation. So we act upon the words of the prophet crying unto us from the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.” (Isaiah 40: 1-11, Mark: 1:1-8). We prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord through reflection, prayer, and penitence to receive the Savior who is coming into the world at Christmas. To better help guide you and your family’s Advent journey, we are happy to offer the following resources. May this Advent be one of growth and filled with anticipatory joy!
Advent is the beginning of the Church's Year and it starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas day, which is the Sunday nearest November 30th, and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24th.
The Liturgical Color for Advent is PURPLE
Purple is the color of suffering used during Lent and Holy Week.
Purple points to an important connection between Jesus’ birth and death. Listen to Fr. Michael’s Advent sermon ‘Come thou Long Expected Jesus.’
The nativity, the Incarnation, cannot be separated from the crucifixion, the Atonement.
The purpose of Jesus’ coming into the world, of the "Word made flesh," and dwelling among us is to reveal God and His grace to the world through the obedient life of Jesus Christ AND through his suffering, death, and resurrection.